Meet our inspiring and creative team
YASINTO OYAT- DIRECTOR/BOARD SECRETARY
My journey to empowerment has been filled with a lot of challenges particularly living under poverty incidences, emotional trauma caused by war effect in northern Uganda. All these affected my education, and social well-being while growing up. With hard work and support from my Uncle, I managed to obtain a Bachelor degree in Information and Communication Technology (from Gulu University, Uganda), a Diploma in Education management (from Kyambogo University, Uganda), and Post graduate in leadership, project planning and management (Kanthari International Institute, India). At Carissa, I am charged with the responsibility of leading, motivating and directing a team that comprises of management, operational and support staff. Here, I provide strategic leadership and ensure implementation of board’s resolutions, projects, providing technical guidance in policy formulation, work plan, budget and accountability of all programs/projects.
Working with; Advance Afrika as Business mentor/Trainer and consultant ( 7 years), International Labour Organization as youth organization capacity building mentor( 3 years), Alert Agency for Development as Executive Director (8 years), and world food Program as Data collection and Monitoring Assistant; I have gained experiences in communication, youth-led project implementation, monitoring and evaluation; designing of programs/project that benefit young people, mentoring and guiding young people achieve their dream.
I work determinedly to have a more efficient, effective, result-oriented and most inspiring team at Carissa!
LAWRENCE BONGOMIN-PROJECT OFFICER
I hold a certificate in family and addiction counselling system with 7 years experiencing working in post conflict northern Uganda particularly with young people. My previous work was with; Save the Children as community trainer in HIV/AIDS counselling and Palliative care; Action Aid as water source protection and sanitation committee trainer; and World Vision as Volunteer peer education. This made me gain experience in community mobilization and engagement, project implementation and monitoring, Community relation building and networking. Working with community in many parts in northern Uganda and seeing how youth are facing socio-economic challenges, I was motivated to help mobilize vulnerable youth to access various development projects within northern Uganda. And the impact gave me more passion to work with young people.
At Carissa International, I am responsible for mobilizing, assessing and profiling young people to benefit from Carissa training programs, working with community members in home counselling and guidance to the beneficiaries. I do documentation, field monitoring and reporting of all project activities of Carissa International. I am also responsible for designing field monitoring activities with stakeholders, sharing the results of Carissa works and designing effective strategies on project implementation while keeping the management update on field work.
FIONA AYUBU-FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
I hold a national certificate in Accounting and Finance (From East African Institute of management Science). And currently pursuing National Diploma in Accounting and Finance from Pace Management Institute.
Before Joining Carissa, I worked as a cashier at Franklyn Guest House where I gained skills in daily financial transaction, record keeping and control of cash flow.
I love education and seeing young people engaged in training-acquiring new skills and knowledge that would prepare them for a better future give me all the smiles. I enjoy interacting with young people, supporting them in their dream. I found Carissa very interesting as its model of empowering young people is unique and so engaging. Being at Carissa Training Institute is a home away! The love, care and support shown at Carissa is amazing!
At Carissa, I am managing finance and handle welfare of the staff and participants including logistic arrangement for the organization; handling participants’ financial issues, responding to parents, caretakers, donors and visitors on financial matters. I prepare quarterly, bi- and annual budget, accountability and ensure that the financial needs of the organization are made in a more affordable way.
CHRISTOPHER ACHIRE-HEAD OF MENTORS
Growing up during the most unpleasant time of the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency, my education was adversely affected. My parents opted to ensure my safety rather than education. I used to sneak to school. Despites all the challenges, I managed to obtain a qualification in Motor Vehicle Mechanics Junior level from St. Joseph’s Technical school, Gulu(2003), and Advance certificate in Motor vehicle Technologies (MVT) from Kitgum Technical Institute (2009). Since then, I engaged myself in motor vehicle repairs and maintenance for over 15 years now.
