By Nathan Eyagu 

Soroti City – A weekend outreach by local charity organization Friends at Heart has brought renewed attention to the growing crisis of youth homelessness in Soroti City, as street-connected children made a heartfelt appeal for support in acquiring technical and vocational skills.

The outreach, which included the distribution of food, drinks, clothing, and other essentials, was conducted in various parts of the city where homeless youth are known to gather. While appreciative of the donations, many of the beneficiaries used the moment to express a deeper need — the desire for skills that can help them break the cycle of poverty.

“We are not on the streets because we are lazy or uneducated. Some of us have completed school and have our academic papers,” said Okwi Denis, chairperson of the street-connected youth in Soroti. “What we lack are the opportunities to learn practical skills like tailoring, mechanics, carpentry, and bricklaying so that we can work and live with dignity.”

The youths, who currently sleep in corridors, verandas, and abandoned buildings, emphasized that while food is essential, long-term solutions like vocational training are more impactful.

Leading the Friends at Heart team was Francis Omoding, who described the experience as eye-opening and emotionally moving. “We came here to give them basic necessities, but what we found were dreams deferred and potential untapped. These young people deserve more than handouts—they deserve a future,” he said.

Omoding pledged continued support and called on other stakeholders, including NGOs, faith-based organizations, and government agencies, to step in with programs that offer skills training and mentorship.

The situation reflects a broader national concern, where many urban youth—despite some level of education—remain unemployed due to lack of practical skills and support systems. As the economy continues to evolve, experts stress the importance of technical and vocational education as a pathway to self-reliance and community development.

Friends at Heart says it is now exploring ways to collaborate with vocational institutions and training centers to create opportunities tailored to the needs of Soroti’s vulnerable youth.

As one young girl quietly said during the outreach, “We don’t want to live like this forever. We want to work, to learn, to be somebody.”