Kyusa September Class Rolls Out

It has been an exciting year so far and as we wind it down, we launched our last class and intake for 2015. The September class rolled out on 10^th September with orientation and a week later the classes commenced. The class is running at the Bugolobi training center and has 15 students signed up for both the ICT and soft skills class.

The September class is dynamic in that it brings together ambitious and visionary young people from diverse walks of life. All the participants are ambitious about starting and growing their own businesses. They are passionate about becoming job creators and peer leaders in their communities. 

Kyusa is a life transforming experience for both the participants and the facilitators. We are constantly amazed at the unveiling of potential and dreams among participants with every new class.

Resilience and consistence are key factors to being able to successfully work through the Kyusa training. The two months training is intensive and requires serious commitment. Although the course is delivered in a practical and learner centered approach, it ignites the hidden and untapped potential of youth thus awakening them to the reality of their unexplored greatness.

At Kyusa we empower vulnerable youth to develop passion driven sustainable careers. It is our mission to empower youth to become employable in a way that is both sustainable and has a positive impact on their communities. This journey of eight weeks is one that turns ordinary youth into CEOs, peer leaders, entrepreneurs, employers and social entrepreneurs. It is highly recommended for any young person seeking to tap into their full potential.

Registration for the January 2016 class will open soon and be among the first ones to sign up. Your life will be drastically transformed and positively impacted in a way that will make you stand out among your peers. At Kyusa, we raise generations of change agents.

Kyusa celebrates Another Milestone

On 12^th September 2015, Kyusa celebrated yet another milestone by having 30 youth graduate from the program all at the same time. It was a great time of celebration and jubilation as we commissioned the youth to pursue their passions, dreams and make them a reality in a way that empowers them economically and positively impacts their communities.

This was a milestone for 90% of the graduates who were attending a formal graduation for the very first time. It was a land mark in their lives as they celebrated their success and accomplishments through the Kyusa program. The celebration was marked by shouts of happiness, dancing, eating, taking photos and reminiscing memorable moments.

The event was graced by three of the Kyusa Executive Board members. The Board Chairman commissioned the graduates and released them into their full potential. It was emphasized that the sky is just the foundation for one’s aspirations not the limit. Graduates were encouraged to dream big and keep pressing on towards their high goals.

Some of the parents present expressed gratitude for the transformation that they are witnessing in the lives of their children. They noted that their children are more responsible, focused and passion driven as a result of under taking the Kyusa training. This is also reflected in the way the alumni interact with each other, the staff and the wider community.

Kyusa empowers out of school youth to become employable by turning their passions into sustainable careers. This is aimed at reducing the rate of youth unemployment in Uganda among out of school youth. Graduates have ventured into different businesses including agriculture, food industry, events management, fashion and design, hair dressing and small scale businesses. 80% of the graduates have at least one regular source of income as they work towards achieving their bigger dreams.

We are grateful to all the partners and development partners that support us to make this difference in the lives of the vulnerable youth. Kyusa is raising a generation of change agents who are transforming lives and communities as they invest in sustainable development projects.

Kyusa Takes Part In ICT Subgroup Meeting

The Executive Director attended the meeting for the ICT4D under the theme “Tactics to get your content right and hook the right audience”. The ICT4D is a subgroup under the National youth working group that meets every two months. The August meeting was hosted at the KCCA employment service bureau.

The major highlight of the meeting was the new leadership and this could be seen by the excitement on the faces of the members as the new chairperson was giving her remarks. She urged the members of the subgroup to be as supportive and collaborative as possible so as to enable the group move forward. She further went on to acknowledge the challenge ahead of her and promised to do her very best.

The presentations kicked off with a presentation from David Auma Balikowa senior, media personnel and also one of the founders of the department of mass communications at Makerere University. He emphasized the need to understand the audience and rather not only focus on the content which he said was a major mistake made by most communicators. He enriched the group with a few tactics on hooking the right audience such as finding out what the audience already knows and using it as a baseline to identify what should be communicated and also finding common characteristics between different audiences.

Pamela from CDFU presented their experiences with radio dramas and how they have managed to get the right content and hook the right audience. She highlighted some of the successful radio drama programmes which include Rock point 256. She shared with the group members some of the tactics they use to get to their audiences and these include; focus group discussions, questionnaires and face to face interactions with the audiences.

Patricia Kahill from Kahill Insights crowned the presentations with a presentation on forming online communities. The energy filled bachelor’s degree holder in development studies equipped the members with knowledge of how to know who is talking about them on social media and also advised them to find out the pages their followers do follow so as to know which type of people they are dealing with and what information they need. She emphasized that the most important thing was being known on social media and it was on that note that she advised the members not to pay a lot of attention to the number of followers but rather to the number of post reaches.

The ICT4D meeting was a great learning and networking opportunity for Kyusa and we are proud to be part of this growing youth movement in Uganda. 

