On 16th July 2024, Ambassador Santa Mary Laker Kinyera, Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with a delegation from the Youth Livelihood Development Company (YLDC) led by Mr. Hassan Sekajoolo.
Ambassador Kinyera lauded YLDC for its remarkable contributions to youth development and empowerment, emphasizing the significant benefits the government gains from the efforts of such NGOs. “Organizations like YLDC are pivotal in driving Uganda’s development agenda forward. Their work complements government initiatives and brings grassroots insights that are invaluable for crafting effective policies,” she noted. She also noted that YLDC represented Uganda well at the Youth Session of the Nordic-Africa Foreign Ministers Meeting that took place in May 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark. She encouraged YLDC to continue its exemplary work, highlighting the Governments’ commitment to supporting initiatives that empower youth and foster sustainable development.
YLDC is a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering youth through a variety of initiatives in health and lifestyle, social and gender justice, climate action, education, and economic empowerment. Since its inception in 2015, YLDC has been a pioneering force in youth advocacy and capacity building in Uganda.
The organization focuses on health and lifestyle, encompassing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), sexual and reproductive health, sports and wellness, health and fitness, edutainment, and nutrition.
In the sphere of social and gender justice, YLDC works on preventing, mitigating, and supporting victims of gender-based violence, balancing unpaid care work, supporting parenting and family dynamics, engaging men and boys for gender equality and transforming masculinities, and advancing peace building initiatives.
For climate action, YLDC promotes climate-smart agriculture, supports eco-friendly income-generating activities (IGAs) known as “green business,” and encourages clean cooking and agroforestry.
In education, YLDC ensures school entry, re-entry, retention, and completion while empowering youth economically through financial literacy, mentorship, practical skilling, apprenticeships, and IGAs.
YLDC operates through evidence-based advocacy, creating partnerships with grassroots youth-led organizations to train and engage young people in development solutions. It has partnerships with organizations in eight districts of Uganda and has implemented various projects with local and international support. Notable projects include the “Power to Girls” project supported by the MasterCard Foundation, economic empowerment initiatives for prisoners nearing sentence completion supported by Advance Afrika, and clean cooking technology training for youth in poor settlements supported by Slaenget.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proud to spotlight the achievements of YLDC as a testament to the complementary role civil society can play in harnessing the demographic dividend. Amb Santa noted that by sharing experiences and networking, Government and civil society can work together to achieve a more prosperous and equitable future for all Ugandans.
