Pauline Foundation

Creating a generation of young African leaders through practical business and technology skills training, sponsorship, mentorship, and talent development.

Uganda is one of the countries with the world's youngest population with over 78 percent of its population below the age of 30. The country also has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in sub-Sahara Africa close to 64 percent.

Uganda is one of the world's youngest country with a high youth unemployment rate has negatively affected communities and the economy. UNESCO ranked Uganda 11th in the world with the highest number of children out of school because of young parents that don't have enough income to pay school fees for their children. Youth crime rate has increased to around 42 percent because the youth are idle and not engaged in productive activities. HIV/AIDS rate has increased to 11.6 percent and a yearly increase in the number of street kids/youth looking for ways of survival. Furthermore, the youth that has graduated from college can't find jobs Uganda has limited jobs compared to the number of students who graduate and other graduates don't have employable skills because the education system is more of theory than practical training.

As a young woman with passionate about contributing towards the transformation of Ugandan Youth, Miss Pauline Nalumansi founded 'Pauline Foundation' focusing on equipping and empowering the youth with income-generating and soft skills with an emphasis of enhancing creativity, problem solving skills, critical thinking, innovation and technology to change the individuals' mindset from job seeking to job creating.

Pauline foundation has a competitive advantage in that it was founded and is run by African nationals who have faced similar challenges the youth facing currently. We are focused on equipping the youth with both practical and soft-life skills that can give them financial freedom, where they can operate both in Africa and beyond.

The Pauline Foundation team primarily uses internet and technology like smartphones for communication both within the organization and externally. We leverage social media platforms to reach out to local and international communities, beneficiaries and partners.

The top three goals of the Pauline foundation include:
- Introduce at least 5 new programs for practical skills training including a computer library to equip scholars with computer skills.
- Set up book library to encourage a reading culture among the youth to expand their knowledge.
- Start a mentorship program where we match scholars with professionals, employers, experts and experienced personnel to provide professional advice and expand their networks.

We look forward to becoming one of the most sought-after organizations with an established institution that is focused on empowering and equipping the youth with income-generating and employable skills that will enable them to create jobs. With this institution, we plan to have large departments which will include Information Technology Department, Practical skills, and training department, marketing and sales department, a mentorship program and natural development center.

We hope to increase the number of youth scholars to 200 and expand to other parts of East Africa like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Pauline Foundation empowers a number of students who were enrolled in the first cohort, these are youth ranging between the age of 13-30 years of age. Most are school dropouts and young parents who were previously unable to access digital system as a result of financial constrains faced by their parents. The foundation advocates the youth to take part in studying and learning the digital systems through the free computer skills training, using social media platforms for communication, as well as giving them free access to computers and guidance.

Pauline Foundation solution has proven to be measurably effective because our 10 current beneficiaries have acquired practical skills that can enable them to start their own businesses. We can sell thier products to give them startup capital and raise organizational funds.

We are currently a team of 5 volunteers and 10 scholars. We have 3 computers, 2 tablets and smarts phones that are used by both the volunteers and the scholars. Currently, we are teaching our basically computers skills and the volunteer team is learning to use social media and professional platforms to improve our communication.

The Pauline Foundation was founded by Miss Pauline Nalumansi who still overseeing the organization.

Pauline faces the challenge of communicating with her team given the fact that technology is the only means of engaging with her team has become a hindrance to smooth operations.

Pauline Foundation's strategy is to embark on identifying the suitable candidates through reaching out and walk-ins, door to door, as well as using social media platforms such as Facebook to create awareness and request those interested to apply for the available skills, we will then enroll them in our organization to start receiving our services. Pauline foundation is to address the above challenge through liaising with other organizations of the same nature and partners, introduce motivational speakers to train in other areas like, marketing skills and mentorship, training in great productive and practical skills, we also plan on carrying out continuous follow up on the progress of the students not only in class but also outside so as to get to bond more with them as well as get to know them more.

This foundation is looking forward to buying land from where we plan to establish a good and accommodative institution with great facilities and technologies that can be used to improve our services delivery to the youth. We will establish a fully equipped Information Technological department with a good number of computers and computer accessories that will be managed through critical supervision of good IT technicians and experts. We also hope to set up shops that will be used to sell products to potential clients as another way of marketing and creating a continuous flow of income.

Barriers/Risks:
-Emerging technology risks: staff are not yet well equipped to operate new technology or train scholars, delaying operations.
-Physical risks: we use old computers with old model hard and soft wares which hinders the team's operation and decrease production ability.
-Limited reading across Africa: when we buy new equipment and electronics, operation manuals are not read and the organization stands a risk of damages and total loss.
-Registering a nonprofit organization has become a tedious process and costly which has prolonged registration of our organization because of government fears of being funded by terrorists.