By Our Reporter 

Soroti District – In an inspiring move to tackle youth unemployment and social vulnerability, the Soroti Youth Development Initiative (SOYODI), with support from the Rotary Foundation, has launched a six-month skills training programme aimed at empowering out-of-school youth in the sub-counties of Arapai, Asuret, and Aukot.

The initiative, supported by the Rotary Club of Soroti Central in partnership with the Rotary Club of Corning (USA), comes at a time when illiteracy and youth dropouts remain persistent despite the government's implementation of Universal Primary Education (UPE) over two decades ago. Poverty, early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and family burdens continue to push many young people out of school, leaving them idle and vulnerable.

Targeting at least 100 beneficiaries, the programme is designed to equip youth with practical skills in areas such as vocational training, entrepreneurship, basic literacy, and innovation—laying a foundation for self-reliance and community development.

Speaking during the official launch held in Arapai Sub-county, Mr. Denis Francis Ajaru, a member of the Rotary Club of Soroti Central, emphasized the importance of literacy and skill-building in shaping productive citizens.

“Literacy brings dignity, unlocks a world of knowledge, and ensures individuals are treated with fairness,” Ajaru said. “Our mission as Rotary is to promote education for life—not just reading and writing, but sustainable development and transforming communities.”

SOYODI Programme Director, Mr. Ronald Okuraja, encouraged the youth to embrace creativity and responsibility as they embark on this journey.

“We are offering you a foundation—what you build on it is up to you,” he noted. “Be creative, think beyond the immediate, and become role models in your communities.”

Local leaders have welcomed the intervention with optimism. Simon Peter Emetu, the LCIII Chairperson of Arapai Sub County, described the programme as a timely response to the growing challenge of youth unemployment and social disengagement.

“We have struggled with rising cases of idleness and hopelessness among the youth,” Emetu said. “This intervention could not have come at a better time. Rotary and SOYODI are like the Good Samaritan, bringing light and hope to the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Emetu further urged the youth to approach the training with seriousness and maturity. “Do not behave like pupils in a classroom,” he warned. “This is an opportunity to grow, to mature, and to start thinking about what is good and what is bad.”

Among the many youth eager to turn their lives around is Rhoda Ariokot from Okunguro village, who dropped out of school due to financial hardship and family obligations. She described the programme as a second chance at life.

“This is more than a training—it is hope restored,” Ariokot said. “I believe that by the end of this programme, I will have a life-saving skill that will change not only my life, but also that of my family.”

The Soroti Youth Skills Development Programme reflects a growing recognition among civil society organizations and development partners that empowering youth with practical skills is critical to addressing poverty, unemployment, and social marginalization.

As the programme progresses, organizers hope that the trainees will emerge not only as skilled individuals but also as agents of change—ready to lift others, contribute to local development, and break the generational cycle of illiteracy and poverty.