Mungu Feni Foundation Rolls Out Youth and Women Skills Programme in West Nile

Mungu Feni Foundation has unveiled a new empowerment initiative aimed at equipping vulnerable youth and women in West Nile with practical vocational skills to improve their livelihoods.

The programme, dubbed the Weaving Hope Project, was officially launched in Arua District in the presence of district leaders, development partners and community representatives. The initiative is designed to tackle unemployment and social exclusion through vocational training, enterprise development, advocacy and community networking.

The project will be implemented in Anzu Parish, Arua District, targeting over 360 direct beneficiaries. Of these, 70 percent are women and 30 percent men aged between 16 and 48 years. Priority will be given to widows, school dropouts, unemployed youth, orphans, vulnerable children, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups across the West Nile sub-region.

Speaking at the launch, Foundation founder Benard Feni said the project was informed by extensive community consultations conducted in Anju and Nyio parishes under the UNNGOF Change the Game Programme match-funding framework. He noted that the initiative aims to address both immediate income challenges and long-term barriers that prevent vulnerable groups from participating fully in the economy.

“We are committed to transforming our communities by equipping people with practical skills that promote dignity, self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods,” Feni said.

The 12-month programme will be implemented in phases, starting with community mobilisation and inception activities, followed by skills development, advocacy and civic engagement, and concluding with sustainability planning and exit strategies to ensure lasting impact.

The Weaving Hope Project aligns with national priorities that promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key driver of employment and inclusive economic growth. Government reforms under the TVET Act 2025 have strengthened quality assurance mechanisms, improved trainer standards and enhanced industry linkages, while the ongoing development of a national TVET Qualifications Framework aims to formalise career pathways and recognise both formal and informal skills.

Arua District LC V Chairman Alfred Okuonzi welcomed the initiative and pledged support from both the district’s political and technical leadership to ensure its success.

The launch event was attended by community development officers, sub-county leaders, representatives from the offices of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), faith leaders and local residents.

Feni encouraged community members to actively engage in the programme, noting that the Weaving Hope Project forms part of a broader pipeline of interventions the foundation intends to expand across West Nile.

Established in 2021 and headquartered in Arua City, Mungu Feni Foundation is a faith-based indigenous non-profit organisation implementing programmes in education support, vocational training, community health, road safety and youth talent development. The foundation has earned regional recognition for its work, receiving several accolades in 2025, including top honours at the West Nile Quality Brand Awards and the East Africa Brand Quality Awards.

Through its values-driven approach, the foundation continues to focus on uplifting vulnerable communities by promoting sustainable empowerment and inclusive development.