“Turning Skills into Livelihoods, Dreams into Reality”
The Skill360 Project is a youth-centered skilling initiative by Apnom Youth Organisation Uganda that seeks to close the unemployment gap by providing young people with marketable skills, technical knowledge, and employability tools. With Uganda facing one of the highest youth unemployment rates in East Africa, Skill360 emerges as a transformative force, offering hands-on, relevant, and accessible training to both urban and rural youth, whether educated or not.
At the heart of this project is Equator Technical Institute, a dedicated learning hub providing free technical and hands-on vocational training in high-demand fields. Through multiple tailored programs—from short-term bootcamps to startup incubation challenges—Skill360 is not just a training ground, but a launchpad for youth entrepreneurship, employability, and innovation.
A self-reliant generation of skilled and innovative Ugandan youth driving national development through practical knowledge and entrepreneurship.
To equip young Ugandans with technical, digital, and entrepreneurial skills that are directly aligned with market demands—enabling them to gain employment, start businesses, and uplift their communities sustainably.
Bridge the skills-employment gap through high-quality vocational and technical training.
Foster entrepreneurship among youth through coaching, incubation, and seed funding.
Empower girls and young women in trades traditionally dominated by men.
Promote innovation and creativity among youth through access to tools and mentors.
Connect skilled youth to job opportunities in Uganda and across the global digital economy.
Encourage mindset transformation from dependence to self-reliance.
Equator Technical Institute
The central engine of the Skill360 Project, this institute provides free, certified technical training in welding, carpentry, tailoring, bakery, electrical installation, ICT, agriculture, and more. It is built on accessibility, excellence, and market-driven learning.
Skill360 Bootcamps
Short-term intensive, hands-on bootcamps focused on equipping youth with practical skills in fields such as:
These bootcamps are community-based and designed for maximum impact within 3 to 6 weeks.
Digital Artisans Program
Youth are trained in digital economy skills such as:
This is paired with entrepreneurship coaching to help youth start their own digital businesses or freelance careers.
Women in Trades Initiative
A targeted program that empowers young women by breaking gender stereotypes and skilling them in plumbing, welding, automotive repair, electrical installation, and other male-dominated trades. It includes life skills, mentorship, and safety training.
Innovation Garage
A creative space with tools, 3D printers, computers, and expert mentors where youth can bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s building prototypes, repairing electronics, or coding apps, the garage is a hub for practical innovation and tech creativity.
Startup Seed Challenge
An annual business pitch competition where youth present viable ideas in sectors like tourism, fintech, green tech, and fashion. Winners receive seed funding, mentorship, and incubation support to scale their startups.
Freelance Frontier
Prepares youth for remote and global online jobs, with training in:
The program also facilitates profile setup on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.
Job Bridge Fairs
Quarterly networking events connecting Skill360 graduates to employers in:
The fairs offer CV clinics, interview coaching, and onsite hiring opportunities.
Uganda’s future lies in the hands of its youth, yet many are left behind by systems that do not prepare them for today’s job market. The Skill360 Project redefines education and skilling—not by waiting for degrees, but by delivering real-world knowledge, practical experience, and entrepreneurial thinking directly to where it is most needed.
This is more than a project. It is a movement to break cycles of unemployment, poverty, and dependence, empowering youth with tools to build, lead, and transform.
“Skill360—because self-reliance starts with skill.” – Apnom Youth Organisation