Founder’s story: from overlooked to empowered.

I was not meant to be the founder of anything. I was meant to be forgotten.

Growing up with only an O-level education, I lived on the margins—not just economically, but emotionally and socially. At family gatherings, I watched my voice disappear while university graduates were celebrated. No matter how hard I tried to contribute, I was dismissed. In my own community, I was overshadowed. Suitors overlooked me in favour of more “qualified” girls and slowly, I began to shrink myself believing that without a degree, I had no value, no place, no future.

It wasn’t a lack of ambition. It was the absence of access.

That painful truth didn’t break me—it shaped me. It planted a quiet resolve to create spaces where worth is not measured by academic credentials but by spirit, skill and lived wisdom. I realised that what I lacked was not capability, but opportunity to learn, grow and lead.

Years later, as an adult, I made the decision to return to education—not to gain status, but to reclaim knowledge. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, followed by a Master’s in Digital Media Management from Birkbeck, University of London. These degrees were not just milestones—they were acts of healing, dignity and quiet defiance.

My journey led me to found  Genuine Happiness International Foundation – Uganda Chapter. The name itself reflects our goal: not just happiness, but genuine happiness—grounded in dignity, education and transformation. Our foundation serves young people in Uganda who were pushed out of the formal education system due to poverty, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence and stigma.

We started from the ground up. During an online meeting in September 2022, I shared my vision with a Canadian woman who once visited Uganda and understood its heartbeat. She believed in the mission. Through her network, we connected with local partners who helped us register the foundation, secure premises and recruit passionate teachers. What began as a cross-border dream quickly became a community-driven movement.

Since launching in 2023, Genuine Happiness International Foundation – Uganda Chapter has trained over 800 youth—with more than 1,000 currently enrolled. We offer free vocational training in tailoring, building construction, carpentry, hairdressing, and digital literacy. Our programs are designed for those left behind: the youth with no paperwork, no school records, no formal qualifications—but immeasurable potential.

The results speak for themselves. Our trainees gain not only hands-on skills, but nationally recognised certification, as GHIF is now an accredited government testing centre. This means our graduates don’t just have a craft—they hold credentials that open doors to employment, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.

Nearly 70% of GHIF graduates are employed or self-employed within six months. 60% are young women, many of whom are entering male-dominated trades and rewriting societal expectations. Our impact is not just vocational—it’s personal, emotional, and systemic.

Take Mariam’s story. She’s a soft-spoken 19-year-old who once believed her future was limited to domestic labour. “I was invisible,” she says. “People said I had no future because I didn’t finish school.” After enrolling in our tailoring program, Mariam started with trembling hands, unsure of herself. She graduated with skill, confidence, and now runs a small sewing business. “People come to me for work and advice. They call me Mariam the tailor. That name changed everything—it means I made it.”

Mariam’s journey is not just one of personal success—it’s a challenge to the system. Her story restores dignity, shifts narratives, and offers powerful evidence that transformation is possible without formal school.

Our classrooms are designed differently. Our trainers come from the same backgrounds as our learners. We centre lived experience, contextual instruction, and tools that feel relevant—not just aspirational. We don’t teach from above—we grow together.

Beyond vocational training, GHIF is also a hub for narrative justice. Through initiatives like Voices That Build and Moments in Movement, we amplify the voices of youth who’ve been ignored for too long. Their stories fuel campaigns, inform policy, and inspire communities. We don’t just teach skills—we make sure the world listens to those who wield them.

This work has earned local and national recognition. We have partnered with authorities, collaborated with fellow changemakers and we have been selected to contribute to the World Bank–sponsored GROW Project, advancing economic opportunity for young women across Uganda. 

But at the heart of it all is a simple belief: every young person deserves a chance to thrive; whether or not they hold a certificate.  Genuine Happiness International Foundation – Uganda Chapter is my response to rejection. It is my way of saying: “You can’t deny someone’s worth just because you haven’t heard their story yet.” Through every training, every mentorship, every testimonial, we rewrite that story.

I founded GHIF to be the platform I wish I had. And every time a graduate shakes my hand, starts a business, or mentors another learner—I am reminded that pain can be turned into purpose, exclusion can birth empowerment and invisible girls and boys can become visible leaders.

This is the heart of Genuine Happiness International Foundation – a journey we’re building, together.