Joining Carissa International and being appointed Head of mentors/instructors at Carissa Training Institute made a big improvement in my skills in mentorship, conflict resolutions, offering guidance and stewardship. The most interesting thing about Carissa is its unique-designed curriculum dubbed “a journey of hope in 3 parts” that is tailored to inspire our participants in achieving their dream. I have witnessed so many participants dream come true using this curriculum. This is like an engine to our training program.
At Carissa, I prepare plans for training activities for all the departments, prepare time table and materials for both internal and national assessment. I coordinate management and mentors on issues of capacity building, operational needs and training sessions, and handle grievances among mentors.
I oversee the quality of training at Carissa Training Institute, conduct monitoring and evaluation of training activities, report and design strategies on how to improve the trainings.
Additionally, I prepare plan for orientation of new staff, identity capacity needs for each department and staff and ensure smooth day to day running of Carissa training Institute.
SIMON ODOCH AKOKO: TRAINER&MENTOR -MECHANICS
Playing around with automobile toys and inventing my own auto mobile toys such as motorcycle and motor Vehicle has been my children hobby. This made me very interested to study auto mechanics especially simple engines and eventually attained an advance certificate in auto mechanic technology from Bobi Poly-Techniques training institute and Directorate of Industrial Training certificate level 2 from Northern Uganda Youth Development centre (NUYDC)
I love challenges and seeing young people brainstorm to trouble shoot and get problem fixed gives me the motivation. Joining Carissa International and working at Carissa Training Institute keeps reminding me of childhood innovation and creativity. The Young people at Carissa are amazing when it comes to problem solving because Carissa provide an enabling environment for growth of problem-solving ability among its participants.
At Carissa, I do train and mentor participants in simple engine repairs and maintenance including inventing parts. My work additionally includes offering career guidance, evaluate participants’ performance through regular assessment, conduct business mentorship and networking to participants.
As a football lover and an athlete, I do coach participants in physical sport activities such as football, netball, valley balls, etc. Physical health is paramount in attaining mental health!
DERICK OKOT: TRAINER &MENTOR- BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
I hold a national certificate (2023) and Directorate Of Industrial Training (DIT) certificate level 1 (2019) in Bricklaying and concrete practice from Arch Bishop Janani Loum Vocational Training Institute. My training experience began with Marita multi-skill training centre where I first learn the motivation of young people in building and constructions.
I had always dream to be among those who make positive impact in the lives of the disadvantaged people. Joining Carissa is a dream come true. At Carissa, I have the opportunity to mentor young people on life skills, building course as a career and inspire those who dream to come building engineers in the future. Here, we enjoy co-creating solution to challenges in building and construction while putting much attention on sustainable building practices that help in compacting climatic change.
Building and construction sector is challenging especially ensuring environmental protection. It demands one to be current while acknowledging emerging technologies. The challenge in building and construction gives me more motivation to guide, build the capacity and inspire the young people in building and construction sector.
SUSAN AWOR: TRAINER &MENTOR-HAIRDRESSING AND COSMETOLOGY
My education was interrupted due to teenage pregnancy. Since then, I whole heartedly do a lot of guidance and counselling to young women and girls so they do not undergo what I went through. I admire beauty a lot and this motivated me to study Hairdressing and beauty from St. Monica Girls’ training centre, Gulu.
While joining Carissa, my dream was to see a positive change in the lives of young women, girls and boys. My motivation is high because at Carissa, young people are individually motivated, inspired and involved in creating a better future for themselves. Mentors offer constructive guidance so they are prepared for a brighter future.
I am enjoying my day to day life at Carissa Training Institute listening to testimonies, dreams and aspirations of young people during their dream speeches and above all, the hard work they put during training sessions. The energy of the young in attempt to have a better future is so encouraging. At Carissa, everyone is does not get bored or tired, we are always engaging, relaxing, refreshing, entertaining and learning more every day. It’s a centre of inspiration to young generation!
FOSCA ACEN: TRAINER & MENTOR-FASHION AND DESIGN
The world of fashion is a mind-blowing things, fashion trends are changing from generation to generation. I love fashion while growing up. This aspiration made me to study fashion and designs at St. Monica Girls Training centre and worked there for 4 years from 2013-16 and at trainer, and then Magarita training Institute from 2020-2022 as a trainer of fashion and designs.
