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MECHANICS TRAINING FACILITY

The Need

Road traffic accidents are now the second-largest cause of deaths in many developing African countries - due to inadequate training of drivers, damaged/poor roads, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and driving vehicles in poor mechanical condition.

Here is a Link to a newspaper article which is typical of what can occur.

Uganda is apparently the second most dangerous place in the world for traffic accidents. In Uganda in 2001 there were 14,873 reported road traffic accidents (this is likely to be less than half the true figure due to under-reporting). Estimated deaths 1,875 and 11,230 people injured. This is 20 times the equivalent figure in the UK for similar vehicle miles.

There are a number of strands which will improve this situation: Driving instruction, education and effective tests for new drivers Regular vehicle checks (like UK's annual MOT) Improvement in the condition of cars on the roads Enforcement by the police of the above requirements To address b and c, trained mechanics are required ! The objective is to increase the number of qualified mechanics in Uganda and thereby improve the condition of cars and so reduce accidents and injuries caused by vehicles in poor condition.

The Opportunity

Nile Vocational Institute (NVI) provides training in many disciplines. The main objective of the institute is to provide vocational skills for gainful employment to vulnerable youth (mainly orphans) with a view to making them self-reliant. It has had a vision for many years to add a motor mechanics training facility and training, for which there is high demand and an enromous need as a country.

Building work on the facility started in mid July 2006, and the first 15 mechanics students started on 4th September, using temporary accommodation and workshops in town. The building work was completed early in 2007. Fifteen more students started their training in February.

Motor Mechanics Training facility opened February 2007

Phil Davidson,   who teaches motor mechanics at North Trafford College, and who has had a vision to build this centre since his first visit to Uganda in 2001, was one of a team from the UK present at the official opening on February 16th 2007 . It was an exciting and indeed emotional celebration.  A massive consignement of tools, funded by Mitchells group in the UK and Draper tools arrived in Uganda the very next day. This facility is one of the best constructed and equipped in Uganda!

Phil at the new facility. Workshop on left,                            Main entrance to two bay workshop (above)

two classrooms at rear                                  

    Benon Kwikiriza Salongo,    Director of NVI                    Mr Richard Orr, General Manager Kakira Sugar

Steve Edwards speaks on behalf of UgandAid                Extremely emotional moment for UgandAid team

at the opening ceremony   (below)                                members Mike, Christine, Phil and Steve (below)

    Internal view of one of the service bays                          Captions spring to mind like 'just the pits'......

NVI will provide a one-year basic Mechanics course for groups of 15 students (male & female) who will live on site. This will be followed by a two-year more advanced course. During this they will gain a certificate from the Uganda National Examinations Board which represents reaching a standard equivalent to our City & Guilds in Vehicle Maintenance (as run at North Trafford College).

There has been an enormous demand for motor mechanics training courses. The mechanics facility could also be an important source of revenue to the Institute, which is constantly striving to be become more self sufficient.

• the facility may be used for other training when not in use by students, eg vacation periods
• Quality servicing of vehicles for the locality could be a valuable source of revenue

                                Mechanics workshop services it's very first vehicle - belonging to

Act 4 Africa team in Jinja - hopefully the first of many.

What next?... Sponsor mechanics!

The aim is to take thirty students per year into the facility for training in two intakes on a rolling programme.

Now we have the facility, we need people to sponsor mecahnics! It is the same as sponsoring a student for any course at NVI. The cost is £39 per month, which equates to £468 per year or £1404 over a three year period. This residential course will train up a mechanic to City and Guilds level giving them a chance of stable employment in the much needed area of maintaining vehicles to an acceptable standard, which ultimately will help save lives.

Maybe you personally could consider, or know a group of people or a business who would like to change a life and improve the safety of Uganda's roads by training a mechanic.

                                                New mechanics students February 2007

There will be ongoing costs to fully equip the facility with books, training materials, furniture and other equipment. The aim is to increase the number of staff as the facility reaches it's full capacity of students. Therefore, any financial support for the project will be most welcome

For more information about sponsoring a mechanic or supporting this project, contact Christine Booth, UgandAid Co-ordinator , admin@ugandaid.com