From Dropout to Dressmaker: Oyam Teen Sewing Her Way Out of Poverty

Life took a sharp turn for Sandra Akello in 2022 when her parents separated, cutting off her support system just as she completed her primary education. Unable to afford secondary school, the then-15-year-old dropped out and eventually entered an early marriage that collapsed a year later, leaving her to raise a young daughter alone in Oyam District.

Her fortunes shifted in February 2026 when she joined a vocational skills initiative run by the Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH). The grassroots organisation focuses on strengthening foundational learning and improving livelihoods in northern Uganda. Enrolling in the tailoring course, Akello quickly learned to sew and began earning money from local customers, helping her support her child and siblings while restoring her personal confidence.

Akello is one of roughly 80 young women who have participated in the FICH skills training over the past two years. The programme offers instruction in tailoring and hairdressing alongside essential life-skills sessions, mentorship, and basic business management. Trainees like Stella Maria Achola have similarly begun generating income from home, using their earnings to support their families and save for future independent businesses.

Local authorities have praised the initiative for complementing government efforts to curb youth unemployment and keep vulnerable teenagers engaged in productive work. As Akello and her peers prepare for their upcoming graduation, she plans to save her earnings to open her own tailoring workshop and eventually employ other young women facing similar hardships.

Read more details in the Daily Monitor report.