Celebrating student skills, innovation and entrepreneurship
Don Bosco Vocational Training Center (VTC) Palabek hosted a one-day Junior Achievement (JA) Uganda Business Skills Exhibition 2026, bringing together students from different departments to showcase innovative products and business ideas developed through their vocational training.
The exhibition provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate not only their technical skills, but also their creativity, entrepreneurship, teamwork, and ability to identify and respond to challenges within their communities
Encouraging Creativity and Entrepreneurship
In his opening remarks, the Principal of Don Bosco VTC Palabek, Fr. Jean Bosco Nteringanya, encouraged students to be creative, confident, and attentive to opportunities around them. He appreciated the contribution of the school management, government authorities, JA Uganda, partners, and parents towards the success of the exhibition.
Practical Skills and Innovation
The exhibition demonstrated how students are turning their vocational skills into practical products and services through departments such as Welding, Agriculture, Tailoring, Solar & Electrical, Mechanics, Hairdressing, and Carpentry.
Addressing Community Challenges
Students presented businesses and products designed to respond to real needs within the Palabek community, including school bags, solar energy solutions, menstrual hygiene kits, kitchen cleaners, and nutritious food products. These initiatives demonstrated how vocational skills can be transformed into practical solutions that improve livelihoods and address everyday challenges.
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GRADUATES ENTERPRISES
Presentation from former students in addressing community challenges
Ecoease, founded by Amito Golda, addresses challenges associated with absenteeism, poor academic performance, school dropout, and early marriage by producing reusable menstrual hygiene kits containing sanitary pads and underwear, with a design intended to make washing easier and more hygienic. The team produces, packages, markets, and sells the kits directly. The business had generated UGX 120,000 in revenue and UGX 32,000 in profit from an initial investment of UGX 8,000, according to the information presented during the exhibition.
Trust Fresh responds to challenges faced by households and food-service businesses in removing cooking oil, grease, stains, and stubborn food residues from kitchen utensils. The company produces an affordable liquid kitchen cleaner and works directly with users to test the product, collect feedback, and improve it. The initiative was presented by co-founder BAKAP YAK KUOL.
Glow Root, through its product SINA, focuses on childhood nutrition. Co-founder Yonia Scovia highlighted concerns about acute malnutrition among children in Palabek Refugee Settlement and presented SINA as an affordable porridge flour containing vitamins and protein. The team also educates caregivers on how to properly prepare the product and uses customer feedback to improve it.
Skills for Sustainable Livelihoods
The exhibition also highlighted the importance of combining vocational training with entrepreneurship. A representative of the Gender and Green TVET project emphasized that business skills are central to empowering young people and encouraged stakeholders to support student enterprises by exploring and purchasing their products. The project operates across Don Bosco VTC Palabek, Don Bosco VTC Kamuli, and Don Bosco VTC Bombo, with activities extending to Rwanda and Burundi. The representative also thanked Jugend Eine Welt, the administration, trainers, trainees, and other stakeholders for contributing to the success of the exhibition.
Encouragement from Community Leaders and Partners
WINNERS
Celebrating Student Innovation
The Director of Don Bosco VTC Palabek congratulated the students and staff on the exhibition, emphasizing that every department had demonstrated creativity and commitment through its products and presentations. He described the students’ achievements as a source of pride for the Salesians and the institution.
The exhibition concluded with the announcement of the leading student enterprises in the 2026 JA Uganda Skills Competition at Don Bosco VTC Palabek
- 1st Place: Rise and Shine Beauty Bag Enterprise from Tailoring
- 2nd Place: God’s Mercy JA Electrical – Solar and Electrical Level Two
- 3rd Place: Timberland Furniture Company Ltd – Carpentry and Joinery
Strengthening Market-Oriented Vocational Training
THE PRINCIPAL
The Principal of Don Bosco VTC Palabek thanked the trainers and students for their dedication and hard work in preparing for the exhibition. He emphasized the importance of equipping graduates with the practical skills and confidence needed to compete in the labour market and create their own opportunities. He noted that the institution's role goes beyond providing technical education, as it also seeks to empower students with entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and the ability to turn their vocational skills into sustainable businesses.
He further appreciated JA Uganda for the partnership and for providing students with an opportunity to develop and showcase their business ideas. He encouraged the students to continue practising, improving, and applying the skills they have acquired beyond the training environment, reminding them that the knowledge gained at Don Bosco VTC can serve as a foundation for employment, entrepreneurship, and service to their communities.
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER (OPM)
Representing the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Palabek Refugee Settlement, Mr. Tom Tausi appreciated the progress made during the exhibition, noting the improvements compared with previous years. He encouraged JA Uganda and other partners to continue supporting the students as they move from training into business and employment. He also urged the student companies to formally register with the relevant authorities so that they can access and benefit from opportunities and projects available to both refugee and host communities.
Mr. Tausi further called for stronger involvement of logistics, procurement, and marketing partners in future exhibitions. He emphasized that connecting student businesses with potential buyers and suppliers could help create wider markets for products made at Don Bosco VTC Palabek. He encouraged the institution to strengthen these partnerships so that locally produced goods can meet community needs while creating opportunities for the students to grow their enterprises.
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