Books 4 Life Project

Kisirisa Muhammed at Bweise Youth Employment Centre

In a section of Kampala, Uganda, known as Bweise, live 90,000 people, packed into a small slum area. Sixty-five percent of those residents are between 15 and 25 years old. Living here is very difficult, so most young adults become subject to alcohol and drug addiction, commit petty crimes, engage in sex trafficking, or join gangs. Career training was absent.

Into this scene stepped ACTION FOR FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT (AFFCAD), founded by Kisirisa Muhammed, who was no stranger to poverty. AFFCAD developed the BWEISE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CENTRE, which trains 600-800 young adults each year in various career areas. These young people are taught such skills as financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.



Mugagga Brian Baya, the financial manager of AFFCAD and Bweise Youth Employment Centre, and Kisirisa Muhammed formed the Books 4 Life Project, which had the dual purpose of training youth to make inexpensive, but good quality books and market them. The books could then be sold to orphanages and those who care for children growing up in the slums.

Books 4 Life Project became one of the vocational offerings at Bweise Youth Employment Centre. None of the youth are charged for any of the programs. Kisirisa Muhammed has received the Muhammed Ali Humanitarian Award in 2013 and has been recognized by Ashoka as a Changemaker.

Thanks to this article by Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/kisirisa-muhammed-and-mugagga-brian-books-4-life/, and this one by Ashoka changemakers: http://www.changemakers.com/project/action-fundamental-change-and-development.

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