Our History
About Us
Shine With Skills Foundation (SWS) is a registered non-profit organization founded in Jinja, Uganda, by Mr Ishenda Francis in 2017 and officially registered in 2019. The organization was established in response to the growing challenges of youth unemployment, poverty, inadequate skills development, poor health outcomes, and limited economic opportunities affecting vulnerable young people, particularly single mothers and unskilled youth.
SWS is committed to empowering young people of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities with practical vocational skills, entrepreneurship support, health education, and life skills that enable them to become self-reliant, economically independent, and active contributors to sustainable community development.
Guided by the belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to learn, earn, lead, and live a healthy and dignified life, SWS delivers integrated interventions that promote sustainable livelihoods and improve the overall well-being of young people and their communities.
Background
Prior to establishing the organization, the founder conducted a feasibility study that identified high poverty levels among single mothers and unemployed youth in Jinja and surrounding communities. The study revealed that many young people lacked marketable vocational skills and faced barriers including unemployment, difficult family circumstances, gender inequalities, limited access to quality health information, and inadequate livelihood opportunities.
These findings inspired the establishment of Shine With Skills Foundation as a community-driven organization dedicated to equipping vulnerable youth with practical skills, entrepreneurship opportunities, and health knowledge needed to break the cycle of poverty and build resilient futures.
