Fellow was not able to complete his education as his parents could not afford the school fees. He decided to be a metal worker, as he felt he would be able to make a good living from this, and undertook informal training from a friend who worked in the trade. He joined a business development training course run by Tools for Self Reliance and the Foundation for Education and Social Development because he felt like he needed more knowledge on business management, and there was nothing like it available. Although it was a long and difficult journey to get to the training centre, Fellow knew it would be worth it.
He also had the opportunity to update his practical skills, so Fellow learned how to make new products, such as washing baskets, and bike carriers, as well as customer care, costing and pricing, and record keeping. Fellow says the quality of work his business now produces has hugely increased, and he is building his customer base using the business skills he learnt. In the future he would like to have his own workshop, and be able to train others. “Thank you so much for this initiative. This is not the end, it is just the beginning.”
In five years, we will have a big workshop that we own and will take on our own trainees.
Isaac Mwesigwa,
Carpentry training, Uganda