The Age Of Communication

We have gone from muscle power to mind power, from brute power to brainpower. We have evolved from a focus on making and moving things to a focus on the creation and dissemination of ideas and knowledge..- I found this statement very intriguing and mind opening. It gave me a much clearer picture of the age am living in and how best I can prepare myself to thrive in it.

For the rest of your life, the knowledge content of your work, and your ability to communicate it, is largely going to determine the value of what you do, the amount of money you earn and the overall quality of your life. We have moved into the Information Age so quickly, with knowledge as the primary source of value, that most of the major institutions of society have not yet caught on or caught up. This is one of the great challenges, and opportunities, of our time.

Quote of the day:

“The greatest thing that a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success and there is no other.” (Orison Swett Marden)

Perhaps the most important of all luck factors according to the author is knowing exactly what you want, in each area of your life. The primary reason for great success is clear, specific, measurable goals and plans, written down and accompanied by a burning desire to accomplish them. Knowing what you want dramatically increases the probabilities that you will get it.

Clarity is a critical luck factor. The clearer you are about what you want, the more rapidly you will attain it. When you are absolutely clear about your goals, you activate all the powers of your mind to help you to achieve them. You develop a better sense for the specific activities you can engage in to move you faster toward them. You can make better and faster decisions about the allocation of time and resources. This is true in both personal and business life. 

Authentic Networking

By Noeline Kirabo

Networking can be referred to as a process that fosters the exchange of information and ideas among individuals or groups that share a common interest. It involves creating a group of acquaintances and associates and keeping it active through regular communication for mutual benefit.[1] Networking is based on the question "How can I help?" and not with "What can I get?"

Networking may fall into one of two categories - social or business. In the latter category, one of the implicit objectives is to form professional relationships that may boost one's future business and employment prospects[2].

For some, networking is about compiling a huge database of names, usually by collecting business cards. Others see networking as the opportunity to get in front of people and personally prospect for business. Still others perceive networking as nothing more than hanging out, with no specific intention except to be seen and socialize.

Ivan Misner (2012); defines networking as - "The process of developing and activating your relationships to increase your business, enhance your knowledge, expand your sphere of influence or serve the community."

Every young entrepreneur is cautioned as they launch their venture to focus their energies on building strong and effective business networks. This soon turns out to be a way of life even as the business or venture grows. Fortunately networking is not limited to entrepreneurs only but rather cuts across all career paths and choices. The business world thrives on networking and so does the employment arena.

As an organisation we were challenged to pull up our socks and get in shape regarding networking. One of the core skills we had to learn is pitching - the ability to interest potential partners and investors in less than a minute. The pitches got better and better but they were not yielding the required results so often times we felt frustrated and exhausted. A wise man helped us identify what was the missing link in our networking efforts.

In an effort to sell ideas or businesses, we soon forget that we are selling to people who want to feel connected to the world around them. People do not buy into ideas, they buy into the connection they have with the idea and its relevance in their lives. So to effectively network, you have to take into consideration what the other person needs and the feedback regarding how they feel about your value proposition.

Having said that; it is important to be authentic and real even as you network.  Nobody wants to buy into a fake idea. If people perceive you as unauthentic, they are likely to brand your idea in a similar way. We have therefore learnt along the way that brilliant ideas are sold by brilliant people. A good idea will not make up for your lack of values or morals. In selling your idea, you sell who you are.

To be successful with business networking, you should understand that it is really about helping others as a way of growing your business. The people you help are more willing to help you or connect you to people they know, therefore it is worth being authentic even as you offer authentic propositions.

Sources:

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[1] http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/networking.html#ixzz3Ym0xk3FE   http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/networking.html

[2] http://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/networking.asp#ixzz3Ym0Qjkl8

Personal Financial Planning

You will make financial decisions all your life. Sometimes you can see those decisions coming and plan deliberately; sometimes, well, stuff happens, and you are faced with a more sudden decision. Personal financial planning is about making deliberate decisions that allow you to get closer to your goals or sudden decisions that allow you to stay on track, even when things take an unexpected turn.

The idea of personal financial planning is really no different from the idea of planning most anything: you figure out where you’d like to be, where you are, and how to go from here to there. The process is complicated by the number of factors to consider, by their complex relationships to each other, and by the profound nature of these decisions, because how you finance your life will, to a large extent, determine the life that you live. The process is also, often enormously, complicated by risk: you are often making decisions with plenty of information, but little certainty or even predictability.

Personal financial planning is a lifelong process. Your time horizon is as long as can be—until the very end of your life—and during that time your circumstances will change in predictable and unpredictable ways. A financial plan has to be re-evaluated, adjusted, and re-adjusted. It has to be flexible enough to be responsive to unanticipated needs and desires, robust enough to advance toward goals, and all the while be able to protect from un-imagined risks.

One of the most critical resources in the planning process is information. We live in a world awash in information—and no shortage of advice—but to use that information well you have to understand what it is telling you, why it matters, where it comes from, and how to use it in the planning process. You need to be able to put that information in context, before you can use it wisely. That context includes factors in your individual situation that affect your financial thinking, and factors in the wider economy that affect your financial decision making.

