What is the name of your organization?
Ba Nga Afayo Initiative Uganda
What is the name of your solution?
Truth Design Academy
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Truth Design Academy provides hands-on technical training and economic opportunity to young people from underserved communities of Uganda.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Kampala, Uganda
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
UGA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
In Uganda, 3 out of 5 young people are unemployed, a crisis driven by high poverty levels and limited access to higher education due to financial constraints. This lack of opportunity traps youth in cycles of poverty, restricting their ability to achieve economic independence and contribute meaningfully to their communities. The issue is particularly severe in rural areas, where access to quality training and employment pathways is scarce.
With over 60% of Africa’s unemployed being youth (AfDB) and 73 million young people jobless globally (ILO, 2024), Uganda’s unemployment crisis reflects a broader trend. Meanwhile, the demand for digital and creative skills is rising worldwide, yet many young people remain unprepared to seize these opportunities.
What is your solution?
Truth Design Academy empowers marginalized youth, particularly women, by equipping them with high-demand digital skills in graphic design, video editing, 3D animation, website design, and photography. However, training alone is not enough to break cycles of poverty. To ensure sustainable employment, graduates are integrated into TrueXperts, our freelance marketplace that connects them to real-world clients in the gig economy.
Through this platform, graduates gain immediate access to paid projects, allowing them to earn an income, build professional experience, and establish long-term careers in the digital economy. The marketplace leverages AI-driven job matching to align freelancers with relevant opportunities, ensuring they can compete in global markets regardless of their geographic location. Additionally, continuous mentorship and business support equip them with the financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive.
By combining practical training with direct access to income-generating opportunities, our solution creates a sustainable pathway for youth employment. It not only bridges the digital divide but also provides an inclusive economic model that enables underserved communities to participate in and benefit from the growing digital workforce.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves marginalized youth in Uganda, with a focus on young women, who face significant barriers to employment due to limited access to education, digital skills, and financial resources. These young people, often from rural and underprivileged communities, are underserved by traditional education systems and job markets.
By providing high-quality training in digital skills such as graphic design, video editing, 3D animation, website design, and photography, Truth Design Academy equips them with market-ready skills. Through TrueXperts, our freelance marketplace, graduates gain immediate access to paid opportunities in the gig economy, enabling them to start earning income and building professional portfolios.
This solution directly impacts their lives by breaking the cycle of poverty, increasing financial independence, and opening up career opportunities that were previously out of reach. It empowers young people, especially young women, to become active participants in the global digital economy, fostering personal growth and economic resilience.
