According to a state report released in February 2013, Uganda has the youngest population in the world. The proportion of young people in the country has swollen to 78 percent of the population, and the number of youths is only expected to rise. In August 2013, speaking on International Youth Day, President Yoweri Museveni acknowledged youth unemployment as one of the country’s most pressing issues.
During her years in Uganda working with War Child, Ans de Jager was particularly bothered by youth unemployment in the northern region of the country, an area that has been plagued by instability.
“Youth have been seriously affected by conflict in northern Uganda. There are very few businesses in the north and the young people there have limited skills. Some of them have literally grown up in IDP camps,” she explained.
Tackling the Topic of Youth Unemployment
When friends of de Jager, Mieke and Arnold Zwart, came to Uganda in 2011, they were confronted with the same issue. The topic of youth unemployment consumed their conversations with de Jager, until the threesome decided to found Flock of Birds, a social enterprise designed to support business opportunities for youth in Uganda. Arnold, with his experience in software development and business know-how, combined with Mieke and Ans’ creativity and passion for social issues, formed a dynamic team.
The organization chose a flock of birds flying through the air as both their symbol and their guiding philosophy.
“Like a flock of birds, we fly together, we explore together. There is flexibility – others can be grafted in, and you can fly in and out of the group,” de Jager said.
Still in its early stages, Flock of Birds is currently training 10 young people in Gulu — a district in northern Uganda. These young men and women are between the ages of 17 and 24; many of them are already parents themselves. During their time of training, the participants are provided with a daily stipend.
They are later evaluated based on their commitment to excellence and quality, and then they begin earning money according to their production. At the same time, they continue to take courses to develop their skills. After their internship, participants who perform according to the quality standards are guaranteed employment with Flock of Birds for at least one year.
Creative Product Design
In March 2013 the Flock of Birds shop was opened in Kampala, alongside the production center in Gulu. The shop in Kampala is a creative hub where designs are formulated and products are sold and tested.
One of the problems standing in the way of creative design, according to de Jager, is the national education system’s focus on rote learning and memorization. Coupled with a lack of opportunity, this mindset squelches entrepreneurial imagination.
“Creativity and inspiration are often blocked by the education here,” de Jager said. “We wanted to stimulate creative thinking, to push people to think outside the box. Different materials will inspire them to create different things.”
An experienced felt maker, de Jager uses the material for most Flock of Birds product designs. The result? Fresh, trendy felt designs for cell phone covers, iPad cases and household decorations — just some of the many unique products that the Flock of Birds line shelves.
These designs are then taken north to Gulu, where young people there are taught by de Jager — through the art of felt making — how to replicate them.
Alongside felt making, program participants also learn carpentry, painting and sewing. Through their training courses, Flock of Birds hopes to set young people up for success in both international and local markets.
“You won’t believe how many things are imported here,” de Jager said, shaking her head. “The most ridiculous products are being purchased from China. It’s such a shame, because Uganda has a wealth of raw products.”
Some of the products Flock of Birds targets to local markets include hotel and restaurant tablecloths, work overalls, school uniforms and candles made from a mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax. Flock of Birds believes that Ugandan businesses will be willing to pay slightly more for locally made products that are of superior quality as opposed to imported goods.
Another important branch of the Flock of Birds organization is software development training, which takes place in South Africa and Kampala. This component has major potential for income generation; not just for the individuals being trained, but also for the organization as a whole. Any profits derived from this endeavor will flow back into the Flock of Birds concept and help support their work in the north.
Teaching Basic Life Skills
Flock of Birds leadership, made up of highly driven people, has realized through experience that the training process in Gulu can be slower than expected.
“We wanted to provide opportunities for the most vulnerable, but the most vulnerable are also the ones with the least skills,” de Jager explained.
For those who have been robbed of a stable childhood and adolescence, basic life skills must be taught and new concepts slowly absorbed. In order to maintain a level of excellence, Flock of Birds gradually introduces projects and equipment to their young trainees. At the same time, the youth continue to surprise de Jager with their energetic approach to learning.
“Their level of commitment is inspiring. They are so excited to learn, and full of new ideas. It seems like every day there is someone saying, ‘Maybe we should try this,’ or ‘What if we did this?’ Last week when I was in Gulu, the young people there were just glowing.”
Flock of Birds’ work in Uganda is connected to a base in South Africa and in the Netherlands. At the moment, Flock of Birds carries several products made in South Africa. As Cape Town has been named the World Design Capital for 2014, Flock of Birds hopes to ride this momentum and connect with designers from around the globe.
The organization is constantly looking toward new goals. In the future — as quality materials are found and their training program advances — Flock of Birds hopes to have all of their products made in Uganda. They believe that small businesses are key, helping to bring the same quality products to multiple locations. As they seek to capture local markets at exhibits and trade fairs, they would also like to see Flock of Birds products being sold online and in European and American locations.
“Our goal is to get people moving away from dependency, to pursue real business alongside social aims. We want to bring the expertise and energy of people from different vocations together to make this grow,” de Jager said with a smile, settling back into her seat. “I think it’s really happening.”