Financial literacy is a core component of the Kyusa curriculum that empowers youth to better plan and manage their finances. We cover the module in the two months training for out of school youth and now we are beginning to offer it in schools and youth groups. To be part of this great offer, send us an email on: kyusa.uganda@gmail.com Feel free to make a recommendation or referral for a young person that can benefit from our programs. We shall be happy to hear from you you.

Sources:
Siegel, R. &Yacht, C. (2009). Personal Financial Planning, Chapter One. 

Call for Volunteers & Interns

As part of building up our resources and capacity to deliver a more effective program, Kyusa is calling for short term volunteers and interns that have competence and skills in the following areas;

·         Communications and fundraising

·         Social media marketing

·         Documenting and Video editing

·         Training & facilitation skills

Kyusa offers a rich learning and working experience that will build both your individual and professional capacity. Some of the benefits of volunteering with Kyusa include:
-     Career mentoring and coaching
-     Psycho social support
-     On going capacity building through regular staff training's
-     Enriching work experience
-     An opportunity to positively and directly impact the lives of vulnerable youth
-     Spiritual enrichment

To be eligible for this offer, you must meet the following requirements;
-     Male of female 25 - 35 years
-     Minimum qualification of a diploma in higher education specializing in a relevant field
-     Fluent both in oral and written English
-     Computer literate
-     God fearing
-     Committed to the mission and values of Kyusa
-     Able to work under minimum supervision
-     Self driven and self motivated
-     Minimum prior experience of working with youth or similar field of work

To apply for a volunteer or intern placement, send a cover letter and most recent resume to: Kyusa.uganda@gmail.com

Youth ICT & Entrepreneurship Program

Kyusa is now accepting applications to the second class of its Youth ICT & Entrepreneurship Program. The training is an experiential learning program one that seeks to equip out of school youth to become job creators, successful entrepreneurs and peer leaders in their communities as well as career fields. Each program is 8 weeks and participants receive training in a research-based curriculum composed of 8 modules that develop professional skills, computer skills, and financial literacy while also improving their self-awareness, self-confidence and self-management.

Eligibility:

+ Participants should be youth 16 – 25 years who are currently out of School

+ Participants must be ready and willing to undergo a 8-week training undisturbed

+ Participants should have a minimum secondary education.

+ Participants should have a good command of English both written and oral.

+ Participants without minimum secondary education should demonstrate strong leadership potential or an entrepreneurial mindset in what they do.

Fees:

The program fee is 200,000/= for the entire program which can be paid at once or in installment. Fees cover training material and course related costs, it does not cover meals, accommodation or transportation.

We have a limited number of bursaries available to participants who may not be in position to raise the entire course fees.

Important dates

15^th February 2015      - Applications Begin

20^th March 2015          - Applications Deadline

7^th April 2015              - Orientation of participants

8^th April 2015              - Commencement of Second Class

29^th May 2015              - End of Second Class

The application form can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11YTZzcTY_gm64hbw3rTFdhmJxl0_tvMINNvtYlW2zrs

Email Kyusa.uganda@gmail.com for any question

Thank you

Beating All Odds to Succed

Some times you are caught between the 'rock and the hard place' with limited option and tough decisions that could shape the course of your life. 
Sharon, a participant in the January 2015 Class has been pushed to the ‘wall’ several times but constantly chooses to push back. Raised by a single mother and being the only child, she was loved, adored and overly pampered. 

Her life changed when her mother passed on and Sharon had to start fending for herself. She dropped out of school due to lack of tuition. She tried her luck at several jobs such as shop keeping, being a waitress and a sales agent but could hardly keep a job due to lack of job skills and competence. A friend referred her for the Kyusa program and through the program she has acquired both job and business skills to enable her start and grow her own business. Her dream is to establish a food service business in her community and has currently started with a growing snacks business that enables her meet her daily needs and expenses as she saves towards her bigger financial goals. 

Kyusa empowers out of school youth in urban slums to turn their passion into sustainable careers. The program aims at empowering youth to access economic opportunities, become job creators, build self-esteem and increase financial independence. 

We are able to do this through the faithful giving of our partners and friends. You can become a part of this movement by partnering with us as a Kyusa hero- commit to giving a minimum of 50,000/= [$20] on a monthly basis for at least one year. This enables us to offer the program free of charge to some participants who are unable to afford the subsidized fees. 

We are currently receiving applications for the next intake -April 2015. We invite you to refer, encourage youth in your circles and networks that can benefit from the Kyusa program to apply. Our participants are empowered to take charge of their lives, equipped to thrive in the labour market and nurtured to have a sense of social responsibility. 

For further inquiries: kyusa.uganda@gmail.com 

Follow us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/kyusa

Follow us on twitter: @kyusa_uganda

Visit us at our offices: Plot 398, Block 5, Kalerwe Gayaza Road, first flour or Call: +256 777 200109