I have been actively engaged in fashions and designs for the last 12 years before joining Carissa Training Institute. My experiences in fashion and designs is filled with challenge of keeping up to date with fashion trends, while enjoying and learning more in the sector.
I found Carissa a unique organization which gives opportunity and enabling environment for both mentor and students/participants to be creative and innovative. Every year, we witness competition in fashion and designs done by students/participants-something that give us more motivation and energy to work hard to keep up to date with fashion trends.
While at Carissa, I am always confident of the impact of training young people in fashion and designs because of mindset change approach to capacity building designed by the organization. At Carissa, you are not left behind but rather, you are supported to achieve your goal and dream.
GLADYS ABER – ASSISTANT TRAINER & MENTOR-FASHION AND DESIGN.
I had experience working with young people when I was in primary school. I could do coaching of my fellow students during holidays. This made me fall in love with teaching and coaching.
I studied Fashion and Design at Carissa Training Institute and while studying I put much effort and excel in the national assessment. The management of Carissa decided to call for an assistant mentor for fashion and design department.
Joining Carissa had improved my teaching and mentoring career. I love the mindset changing approach Carissa an organization uses to empower young people. At Carissa, you are trained as a job creator but not a job seeker!
MARTINE OPOKA: TRAINER & MENTOR-MECHANICS
I love motor vehicle mechanics, the trouble shooting aspect and fixing a problem in a vehicle give me a huge smile because I love to see people using mechanically sound motor vehicle to safe life.
Before joining Carissa in 2022, I have had been involves in motor vehicle repairs and maintenance since graduating in Motor vehicle mechanics from UTC Lira in 2003, I have been intensively engaged in repair of clients’ vehicles and training young people.
I was motivated to join Carissa because I love to impart my skills and knowledge to young people who will take on the mantle to ensure safe vehicles. Carissa gives me the joy as I could see the impact of the skills training in the lives of young people.
SAMUEL OLOYA: TRAINER& MENTOR-SAFE DRIVING
Working with a team who are self- motivated, energetic and inspiring is what I desire most and I found Carissa pleasant to work in due to its attributes. The young people we work with are so impressive. At Carissa Training Institute where I am the Trainer and mentor for driving students- ensuring that students are equipped with contemporary skills and knowledge in driving, team spirit is daily habit and this makes me feel at home. I love to learn, adopt, listen, plan and implement new ideas. Carissa is full of new ideas!
After graduating from Busoga University with Bachelor Degree in Social works and Administration, I had worked as coordinator-national Union of Disabled person of Uganda (NUDIPU), worked as a manager- canon resort Hotel-Iganga, I also worked for 2 years as Deputy Principle-Iganga Unique High School and vocational institute where I got experiencing in training young people in driving and other life-skills.
EVERLYN AUMA: TRAINER &MENTOR- SHOE MAKING
Before joining Carissa I was working at Lightray Uganda program as a trainer of young mothers in shoe making for a period of 6 years. I had good experiences working with vulnerable young people and working at Carissa is an added advantage as creativity and innovation are at the forefront.
At Carissa, we make shoes of different designs that match the current trend. Both participants, parents, visitors and mentors do enjoy putting on shoes made by my students.
CAROLINE AROMORACH-HEAD COOK
I love to see people healthy and energetic! As the Head cook, I oversee the overall welfare of staff, visitors and students. I manage store, procurement of food items and ensuring that a healthy food is prepared for staff, students and guests. Before joining Carissa, I had experience in cooking at St. Josephine Bakita Nursery and Primary School for a period of 3 years
Working at Carissa is fun, the centre is full of new ideas, creativity and innovations, and everybody is respected and treated the same. Imagine, cook sharing experiences with students during sessions and fun time, this gives me an opportunity to share a lot about life-skills and learn from my colleagues and students. At Carissa, you feel connected to each other, loved and cared for!