02.07.2024

“Great Opportunity to Prosper in Life”

UEM Moderator Bishop Dr. Abednego Keshomshahara (front right) with UEM Programme Officer Christine Musongya (front left) and some of the workshop's participants.

Photos by: UEM

“You have great opportunity to prosper in life through self-employment, starting from small scale and keep on growing gradually.”, Bishop Dr. Abednego Keshomshahara said in his opening speech. As Bishop of ELCT-NWD* and Moderator of the UEM, he opened the follow up workshop on Youth entrepreneurship and self-employment in Bukoba, Tanzania.

18 Youth from the two UEM member churches ELCT-NWD and ELCT-KAD* attended the workshop. They have for some time indicated a high level of interest in starting a business.  Yet, this entrepreneurial ambition does not always translate into business creation or working as self-employed. Despite increased support and investment in youth entrepreneurship, youth continue to face barriers in entrepreneurship, including a lack of entrepreneurship skills, limitations in building networks and difficulties accessing finance.

This workshop was an opportunity for all participants to share knowledge and experiences from their respective entrepreneurship activities. It worked as an open discussion for sharing, learning and listening: What have other participants encountered in their respective activities? What challenges do they face when implementing entrepreneurship activities? Participants have been discussing the advantages of self-employment and its impact on the society. They appreciated the previous entrepreneurship workshops implemented by UEM which opened their eyes to start seeing opportunities around them. Though they have started their entrepreneurship activities in different capacities, still they require support to improve their business. Also there are some who failed to start anything due to lack of capital.

Participants learned more about networking among one another and mutual support. They visited some businesses who are running well and get in touch with their respective owners. Finally, the workshop is aimed not just at the youth themselves, but at their home communities and churches, as well.

*ELCT/NWD = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, North Western Diocese

*ELCT/KAD = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese