The Shine Leadership International (SLINT) Career Guidance givers conference that took place today 15th April, 2023 at Serena Hotel-Kampala, drew in mentors, teachers and students from across the country.
In her opening remarks Anita Malinga, the SLINT Ceo lauded everyone for embracing the call for Career Guidance and Mentorship Stakeholder’s meeting. According to Anitah, young people need to be helped in finding direction to their desired careers, “we want to have a conversation in regards to career Guidance and mentorship because we have young people who need career guidance.” Said Malinga.
The conference featured a variety of speakers, including Ambrose Kibuuka the author of “After University, What Next?” and Abel Walekhwa an academician with research prowess in the field of science.
Kibuuka observed that, University degree is over rated and at the same time underrated but there is alot that one can do with it if well guided.
“It is a whole debate, University degrees are over-rated and at the same time underrated but the defining factor is resourcefulness not resources,” said Kibuuka adding that, “to suite in this adversely competitive world, students need Career Guidance because it empowers one to effectively respond to the resources and the resourcefulness of people around them.”
He emphasized the importance of having schools embed career Guidance and mentorship programmes in their curriculum with emphasis on deliberate efforts to prepare teachers and mentors for the task.
The events Mcee, Julius Bukyana revealed how the aspect of career Guidance is indeed underrated citing parental role laxity.
While expounding on Career mentorship needs in Uganda and International Study options and opportunities, Abel Walekwa a renowned career coach who is a researcher and Ceo African Centre for Career mentorship says, 72% of people who seek career mentorship succeed in achieving their life goals .
The conference also included breakout sessions where attendees had the opportunity to network and learn from each other. Mentors shared their experiences and offered guidance to teachers and students who are just starting out on their career paths.
Amwene Benard, a civil servant observed that,”at every stage, one can determine where he/she wants to be.”
In his career guidance ordeal, Isaac Akungizibwe, a Jourlism student at Kampala International University narrated how he found him self in a dilemma trying to find a career path, “teachers tell you to take on a combination according to your performance, I did well in Sciences and my teacher told me to go for sciences but my passion was into journalism, so I chose to go for HEL/D and now I am happy with my journalism course.
Simon Peter Kawesa, Founder and leader at The Student’s Hub says, school to work transition challenges stem from lack of effective personalized career Guidance at an early stage and asserts how The Students Hub has been structured to enable career seekers like Isaac discover themselves.
According to the World Bank, Uganda’s unemployment rate was estimated to be around 9.2% in 2020, with youth unemployment being particularly high. This was partially attributed to the quality of education and the relevance of the curriculum to the job market.
The report also reveals that graduates struggle to find employment due to a mismatch between their skills and the demands of the job market.
However, with career guidance, students have been helped to redirect their efforts towards practical skills training to address skills gaps.
Shine Leadership International (SLINT) is a non –profit organization that partners with Schools, Universities and Organisations to nurture, train and equip young adults with practical Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Life skills that help them thrive in society and become agents of positive transformation in their different spheres of influence which allows job seekers blend aptly in the employment world.
