1 million Youth to be transformed by UNICEF Uganda’s ‘Fundoo’ Digital Resource

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, in partnership with UNICEF Uganda, has launched a webinar series centered around “Fundoo,” a free digital resource designed to equip Ugandan youth with essential 21st-century skills.

The initiative aims to address challenges related to jobs and employment by enhancing young people’s readiness for the modern job market.

Tollea Franko, Assistant Commissioner for Children and youth Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, noted that, “Through these expert-led sessions, we believe young people will enhance their skills. Equipping them with the right knowledge not only enables them to learn but also helps build a strong nation, as the youth are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Emmanuel Yeka, Head of ICT at the Ministry of Gender and Social Development, emphasized the importance of digital services in transforming the youth and the country, aligning with the national development plan. “Fundoo not only provides soft skills but also connects the youth to the job market, offering a crucial stepping stone for their careers,” Yeka stated.

Denise Ayebare, a U-Reporter and third-year law student at Makerere University, highlighted the platform’s diverse offerings, including communication skills, mental health support, and resources on gender-based violence.

The webinar series, themed “Unlocking Potential of the 21st Century Generation,” will consist of six monthly sessions running from March to August. These sessions will feature expert panelists from various government agencies and development partners, focusing on critical 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration, adaptability, critical thinking, and creative thinking.

 

The initiative has an ambitious target to provide soft skills training to one million young people across Uganda.

Susan Sserumaga, Technology for Development Officer at UNICEF Uganda, noted the rapidly changing environment in which young people are growing, driven by advancements in ICT and AI, something that can be better bridged by innovative solutions like FunDo.

 

“These skills are essential for young people to thrive in a highly competitive market and transition smoothly from the classroom to the workforce,” Sserumaga explained. “Fundo enables them to learn at their own pace, enhancing their creativity and thinking capacity.”

 

The platform is designed to be accessible nationwide, compatible with both smartphones and feature phones, ensuring that even those in remote areas can benefit.

Experiential learning. ‘FunDoo’ gives the learners content through experiential learning, where they choose the skills they want, and embark on an engaging and fun learning experience.

 

FunDo is accessible via a free app, obtainable by messaging U-Report through the Ministry’s chatbot. Its does not need one to have mobile data in order to be accessed.

 

Bite-sized modules. ‘FunDoo’ content is divided into learning modules or ‘tasks’ which take 30-45 minutes to complete and have a specific learning outcome. The platform also has an organized, modular library of tasks that learners can choose from and in the order they prefer.

 

Self-paced. ‘FunDoo’ gives learners the flexibility to complete tasks at their own pace wherever they are.