At the age of 19, while still a student in Senior Five, Joanna (not real name), 31, a Congolese youth from Goma in North Kivu, was raped and became pregnant. She hid the pregnancy from her grandmother, who raised her after her mother left when she was still a baby. As if that was not bad enough, her father left home, and they never heard from him for 25 years now. Despite the circumstances, when Joanna gave birth in 2014, her grandmother accepted the child and offered her full support.
When her child was one and a half years old, worsening political instability in Congo forced Joanna to flee to Uganda. Upon arriving in Kihihi, she reunited with her aunt, and together they moved to Kampala, where her aunt’s father was living.
In Kampala, Joanna lived with her aunt’s five children. She supported the household by hawking items and doing casual work, while her aunt stayed home to care for the children. During this period, Joanna sought refuge at a church in Nsambya, where she stayed independently with her child.
Determined to rebuild her life, Joanna received informal training in mechanics through the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and worked in a garage for three years. In March last year, a lawyer she had contacted to help correct her documentation shared a link to a training opportunity at the AIRD Multiskilling Center, which she applied for and was admitted to.
Joanna speaks highly of her instructor at the center.
“I had a language barrier, but we had the best teacher at the center. Tr. Dan made sure no student was left behind. He explained everything until everyone understood, and sometimes translated into Kiswahili for students who did not understand English.”
She explained that the training helped her understand automotive systems more clearly.
“I learned the parts of a car while working in a garage, but I did not understand how they relate or how to repair them. At the AIRD Multiskilling Center, they give us tools and teach us how they work.”
Joanna said the experience inspired her to promote female participation in automotive skills.
“I want to inspire other girls to join a field that is traditionally dominated by men. I want to become a teacher or instructor and encourage more girls to love the automotive field.”
Beyond technical skills, she said the training taught her important life lessons.
“We came from different countries, speaking different languages, and coming from different backgrounds. I have learned how to live with others in harmony and love.”
Joanna expressed gratitude to AIRD, noting that the skills she has acquired will enable her to get a job and support her livelihood. The AIRD Multiskilling Center offers six-month training programs to refugees and members of host communities and is implemented by AIRD in collaboration with partners.