From a young age, Joel Abaho knew exactly what he wanted to be: a mechanic. Growing up in Makenke, Mbarara district, in Uganda, he would watch vehicles with attention, determined that one day, he would understand how they worked.

Joel is the firstborn of seven children. His father, a professional teacher, has been unemployed for some time, surviving by running errands for people in the village to support the family. He fetches water for people in the neighborhood and occasionally rides a boda boda to make deliveries to cater to his family’s needs.

Last year, Joel was forced to drop out of school after completing Senior Two. He wanted to allow his siblings an opportunity to also attain some bit of education

Hope returned when he heard an announcement from the local council chairperson about the training opportunities offered by AIRD’s multi-skilling program. He applied, was accepted, and his excitement knew no boundaries. His dream was about to come true.

During the training, Joel gained hands-on experience in servicing cars, overhauling engines, handling customers, and learning essential business management skills. Today, he is interning at Hi-Tech Automobile, where he is building real-world experience.

The training is part of AIRD’s efforts to equip refugees and youth from host communities with employability and life skills. The Multi-skilling center is run in collaboration with partners like UNHCR.

Each day, Joel wakes up at 6:00 a.m. and walks for half an hour to the workshop. He arrives early to prepare the space, organize tools, and get ready to assist customers. His dedication keeps him there until 7:00 p.m., after which he walks back home, ready to repeat the cycle the next day.

Despite the hardships, Joel’s vision is clear: he dreams of one day opening his own garage and a spare parts shop, where he can fulfill his passion and create opportunities for others. All this is being brought to reality by AIRD, and for that, he states how grateful he is.

Written by

Yvonne Njuna