LocationsInternational Youth Day: Creative Industries Creating Hope for Youth
July 24, 2024
Faith Amojong taking group members through a training session
Young people are our most critical agents for creating a sustainable future. With the growing rate of uncertainty in the world today, characterized by conflict, inequalities, polarization and climate change acceleration, the youth of Uganda play an instrumental role in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future that leaves no one behind. Supporting youth-led networks and recognizing the immense potential of young people as positive agents of change is critical to achieving sustainable development outcomes.
A member of Dominion Circus practicing unicycling
Faith Amojong is the brain behind Dominion Circus, a youth-led enterprise consisting of 15 women and 10 men, a game changer for many underprivileged young people living in the urban slum areas of Kampala without livelihood options.
Faith works with a local organization called Touch the Slum, which identifies vulnerable youth within the slums of Namwongo, Soweto and Kanyogoga, legally enrolls them and offers them livelihood options depending on their interest.
Youth during a training exercise
Best on their interest the young people are taught quick hands-on skills in dance, literacy classes, hairdressing, aerobics, acrobatics, unicycles, gymnastics, and music production. Once trained and now experts, the group then monetizes their skills so that each of them can earn a living. Faith reaches out for opportunities within the community where the group can perform and entertain during birthday parties, festivals in schools and churches. They also leverage training partnerships with institutions, schools and clubs around the community.
“The United Nations Development Programme has played a pivotal role in helping me shape up the vision of Dominion Circus. UNDP supported through a grant which helped me buy equipment like clubs, plates, diablo, banners, unicycle, ropes, rings, matts, and these have been very vital when training children and when we get job opportunities. I have also gained more personal skills of marketing through the training programs given to us.”Faith Amojong, CEO Dominion Circus
UNDP empowers youth in Uganda and beyond to champion a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful future through capacity building, mentoring, financial support, and by strengthening national and global networks through outreach, advocacy, and thought leadership on youth empowerment. In Uganda, UNDP has provided grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) led by young people just like Faith, to elevate their creative and entrepreneurial capabilities.
Members of the Dominion Circus holding a performing arts session at a school