Prime Skills Foundation
Profile
Background Information
Prime Skills Foundation (PSF) is registered in Uganda a not-for-profit making company (Limited by Guarantee)Reg.No. 80020000706420 and NGO Reg. No. INDR142091491NB. PSF supports young people with livelihood opportunities including self- employability skills and linkages to start up financing. PSF established isaffiliated to Prime Vocational Institute head quartered in Iganga with a focus on producing market oriented professionals in technical, vocational and business education for gainful employment and sustainable development. The institute is registered by Ministry of Education and Sports Reg.No MoE&S/BTVET/203. PVI that started in 2012 and has currently a total student enrollment of 230 of November 2018. PVI has developed permanent premises at Bugabwe Trading Centre in Iganga Municipality.
One of the objectives of PSF is to support and promote apprenticeship, internships, entrepreneurship and industrial based training programs through fostering partnerships with and among relevant production firms, training Centre’s and government agencies. PSF has established a concrete production and training workshop in Yumbe, has a MoU with the Office of Prime Minister (OPM) and Yumbe District Local Government with mandate to carry out youth and women economic empowerment activities through skills and enterprise development for both refugees and host communities.
Vision.
The vision of PSF is every youth transformed and equipped for the local and global market.
Mission.
Our mission is to provide professional support services for competitive skills development, education and career advancement for youth employability and sustainable development.
Areas of Operation.
PSF current area of operation include Iganga and Yumbe districts. Our physical addresses are as below;
Areas of expertise
Our technical areas include, making and training young people in concrete products(concrete poles, pavers, ventilators, blocks etc) , Metal Fabrication ( doors, windows, desks etc ) Design and Garment( Tailoring), Motor Vehicle Driving, Micro Business Skills and Hair Dressing.The enduring relationship that exist between Prime Vocational institute and Prime Skills Foundation enables the Foundation, to draw on the human resources (32 qualified engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs) of Prime Vocational Institute to carry out its training activities
Major programmatic achievement achievements include providing market oriented professional training to over 1000 youth since 2012 through Prime Vocational Institute. We have developed innovative training and models that enable our graduates to start own enterprises or find jobs. Our tracer survey indicated that over 65% of students who trained through PVI have what to do. The Institute has received training tools from Tools with Mission, capacity building of Instructors and members on training with production, apprenticeship
Key staff
| Name | Position | Qualification |
| Michael Bazira | Executive Director | Masters of Science Development Economic- UMU
Bachelors of Education (Business Studies) – MUK |
| Harriet Kwebwawera | Principal PVI | Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications Engineering – Kyambogo University.
Higher Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Kyambogo University.\ Seven years of work experience. |
| Charles D. Babiga | Director Business Development and Innovations | MA. Development Studies – UCU
B.Ed. Econ & Religious Studies – MUK CEO Bacheld Investments Ltd – dealing in transport services, tour and travel. 18 years of work and business experience |
| Rose Nakaima | Director Technical Services | Bachelor in Civil Engineering – Ndejje University
Ordinary Diploma in Architectural drawing and Draughtsmanship – UPK |
| Mariam Kembabazi | Project Manager
Yumbe Office |
MBA –on going
B. Economics & Management – UCU Five years of work experience. |
| Joshua Lyada | Technical Manager/Trainer | Dip. Civil Engineering – Elgon Technical College.
Five years industrial and training experience. |
Accreditation
Through PVI, the Foundation is affiliated to the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), the Uganda Association of Private Vocational Institutions (UGAPRIVI) and collaborates with existing industry and businesses in delivering the training through apprenticeship and internships.
Production and Training Areas offered by Prime Skills Foundation
(Yumbe Project Area targeting youth from host community and refugees)
- Concrete Making Workshop (Concrete poles, pavers, blocks etc)already established in Yumbe 2kms on Koboko Road and 20 refugee students undergoing training in brick making and concrete practice.
- Design & Garment Workshops
- Motor Vehicle Driving
- Micro Business Skills
Summary needs of the community relating to our organization technical field.
Survey findings carried out by UNHCR and other partners reveal limited livelihood opportunities for both the refugees and host communities in Yumbe district. Reports indicate that 74% of refugees and 24% of the Ugandan Nationals live below the poverty line. Specifically, over 90 percent of refugees in Bidibidi and Adjumani reported not having sufficient land for cultivation yet non-farm options for livelihood are not yet available.
A rapid assessment conducted recently by Prime Skills Foundation (PSF) identified lack of market demanded vocational skills among the youth as a major factor for the high levels of unemployment in Yumbe. Whereas there are a few technical schools in the district, the content and mode of training offer limited innovations for the graduates to enter the labour market or have the ability to initiate own enterprises. PSF is prepared to address this challenge by providing innovative market based training, apprenticeship and enterprise development avenues to the out of school youth and women. We plan to blend the training provided with entrepreneurship and access to financing.
It was also reported that only one percent of the refugees have salaried employment. The education and grading system in South Sudan differs from that of Uganda and this presents challenges for the refugees to use qualifications awarded from their home country for employment in Uganda.
The National Response Plan on Jobs and livelihoods recognizes the inadequate post emergency coping venues to support the livelihood needs of both the refugees and host communities. This has overburdened the natural resources especially the environment. Refugees have resorted to cutting trees as a source of livelihood, also youth have become a security threat due to lack of employment.
Organization Contact-
Name: Mr Michael Bazira
Title: Executive Director
Plot 466,Iganga- Mayuge Road
P.O Box 315, Iganga, Uganda
Email: primeskillsuganda@gmail.com
www.primevocational.org
Or
Yumbe Project Office
Koboko Road, Olwongo Zone