Young refugees become mechanics

In February, Horyzon project manager Elisha Frei traveled to Uganda to visit "Hope Beyond Borders" as part of monitoring and evaluation activities. She visited the two refugee settlements in Kiryandongo and Adjumani, where Horyzon is active and primarily supports young refugees. There she gained a direct insight into various project activities - including new training programs that started in 2025 and are already running successfully after a short introductory phase.

One example is the vocational training for prospective motorcycle mechanics. In practical courses lasting around three months, the young people learn how to maintain and repair motorcycles. Upon successful completion, they receive a certificate. As motorcycles are the most important means of transportation in the refugee settlements, there is a great demand for these services. This opens up promising opportunities for graduates of the course to build up their own business. In addition to motorcycle mechanics, there are other vocational training courses to choose from, including electrical installation, tailoring, hairdressing and the hotel and catering industry. Every year, 50 to 60 young people who are no longer able to attend regular school for various reasons are given the opportunity to take part in these training programs. As some of them are not literate, reading and writing courses supplement the offer. They can also attend English courses, as this language plays a central role in business and administration in Uganda. Language support not only facilitates economic participation, but also the social integration of the refugees into the Ugandan host communities.

All these activities within "Hope Beyond Borders" for training and school support are particularly important, as many refugees in the settlements live below the poverty line. High unemployment and limited income opportunities pose major challenges. Targeted vocational training and language support give young people new economic prospects. In the long term, this enables them to sustainably improve their living situation and build a stable existence for themselves.