ABOUT US

Nangabo Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), formerly known as Nangabo Self-Help Center, is located about 12km north of Kampala in Uganda. The center was founded in 1968 by several community leaders, including the late Katolini (Katie) Kibuka and her husband - the late Rev. Can. K. Kibuka, the late Linnea Gershenberg, the late Dr. and Mrs. Kityo, Mr. and the late Mrs. Sempiira, and Mr. Serunkuma. Mrs. Katie Kibuka was the first headmistress and the first chairperson of the governing committee.

The center started as an early childhood learning facility or nursery school for children in the local community. In addition, the center trained young women, especially those who left school prematurely, to become teachers’ assistants, providing hands-on experience through working at the nursery school. 

The founders aimed to instill the spirit of “self-help” in young women to motivate them to seek out better economic opportunities while improving their ability to nurture their families. Further, the founders wanted to develop a cycle of “self-help” by incorporating entrepreneurial skills training in the vocational programs to encourage young women to become job-creators and, in turn, provide other young women with better economic opportunities. Ultimately, it was hoped that, through these young women, this cycle of “self-help” would spread throughout their communities to encourage others to better themselves.

With this vision at its core, the center expanded into a vocational training institute for youth, both men and women, from the local community and other parts of Uganda. NVTI now provides a range of practical training programs for the youth, an early childhood development center for young children in the local community, and occasional community betterment programs. 

The institute is registered with and certified by the Uganda Ministry of Education. It registered as a non-profit organization in 1991 and has successfully maintained this status for 30 years.