Learning to Leading: Henrietah Leverages Skills to Benefit Her Community

“If I can inspire just one person to take control of their future, then everything I went through was worth it,” says Henrietah, Educate! Experience student,  Uganda.

Henrietah joined Educate!’s model in Uganda, the Educate! Experience after an invitation from a Youth Mentor. The gender-responsive model, delivered to young men and women in secondary school, aims to enable youth to build 21st-century soft skills that develop agency, as well as hard skills that support young people to pursue economic opportunity.

School fees presented a barrier to Henrietah’s education, and additional daily costs like transport and sanitary supplies posed more challenges but she was determined to stay in school. Using what she learned within the Educate! Experience, Henrietah launched a small business while in school. Initially, she was motivated by the opportunity to apply practical learning and earn income, but soon Henrietah discovered the experience offered much more. It became a turning point as she grew her agency and belief in the future.

With support of a Youth Mentor, Henrietah learned critical thinking, problem-solving, and financial management — skills that, she says, strengthened her confidence and challenged self-limiting beliefs.

As she progressed, Henrietah applied her new skills to starting a fruit juice business. To raise start-up capital, she utilized small amounts of her transport money — choosing to walk instead. She saved up 10,000 Ugandan Shillings (approximately $2.60 USD) to buy fresh fruit from her local market.

Her juice quickly gained popularity among classmates and teachers. As demand grew, Henrietah reinvested her profits to expand into a variety of juice flavors. Using networking, market research, and marketing skills, Henrietah soon began taking weekly orders from teachers, generating a minimum of 25,000 UGX (around $6.50 USD) per week.

From a small initial investment, Henrietah more than doubled her incoming revenue each week, which soon allowed her to cover daily transport, purchase personal necessities, and continue saving — all while building an entrepreneurial mindset. Today, she’s saving for her future and working in her community

Educate!’s In-school Model

In Uganda, Educate! delivers our in-school model directly in secondary schools through trained Youth Mentors. To date, Educate! has measurably impacted over 270,000 secondary school students across more than 800 partner schools in Uganda.

The model combines a skills course, mentorship, and practical experience in starting businesses. Youth engage in activities like upcycling and waste management, while also launching small enterprises such as producing natural detergents or repurposing plastic into dustbins or other items. Many also lead community-driven initiatives to improve school hygiene and clean local marketplaces — applying their skills to address challenges in their communities.

Paying It Forward

Inspired by the guidance and mentorship she received, Henrietah applied to become an Educate! Mentor herself, supporting students — especially girls facing similar barriers — to develop their own business skills and confidence.

Henrietah and her students were winners during national business club competitions for showcasing creative products made in her class.

Henrietah’s mentoring experience also sparked a passion for community development. During Educate!’s training for Youth Mentors, she learned about waste management and recycling. Motivated to take action, she began leading environmental initiatives in her community, from clean-up efforts to recycling plastic bottles. Her creativity even led her to design outfits and accessories made entirely from recycled plastic bottle caps — inspiring others to rethink waste and protect their environment.

Henrietah shows off a hat and bag made from recycled soft drink bottle caps. Beside her, a chair and dustbin made by her students out of recycled plastic.

“Recycling plastic can solve problems in the environment and empower women in our communities. We use plastics to come up with creative products like paintings and we sell them to earn money,” says Henrietah.

In addition to being a Youth Mentor and community leader, Henrietah runs several businesses, including a laundry service, to help towards her university tuition, books and daily upkeep. 

Henrietah’s journey highlights how entrepreneurial education and mentorship can equip young people with the skills, confidence, and mindset to shape their own futures and contribute to their communities.