Fabrimart Skills Initiative · Uganda

Alternative
Pathways —
one weld
at a time.

We recruit out-of-school young people from rural Uganda, house them, and provide free professional training in welding and metal fabrication — giving them the skills to build a life.

Programme at a glance

20+
Trainees enrolled
UGX 0
Cost to trainees
5+
Rural districts
85%
Employment rate
6-month programme Free housing & meals Certificate on completion Ages 17–24
85%+
Graduate employment
5+
Districts reached
100%
Zero cost to trainees
6 mo
Programme length

A business that builds people,
not just metal.

Fabrimart is a welding and fabrication business rooted in Kampala, Uganda. But we have always believed a business can do more than build things — it can build people and transform entire communities.

What started as a small personal effort — taking in a few young men and women who had dropped out of school with no qualifications and no path forward — has grown into the Fabrimart Alternative Pathways Initiative, a structured, life-changing pre-employment skills programme. We saw potential in young people from rural communities who had no access to vocational training. No transport to towns. No money for fees. No second chances. And we decided to act with the resources we had.

"When you invest in a young person's skill, you don't just change their life — you change their family, their community, and the generation that comes after them."

Molly Nabwami — Co-founder, Fabrimart Skills Initiative

Everything a trainee receives

Our programme removes every barrier between a young person and a skilled career. Here is what every enrolled trainee gets — at zero cost.

⚙️
Pre-employment training
Practical skills needed for employment, apprenticeships, or further vocational education — no prior experience required.
🔧
Skills development
Hands-on training in stick and arc welding, metal cutting, fabrication techniques, and workshop safety — taught by qualified tradespeople.
💼
Employment opportunities
We retain 80% of graduates and support others in finding employment in welding spaces across Uganda.
📜
Certification
A recognised certificate of professional competence on graduation — a credential they carry for life and use to access formal employment.
🏠
Free housing & meals
Trainees move into our facility and receive free accommodation and meals throughout the entire six-month programme.
🤝
Networking & community
Connections with fellow graduates, industry contacts, and the broader Fabrimart community — a support network that lasts beyond the programme.

From outreach to employment

A structured four-stage journey that transforms potential into a skilled, sustainable career.

1
Community outreach
We identify motivated out-of-school young people aged 17–24 in rural communities across Uganda who are committed to learning a trade.
2
Intake & housing
Selected trainees move into our facility and receive free accommodation, meals, and all required personal protective equipment from day one.
3
Hands-on training
Over six months, trainees receive structured instruction in welding processes, metal fabrication, and workplace safety.
4
Certification & placement
Graduates earn a skills certificate and receive direct support to connect with employers or launch their own welding business.

The problem we are solving

Hundreds of thousands of young Ugandans leave school every year without qualifications. Without access to vocational training, they face unemployment, poverty, and lost potential. A trade changes everything.

85%+
Graduate employment & continued training
The vast majority of our graduates are retained or go on to paid employment in fabrication spaces within months of completing the programme.
5+
Rural districts reached across Uganda
We actively recruit from underserved rural communities where formal vocational training simply does not exist or is not financially accessible.
100%
Zero cost to every single trainee
No fees, no loans, no hidden conditions. Every trainee is housed, fed, equipped, and trained entirely at the programme's expense — funded by supporters like you.

Fund a young person's future

Every contribution directly supports a trainee's housing, meals, training materials, safety equipment, and certification. Your investment changes a life permanently — and builds Uganda's future skilled workforce.

$50
One week of full support
Covers a week of accommodation and meals for one trainee enrolled in the programme.
$1,200
Full programme sponsorship
Sponsors one trainee through the complete 6-month programme from intake day to certification.
💳
Financial donation
One-time or recurring contributions to directly fund trainees
🔩
Equipment
Donate welding machines, tools, PPE, or consumables
🏢
Corporate CSR
Align your company's social impact goals with measurable results
🙋
Volunteer
Share expertise in business, trades, or mentorship

Who can apply

The Fabrimart Alternative Pathways Initiative is open to young people from rural communities across Uganda who have left school and are ready to commit to building a new path.

Ready to build a new path?

We believe that potential and determination matter far more than paper qualifications. If you are motivated and committed, we want to hear from you.

  • Aged 17–24 years old
  • From a rural community in Uganda
  • Left school before completing primary or secondary level
  • Genuinely motivated to learn a practical trade
  • Able to commit to the full 6-month programme
  • No prior welding experience necessary

Apply directly to:
skills@fabrimart.co.ug

Rolling admissions — intakes every 6 months

Know a young person from a rural community who needs this opportunity? Reach out to us — we accept referrals too.