BrighterMonday Uganda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, today successfully hosted a collaborative event at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. The event, held under the theme, “Bridging Opportunity Gaps: Displacement, Dignity, and Work in Uganda,” is a new milestone in a series of initiatives aimed at empowering young Ugandans. It brought together almost 700 attendees, including over 570 young people from both refugee and host communities, local leaders, and key stakeholders.
Today’s event was a powerful response to the urgent need for dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for displaced and host community youth in Uganda. It served as a vital platform for dialogue, providing tangible resources and fostering critical connections. BrighterMonday Uganda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, through its Young Africa Works strategy, demonstrated their shared commitment to empowering young people to access the skills, networks, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Event Highlights and Agenda:
The day’s agenda was designed to be interactive and impactful, giving attendees a chance to learn, network, and contribute.
- Morning Sessions: The day began with registration and welcome remarks, followed by a keynote address and powerful youth testimonials. A refugee youth entrepreneur shared their personal story, setting an inspiring tone for the day’s discussions.
- Parallel Sessions: The event featured four concurrent and interactive components that ran from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM:
- Refugee & Youth Story Circles: A platform for sharing personal journeys and building community.
- Skills Access Station: Providing hands-on access to practical skills and training resources.
- Policy Dialogue Table: Engaging key stakeholders in discussions to influence policy and practice.
- Enterprise Showcase: Highlighting successful youth-led businesses and innovations.
- Afternoon Sessions: After a networking lunch, the event reconvened for debrief sessions where participants shared key takeaways from each component. The day concluded with Commitments from Partners, where organizations and individuals made practical pledges to support the inclusion of displaced youth in the workforce.
“It is paramount for us at BrighterMonday Uganda to identify dignified pathways for youth to thrive including the internal displaced persons,” said Pamela Kabahesi, Country Programs Lead at BrighterMonday Uganda. “By working with the Mastercard Foundation, BrighterMonday Uganda is able to bring our expertise in job matching and career development directly to a community rich with potential. The stories and connections made today are just the beginning of a larger effort to dismantle the barriers these young people face.”
Aliguma Edith Adyer, District Chairperson emphasised that there has been great strides made to promote coexistence between the internally displaced persons with the host communities in Kiryandongo however, she encouraged the government & its partners to invest in initiatives that bring peace and harmony in the communities.
The event marked a significant step in the joint efforts of BrighterMonday Uganda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, to address youth unemployment and promote inclusive economic growth in Uganda.
