Testimonials

Nalumansi Ruth's Story

After my senior four, I hoped to do nursing as my first choice for a profession and Automotive Mechanics, my second choice. Unfortunately, I did not have enough money to do the nursing course so I decided to join Nile River Skilling Institute for Automotive Mechanics.   

I also believe that Vocational Training is very fundamental because it is more practical than the A-Level syllabus I intended to pursue. This makes it difficult to be unemployed because I can easily find a job that can offer me a daily pay and that means there is no day that I can sleep hungry.  

For the two semesters I have been here, I have most importantly learnt how to repair the different parts of a car and a motor bike. I have also learnt how to associate with my colleagues and teachers and made new friends. I’ve learnt to be creative and innovative in my mechanics class. For instance, during the sessions, certain things may not necessarily be taught but I am encouraged to think critically and create my own solutions and know what tools to use for certain specific issues that may arise in the engine.  

I aspire to become a great professional mechanic that will be able to take care of my family, friends and even others around me that are in need. I also greatly believe that the environment and behaviour of everyone at the Institute especially our tutors who train us with diligence and integrity and also teach us customer care will impact my career.

Kalema Daniel's Story

I always wanted to learn a skill so I started to look around for different vocational institutions in order to start learning. I then started school at a garage in Kyebando where my father paid 700,000 Uganda Shillings for my time of study. But while at the garage, life was really tough because the mechanical work was very complex and after paying all that money, I never received lunch, a place to stay or transport for the long distance. After a few weeks of horror at the garage, I decided to run away without telling my parents because I could not explain that mechanics was hard after payment of all that money. My sister then advised me to go to the village in Lugazi where my grandma stays. It was grandma that told be about Nile River Skilling Institute and when I came, I told myself I would not hustle with complex courses again so I decided to do Cosmetology and Hair Dressing which I deeply enjoy and have fun doing today.

As I finished my Senior Four final exams, one of our invigilators told us that if some of us did not have the capability of paying for University, it would be very smart to join a vocational school instead of going for A-level which prepares one for campus. From that day I learnt the great importance of Vocational Training especially for one who cannot afford university but I also knew that a degree never guarantees a job as compared to a certificate or diploma from vocational school.

In my time at Nile River Skilling Institute, I have gained confidence and the boldness to speak in public. I was always shy and unsure of myself but I believe that this school has made me a better person today. I have also been able to make many good friends that encourage me to read the Bible. The worship sessions that we have twice a week have also transformed me into a better person than I was. 

My hope is that the God that brought me to this Institution shall also direct me to a good job and someday I will be able to start my own salon parlour and be even more successful than those that judged me for going in for Cosmetology and Hair dressing which is a course commonly joined by girls. I am grateful to study from here because I have been able to meet very many people that have positively influenced me and believed in me and I know that these same people will be the ones to offer me employment and boost me to start up my own business after school.  

Gyagenda Peter's Story

I finished my senior four last year with the hope of proceeding to A-level for S.5 and S.6. But I could not go on as planned due to financial constraints, so I sat home for a number of months doing farming but constantly wondering what to do because I sure did not want my learning journey to end there. I later heard that a vocational school was being built in the next village so I decided to check it out with a hope of getting a place upon its completion. When I visited the institute I was awed by the clean and nice environment and did not even want to leave. I am grateful to God that I am now here today and my learning journey continues. 

I honestly believe that a person who does not have the capability to go to the university should not bother going for A-level because it would amount to nothing. A vocational institute would be a wiser option because when you finish your course you are more than able to start working and earn money yet one who has gone for A-level simply has theories in his or her head that they cannot apply because there is no job whose qualification can be an O level or A level certificate. 

Before coming to Nile River Skilling Institute, I was a very shy person with no confidence whatsoever. I feared talking to people and actually had only one friend on the entire village plus my siblings. I can now confidently say that I am a better person today, I have so many friends not only in my class but also in the other courses at the Institute. I also had a strong fear for electricity and it is interesting that I am now studying electricity and electrical installation which has helped me lose my fear for electricity through the knowledge I have gained from this Institution. 

My ambitions are to continue studying and pursue more DIT levels and later go for the National Certificate to become even more learned. I also hope to diversify and go into electronics such that I am an expert at electrical installations and electronics too. I am thankful for our Director who has graciously given us the opportunity to become more significant citizens by pushing us to apply for further studies even after finishing this level we are at. I would also like to appreciate our tutors who teach us with diligence and constantly give us opportunities to work in the field. I believe that these same people are the ones that will give us job opportunities after we finish our studies. 

Nakidde Hadijjah's Story

During my Senior One holiday, I visited my mother here in the village. Then one day I asked my cousin Hassan if I could escort him to the construction site for a vocational institute that was being built. So upon completion of the Institution, I refused to go back to secondary to finish Senior One because I wanted to study at the vocational institute. My big sister then asked me what I wanted and I said I wanted to do fashion and design which she did not accept and my immediate course that I picked after was electrical installation because I always loved their work even though it seemed expensive to study. In the end, I finally got admitted with Electrical Installation and I have no regrets whatsoever. 

I would say that Vocational School is very good but it saves a lot of time. For example, I am about to get a DIT Level One certificate in Electrical Installation yet my friends that I left in secondary are just finishing Senior Two. So I know for sure that it is much better to go for vocational training and the earlier one starts, the better. I have learnt so much in the short period of time that I have been here. I knew nothing about how electricity works or the equipment and tools used and yet now I can carry out a full electrical installation for a homestead, a school or even a large building.

I have also learnt how to pray because of the time we have for fellowship here on Monday and Thursday because before I came here, I never really prayed that much because I did not feel the need to. But I have since learnt the importance of prayer through the fellowships and good friends I have made. I also know now that Vocational Training is not for secondary school failures because it may be even more complex than high school. So I would encourage those with a passion for practical skills to join us. 

I hope that when I am done with the different levels of my course that I will get a job that will be a stepping stone for me to start my own workshop for electrical equipment and installation material.