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Ouganda
Jesca Tumalu witnessed first-hand struggles
when she had to flee her home country South Sudan due to war and instability.
She and her family resettled in Ariwa village, Yumbe district in Northern
Uganda. Due to the lack of school fees, Jesca was forced to drop out of school
when she was in Primary Four. She resorted to staying at home and helping her
parents with daily home chores.
Jesca’s fate changed when she came across
an advert by Edukans, Enabel’s implementing partner for a youth skills training
programme in her community. She decided to apply for the programme on solar repair
and engineering. She chose this course because she had seen the challenges of
living without electricity and she was driven by the desire to change the
living conditions of members of her community.
“I
am grateful for acquiring these skills in solar wiring because where I come
from in Ariwa, people are suffering because they don’t have power. Life is
really difficult. I want to help my people by bringing electricity to them and
making their lives better,” says Jesca.
Upon completing her training and
internship, Jesca was privileged to get a job with Ora a company based in Yumbe
town, where she now puts her expertise to use.
“My work involves wiring,
installing solar panels and making solar connections, repairs and maintenance”.
Jesca's success goes beyond personal
achievement; it is a beacon of hope for other young women in her community.
Despite societal norms dictating that certain fields are reserved for men,
Jesca encourages female youth to pursue their passions fearlessly. She is
living proof that females can break barriers and thrive in traditionally
male-dominated industries if they remain determined and resilient.
“At
first I found this course very difficult but it got better with practice and
now I enjoy what I do”, she says.
Due to her job, Jesca can now pay rent, buy
clothing and cater for her transport to and from work, thereby making her life
easier. She inspires other youth to follow in her footsteps while making a
positive impact in their communities.
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