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Oeganda
“If you
interact with people, you can win a contract. If you can win a contract, you
can build a career. If you can build a career, you can be successful”, says Mr. Justus Twinomujuni. He is a graduate civil engineer at the Bazira Kiteesa Sports Ground, where
he was placed when he applied for the six-month Enabel's Work Readiness Programme (WRP).
Justus journey began with a curiosity to bridge the gap between the theoretical
knowledge he acquired in school and practical application in a real-world
setting. He had the noble desire to contribute towards community development
through his engineering skills.
At the Bazira
Kiteesa Sports Ground, the graduate engineer monitors and advises on technical
operations, guides contractors, and ensures adherence to quality standards and
safety protocols. His confidence has soared as he actively engages with
community leaders and locals to understand their perspectives and needs.
He is excited
to integrate his engineering expertise with community insights. Moreover, from
the Programme, in addition to honing his technical
skills in software proficiency in technical tools like Civil 3D and ARCHCARD,
Justus says he has also polished his soft skills like effective communication
and problem-solving abilities. For a fresh graduate, he has
impressively adapted quickly to the professional work environment. With his proven
capacity to engage with diverse stakeholders, from educated professionals who
are his mentors and direct supervisors to those less-versed in technicalities who work at the Sports Ground
which is under construction.
Facing minimal
challenges, Justus highlights the supportive environment provided by the
Programme directors. Any issues he faces are swiftly
addressed through collaborative resolutions, which has eased his learning
experience.
Justus notes that his active involvement in constructing a pavilion as part of the
Sports Ground project is his significant contribution to the Lwengo Community. The
Sports Ground is where the famous Kabaka Run has been modestly commemorated for
the last three years by community members around the area. The Run is flagged off by the Kabaka on the last Sunday preceding his birthday which is on 13th April, and it aims at promoting fitness, health, and community engagement. Participants usually gather at Lubiri palace and run through the city, with different distances available for people of all fitness levels). Youngsters always
visit to practice athletics. Justus has kept close contact with NGO ‘Engineers
Without Borders’ and can advise the construction team on the ground with guidance
from the NGO. This, he says, has enriched his practical
experience and widened his perspective on civil engineering.
The graduate’s
major takeaway from the six-month WRP so far is the
importance of interpersonal skills as he emphasises that effective interaction
with people is pivotal not only for securing contracts but also for building a
successful career in engineering.
With this
positive attitude, Justus hopes to leverage his training to contribute to
a greater impact in the Lwengo community in the next three months, “I’ll be ready
to happen and be the impactful marvel I’ve always wanted to be”, says
Justus.
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