Beyond Borders: Skills development as a pathway to hope for displaced youth

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OPINION

By Eunice Innocent Katushabe

Each year, World Humanitarian Day serves as a powerful reminder of the profound struggles faced by millions of displaced persons worldwide. In Uganda, this reality is particularly pressing.

As of July 2025, Uganda generously hosts approximately 1.9 million displaced persons and asylum seekers, according to the latest data from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government's Office of the Prime Minister.

For many of these young people, displacement is not just a physical journey; it's a daily battle against uncertainty, a search for hope amidst immense vulnerability.

The challenges are staggering. Displaced persons often flee violence, conflict, or natural disasters, arriving in new settlements that frequently lack basic necessities like clean water, healthcare, and adequate housing.

For the youth, the path to a stable future is fraught with barriers. Schools in these settlements are often overcrowded and under-resourced, making continued education a luxury.

Finding work is a constant struggle, leaving families vulnerable to food insecurity and poor living conditions. Discrimination from host communities can deepen their sense of isolation.

While Uganda's policy framework on employment rights for displaced persons is progressive a model for the region, practical challenges in implementation and resource allocation persist.

This is especially true for urban-based displaced persons who often lack formal recognition and the necessary identification documents to access employment and training opportunities. There is a clear need for policy adjustments to ensure all displaced persons, regardless of their location, can fully exercise their right to work.

Despite these hardships, there is a growing recognition that empowering displaced youth with soft skills can be a transformative force. Skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional resilience are not just "nice-to-haves"; they are critical for adapting to new environments and seizing opportunities.

BrighterMonday Uganda, in a strategic partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is at the forefront of this effort through the Young Africa Works program.

This initiative is designed to foster integration, enhance employability, and build the confidence of young people across Uganda, with a special focus on females and other vulnerable groups.

Through its commitment to allocate at least 10% of its program beneficiaries to internally displaced persons (IDPs), BrighterMonday Uganda is ensuring that these vulnerable youths are not left behind.

The program provides workshops, mentorship, and peer support, equipping participants with the tools they need to navigate adversity and rebuild their lives with dignity. This data-driven approach ensures that interventions are targeted and have a tangible impact on those who need it most.

Being a displaced person in Uganda today is a life of vulnerability, but it is also a testament to incredible resilience and hope. BrighterMonday Uganda believes that by investing in the potential and soft skills of displaced youths, particularly young women, we can turn this vulnerability into a pathway for opportunity and possibility.

As Uganda today celebrates the World Humanitarian Day, we urge all stakeholders, including governments, humanitarian organisations, donors, and communities, to intensify their support for displaced persons and asylum seekers in Uganda.

It is time to increase investment in soft skills training and livelihood opportunities tailored to displaced youths, and to make the necessary policy adjustments to address the ongoing implementation gaps and displacement challenges. The time for decisive action is now.

The writer is a Gender and Inclusion Associate, BrighterMonday Uganda