My journey into entrepreneurship comes from my own life experience and my strong belief in inclusion. After completing my studies, life was not easy. I tried to look for work, but many doors were closed to me because of my disability. Instead of giving up, these challenges pushed me to find another way forward.
I decided to start my own path through entrepreneurship and practical skills. Along the way, I learned that skills training can change lives. It not only helped me stand on my own, but also helped many other young people who were facing the same challenges of exclusion and unemployment.
As an entrepreneurship trainer, I work with young people to help them earn a living. I train them in simple, practical skills like making liquid soap and detergents. These are skills that do not need a lot of money to start and can be used immediately to earn income. When young people gain these skills, they are able to support themselves, their families, and regain confidence and self-worth.
So far, I have trained over 2,000 young people across different parts of the country. These include university students, young people living in slum communities, and those in refugee settlements. Working with people from different backgrounds has helped me understand their needs better and design training that is inclusive and practical for everyone.
Through this work, I have gained strong experience in entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and community engagement. Today, I am a confident social entrepreneur who believes that practical skills can improve incomes, restore dignity, and change negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities.
I continue this work because I believe that entrepreneurship and vocational skills are powerful tools. They help young people especially those with disabilities to gain skills, confidence, and independence, so they can build meaningful lives and not depend on others.
Nelson Bugembe
Team lead Twezuule Foundation and Divine Detergents from Rotary Club of Kampala Naalya
