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Jofrey trained at Basu Bandu Rural Development Association (BRUDA) in sheet metal fabrication and welding.
As an orphan, he was identified as a vulnerable young person and was provided with training in 2016. He decided to study sheet metal fabrication and welding after seeing several people in his village making a good living in this field. He completed one year of training at BRUDA, but returned for a further year to gain more work experience.
In 2019, the COVID pandemic interrupted his ambitions to establish his own business.
However, in 2020 the association opened a branch in the small town of Bwera, 40 kilometres from Kasese. They asked him to become a trainer in Bwera and establish a metal fabrication and welding training workshop. Here, he trains five students and fabricates beds, window frames, doors and sewing machine treadles.
Jofrey saw a fabricated treadle the association purchased from Kampala and thought he could do better.
Shortly after, he fabricated one for the association which was indeed made to a higher standard. He has since made two more for the association and several for private clients.
All of the items produced by the training workshop are sold and the proceeds contribute to Jofrey’s salary, the workshop’s running costs and small allowances for the trainees.
He would ultimately like to open his own workshop but he is thoroughly enjoying his current role.
Jofrey continues to train students and works on his own steel and metal fabrication and welding to supplement his income from BRUDA. As a motivated and high-quality fabricator, he has built a successful business.
He continues to fabricate treadle sewing machine bases for BRUDA and has recently been subcontracted to Albert Valley Vocational Institute for Karugutu (AVVIK) to fabricate their machine bases for projects.
Instead of the unsafe sunglasses he used whilst welding, he is now using a full-face auto-darkening mask, provided by us, with much pride.
Jofrey has saved the money he made through welding, fabrication, and training, with plans to build a house in his village.
Jofrey’s business has been doing so well that he was able to buy two fields and was cultivating cocoa as a cash crop. He has also saved enough from both businesses to build a house.
As for BRUDA, they have now moved from their rented office and workshop in the town of Bwera on the border with Congo to a small town about five miles away in a hard-to-reach location.
Here, BRUDA have been able to purchase a small plot of land and have built an office and a small training workshop. After talking to the team, they shared that Joffrey personally funded costs of the new workshop construction. His businesses continued to do well and he wanted to give something back and help others.
Jofrey’s journey highlights the profound impact of vocational training has had on his life. Reflecting on his progress over the last few years reveals a timeline of success, from mastering his craft to building a thriving business and giving back to his community.
While the scale of the help Jofrey provided to BRUDA was considerable, it is normal for former trainees to help others either financially or by continued education.
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Phone Number: 01494 775220
Email Address: admin@workaid.org
Address:
The Old Boot Factory
71 Townsend Road
Chesham
Buckinghamshire
HP5 2AA
Registered Charity: 1041574
The Office
Monday – Friday
9:30am – 12:30pm
1:30pm – 4:30pm
Tool Donations
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
9:30am – 12:30pm
1:30pm – 4:00pm
The Workaid Shop
Thursday, Friday & Saturday
10am – 4pm
The Hub
Monday & Tuesday
10am – 3pm
Phone Number: 01494 775220
Email Address: admin@workaid.org
Address:
The Old Boot Factory
71 Townsend Road
Chesham
Buckinghamshire
HP5 2AA
Registered Charity: 1041574
The Office
Monday – Friday
9:30am – 12:30pm
1:30pm – 4:30pm
The Workaid Shop
Thursday, Friday & Saturday
10am – 4pm
Tool Donations
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
9:30am – 12:30pm
1:30pm – 4:00pm
The Hub
Monday – Tuesday
10am – 3pm
Phone Number: 01494 775220
Email Address: admin@workaid.org
Address:
The Old Boot Factory
71 Townsend Road
Chesham
Buckinghamshire
HP5 2AA
Registered Charity: 1041574