20-year-old Welline Rebecca’s work at Steel Work Ltd Kireka a company owned by her father starts with carrying heavy machinery she is supposed to repair for her clients. Welline restores transformers that have been declared worthless. “Minus repair, I make new welding machines, they are very good for any big workshop. I make all sizes, I can make you a small one or a big one; heavy duty depending on what you like.” Engrossed in her work, it is evident that she is passionate about welding. This is an age-old passion she has nurtured since she was in lower secondary school. “I came here when I was about 14 years but before that, I wasn’t with the machines, I used to just help out, do somethings from spray and help anyone who needs help. And after some time, it was about 5 years back, there was someone doing the machines and this person took me in; I was a helper so I was learning from him.” Said, Welline Rebecca.
Welline is one of the several young people who has resorted to learning new skills to survive in an environment devoid of ready employment. “To the youths, it’s really a pity I should say because if you are waiting for that dream job, you will wait forever that’s the truth. You don’t just sit and expect something to happen out of the blue while you’re sitting. You have to work, you have to move and then get the extra push to what you want.”
According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate of young people aged 15 to 24 is 83%. This rate is even higher for those having formal degrees and live in urban areas. UBOS said this is due to disconnect between the education and the skill set required by employers. Stephan Peter Laker who is Welline’s father and owner of Steel Works Ltd said students from Vocational schools are so untrained and have to start from scratch. Laker urged tertiary institutions to put more effort in training young people for the job market. “We have no institutions producing the people I want in Uganda. Vocational schools would be the source of those people we want but unfortunately, they are not, what they produce is actually so raw.” Said, Stephen Peter Laker – Manager, Steel Works Limited.
As is the case with any job, welding can be challenging and Welline tells me she has to carry really heavy machines on her own and beating deadlines can also be doubting given they are unstaffed. “It was mid last year; imagine I had about 10 machines and all these owners needed their machines and there no one to help me. Even the one who helps me sometimes is always on the site doing other things so I was alone. It was a stressful time for me because I had to finish them up.” She values her father’s mentorship and she implores parents to involve their children especially girls in a family business and ensures to pay them for their services. “Parents also; those ones who introduce their children to their work, children run away why? Because parents fail to pay. Any grown-up children need money for upkeep, to buy certain things. So if you are a parent and you employing your child, your child works for you a whole day, weeks and you don’t give them any pay, you really don’t expect those children to sit around working for you.” Said, Welline Rebecca – Welder.
Stephen Laker believes that children have a right to make their own choice of career but after they have learned to handle the family business which is supposed to be the source of income for their tuition and upkeep. “With us, this is our source of income even her source of school fees and everything. So whenever she is on the holiday and all that, we have to be together.” Said, Stephen Peter Laker – Manager, Steel Works Limited. The hours are flexible, the money is good and the jobs are there. So the young people should look beyond the white collar jobs and gain technical skills.
