Country: Uganda

About: Noah founded the Namirembe Sweater Makers to tackle the growing unemployment and poverty in his community. Using his knitting skills that were taught to him by his late grandmother, and by using the earnings that he generated from petty jobs, he started a community-based organization that knits sweaters to combat unemployment. Some of the earnings generated from knitting sweaters were used to put himself and other employees through school.

Recipe for Change: 

1. No single solution; Everyone can participate in the fight against unemployment and poverty. Unemployment is caused by many diverse issues that affect each person differently. Some have found themselves affected by educational challenges, social challenges, political challenges among others. This implies that the solutions are also equally diverse but are united by the same mission of fighting unemployment. For Example to fight educational causes of unemployment, such as “lack of access to education’ one can provide a credit skills development program. Or a leader in the political space can set policies in government that fight unemployment, or social causes can be fought back by recreating better social norms that empower people for employment. We can all play a part in this mission. 
2. Start small; Unemployment and poverty are big global challenges which can scare an individual, however your small project impacts the fundamental unit of a community (which is family). Your venture can start by just providing employment to you and then it can expand to employ others. 
3. Empower people; This can be through providing opportunities and resources that enable one to freely express themselves. Once people express themselves freely, it unlocks the creative capacity then new ideas start coming up about how to set-up ventures or look for how to add value to society.
4. Hire for values and build skills; With the fast changing world it’s becoming impossible to get a job in direct line with the educational skills received. The best education has become one that teaches you how to learn on your own. It has also become clear that the strongest companies are ones that easily adjust with change. Therefore, as an employer you need to focus on hiring people who can learn and who have experiences in life values rather than focusing on work skill experiences. The skills can be developed anytime as long as one has the right values for the workplace.
5. Celebrate simple achievements; People normally set targets and goals for their life or work inorder to keep themselves accountable. Some of these goals can be as simple as learning how to search for a job, or learning how to do interviews. When we celebrate these small achievements, people are encouraged to continue setting other goals and accomplishing them

Recipe: UGANDAN ROLEX

Ugandan Rolex is the most common street food in Uganda. It’s usually served with a drink such as coffee, tea or fresh drinks. What I like about this meal is once you get the main ideas, you can prepare it in your own style. It can be prepared as an Ovo-vegetarian or “meatatarian” dish. I prepare mine as meatatarian but with lots of vegetables such as cabbage and fresh tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS:

Part 1

– (1kg) Flour

– 1⁄4 Litre Oil

– 1 finely grated carrot

– 1 finely grated onion

– 1⁄2 little cup of hot water

– 2 pinches of salt

Part 2

– Eggs (8 eggs)

– Cooking oil (appropriate amount)

– Finely chopped onions

– Salt (approximately 1 pinch)

Part 3

– Small cut pieces of beef/chicken

– Chopped pieces of tomatoes

– Chopped pieces of onion

– Cooking oil (appropriate amount)

– One stalk of chopped spring onion

– Salt (approximately 1 pinch)

– Add any spices of choice (Curry powder, black pepper, red pepper, garlic, carrot)

INSTRUCTIONS

Part 1

In a large bowl, add flour together with finely grated red onions, finely grated carrot and 3 tablespoons of oil. Add little sums of hot water in small proportions as you knead to form a dough. This should take around 10 minutes until the dough stops sticking on your hands. To form a soft chapati (flatbread)  knead a smoothly soft dough.

Roll the dough into a small ball the size of a golf ball. After rolling a small ball, apply a little oil on top then after sprinkle pinches of flour and rest them on a clear surface. Sprinkle flour on a flat surface or rolling board. Using a rolling pin, roll the small ball into flat circles of about 4-5 inches. Flip the flattened dough on the opposite side and apply little flour so that it doesn’t stick on the rolling surface. Heat a pan to medium temperature and apply one tablespoon full of oil. Put the rolled dough and stretch it with the hand to make a clear circular shape. Cook for about 1 minute and check until the raised bumps begin to appear golden brown. Apply another teaspoon of oil on the top end and flip. Gently press on the bumps until it turns brown too. Keep the cooked chapatis warm by covering them well.

Part 2

With the ingredients in part 2, make an omelet in the size and shape as the chapatis already made. You can roll the omelet into a chapati and serve and the level. (Egg Rolex)

Part 3

Heat a pan and add one Tbsp oil. Add sliced beef or chicken and cook for about 10 minutes until all the formed water is finished. Add sliced onions and chopped spring onions then cook for 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes and other spices of your choice and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add an appropriate amount of salt and cook for 5 minutes.

Place chapati on a rolling board, add a well-done omelet and on top put the cooked beef/chicken. Add another chapati on top and gently roll to form a cylindrical shape. Cut into two and serve.