On the remote Alero sub-county of Kwania district, a new beacon of hope is emerging for the youth through Alero Digital Empowerment Hub.
Among the six pioneer students of this initiative is Joshua Okidi, a senior one dropout. Okidi describes his life as ‘frustrating’ but is determined to change his circumstances by leveraging the computer skills he is gaining at the hub.
Since dropping out of school in 2019 due to financial constraints, Okidi’s various job attempts—ranging from pump manager at Golden Gas in Lira, to Mpesa forex trader, and manager at Quantum Food Uganda in Masindi— have not yielded the desired incomes.
The payments have never been enough to sustain his young family. Moreover, without formal education, he faces constant disrespect from employers. Okidi hopes that with his newfound IT skills, he can now compete favourably in the job market, with aspirations of becoming an ICT skills trainer.
The Alero digital hub was born out of personal necessity for digital rights and IT activist Andrew Gole, who often faced inconveniences due to the lack of power and internet in his hometown of Alero.
Frustrated to the point of having to ride back to Kampala just to send an urgent email, Gole took matters into his own hands. He bought and repurposed an old community granary into what is now a hub, symbolizing innovation and progress. Fully equipped with solar-powered computers essential in a location where the nearest power grid is four kilometres away – the hub has evolved into a vital community resource.
Among the pioneer eight (now six) students completing the 21-day training course is Irene Amolo, a records and information management student at Uganda College of Commerce Aduku in Apac district. The only female student at Alero Hub, Amolo says the knowledge she is gaining at the hub far surpasses what she is learning in her formal education.
At her university, the computer-to-student ratio is so high that students hardly grasp even the basics.
“At Alero, we go deep into computer studies. Even though Excel sheets were initially challenging for me due to the mathematical formulas, I can now practice at my own pace without pressure,” she said.
The hub charges a fee of Shs 125,000 for the 21-day course. While this fee may seem modest, it has proven to be a barrier for many in the community. Gole notes that with additional funding, they could reduce or even eliminate this fee, allowing more youth to attend.
The interest in the hub is palpable. Many students travel from neighbouring villages and parishes, seeing it as a valuable opportunity to gain otherwise inaccessible skills. The hub offers basic computer training, including an introduction to the curriculum and foundational skills such as graphic design and digital literacy – essential competencies in an increasingly digital world.
CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The hub’s impact extends beyond education. It has sparked broader community development, leading to the establishment of a restaurant, clinic, shops and a video hall. Solar-powered cameras have also enhanced local security, as the hub’s presence has reduced youth loitering in the streets.
“These young people who come and use the facilities—I don’t care what they are doing as long as they are here, because I know if they weren’t, they would be in the bar. We want to start community outreach because it’s not just about IT but about mindset change. Many of them think that once you drop out of school, your only option is to loiter around. They aren’t productive youth; otherwise, you’d see many productive projects,” Gole said.
However, the hub faces significant challenges. The current solar system is overburdened, often leading to power outages. The hub needs a larger inverter to handle the increased demand, especially as it plans to expand its offerings from the current eight to twelve students.
Gole envisions a future where the hub evolves into a business centre with multiple shops and a photo studio, providing more opportunities for the youth to learn and earn. Gole also hopes to secure funding to sustain the hub and expand its reach, potentially through mobile “skills on wheels” initiatives that bring digital education to even the most remote areas.
“I feel good when I come home and don’t see the same drunkards and nuisances I used to see every day. It gives me satisfaction knowing that the hub is transforming the community. If I can get more funds to run this place effectively—because at the end of the month, I often have to dig into my pocket since the fees aren’t enough—it’s all about community empowerment. After five years, will these people have been truly empowered?” he reflected.
The hub has become not only a training haven for the trainees but also for the trainers. Lead digital skills trainer Joshua Joel Ongebo, who is yet to complete his undergraduate statistics course at Kyambogo, developed a love for computers and programming and felt a need to give back to his community. Ongebo is particularly pained by seeing youth’s future prospects cut short due to lack of proper training and skills.
inarticle} inarticle}