YOUTH AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Kulwa Nyamwaga is one of the youths in VEMA project living in Bugogwa ward. There is large population in Bugogwa ward especially youths due to fishing activities, transport, buying and selling of goods and small farming.

Kulwa graduated from primary level education and could not continue studying because his parents could not afford to pay for his school fees. The lack of financial support from his parents could hamper his dream of becoming a Mobile phone maintenance expert. To complement his financial need he had to engage in other economic activities such as building houses and Bodaboda transportation to be able to get an income and support his parents financially.

In 2021 he left home, “I have a wife and two beautiful children a girl with 5 years old and a boy with 1 year old. Five years ago, I impregnated my wife therefore I had to leave at home and rent my own house so that I could take care of my family, my wife engaged in a small business to generate income she sells sardines and vegetables. My income was not enough to take care of both families therefore together we take care of our children and parents. I wished to study VETA my parents could not afford and I couldn’t either so when I heard about the project from our street leader I participated in the sensitization meeting to learn more and connect with my fellow youths to form a YSL group because one of my plans was to access auto- electric technical skills”.

Kulwa joined the Youth Life group with 11 group members in March 2023 after participating in the VEMA project sensitization meeting. Kulwa is a hardworking and focused young man as acknowledged by Ward\'s executive officer “Kulwa is a hardworking and ambitious boy. He shifted to our street in 2021 with his family. He has been participating well in all the street activities and helping the elders. He joined together with his fellow youths to form a YSL group and is among the leaders in the group committee. So far, the project has helped him a lot, he has gained financial and business management skills that his business grows”.

The project has highly contributed to a change in Kulwas\'s life and family life as well. As his saving capacity has improved compared to before being engaged in the project, his small business expanded as managed to add products to accommodate more customers\' needs. As well as affording to engage in local programs to acquire mobile phone repair technical skills as he acknowledged below;

 “Before the project I had no financial discipline and life was difficult as I was not generating enough income to take care of my family and parents. Through the knowledge and awareness gained in VEMA project such as financial discipline, entrepreneurship and business management, gender equality and social inclusion, life skills, and digital training, I have managed to save 340,000Tshs in my mobile phone cash account and YSL group also access small loan amount 255,000Tshs to open a library center at Bugogwa center providing music and film services to individuals at Bugogwa ward. With the use of a loan, and savings I bought a used computer, CDs, Discs, cables, chargers, and rented a room. Moreover, I decided to add skills in phone repair from a local phone- technician. I am grateful to generate a profit of 20,000/= to 30,000/= per day meanwhile I can save in YSLA, pay for bills, and expand my business”.

One of the customers at his office (a young man) said “There are two library centers in our street but most of us prefer this one because of its good customer service and quality of