Graduates urged to empower others, impact the world

KAMPALA. A group of graduate interns who have for more than a year been working in communities around the country have been urged to use their experience and expertise to impact more on the world.
This was during a Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Uganda graduation for the 25 interns who have spent the last year facilitating different programmes.

“They have come to the end of their internship, with twenty-five (25) Interns (19 ReachUp! and 6 StartUp!), successfully completing their internship period with DOT Uganda; one year internship for ReachUp and eight months for StartUp!,” said Jackline Alwedo, the Communications Officer of DOT Uganda.
Ms Alwedo said the graduate interns were able to reach out to 3,189 community participants under the ReachUp program while and 165 people were reached through the StartUp Initiative with business, technology and life skills.

Several guest speakers urged the young graduates to use the opportunity they have got to make their communities, Uganda and the world a better place.
“In a world full of noise, it is important that you are able to sieve which people add value to you. It is possible for you to be a global citizen in Kaberamaido because you have an important story to tell,” Mr Michael Niyitegeka an ICT Business Development Consultatant told the graduates.
Ms. Stella Alibateese Director, Regulation and Legal Services National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U) advised the graduates to take legal matters serious when doing business.
“Entrepreneurs need to be prepared, while it is largely ignored legal matters contribute a significant on what fails businesses in Uganda. Many times entrepreneurs forget this because they want to cut corners.”

Ms Natalie Kimbugwe, the Country Program Manager DOT Uganda emphasised the value of time if the graduates are to make headway in life.
“Keep time because opportunities are going to pass you by, it doesn’t help to have learnt a lot of things when you can’t keep time.”
On her part the guest of honour USAID Chief of Party Ms Eva Mulema Matsiko emphasised the changing trends in the world of work to the graduates.
“You are at a point in your lives where you need to make good strategic choices for example if you are not techie, you will not survive.”
The Interns received a congratulatory video message from DOT President and CEO, Janet Longmore. Janet congratulated them for completing an incredible year of transformation and for helping so many others in their own communities.
This year’s batch of graduates who received certificates was the second with the first batch of 22 Interns, under the ReachUp program equipping a total of 3,034 community participants.
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