About Us
Yehudah Training Institute
The Yehudah Training Institute is a proposed vocational training center located in Northern Uganda’s Paicho community. Yehudah’s mission is to improve the social welfare and livelihoods of Paicho community members and their families through providing skills training and economic empowerment. Through partnerships with local and international community-based training organizations, the institute intends to provide market linkages, resource mobilization, and potential scale-up of economic activities in Paicho, Gulu.
Over 70% of the population in Northern Uganda is under the age of 35, and a significant percentage of youths are unemployed. This unemployment leads to systemic problems like homelessness, poverty, and child marriages. Yehudah Training Institute aims to address this by providing skills and knowledge that will help community members secure employment or become self-employed, thereby promoting economic growth and reducing unemployment.
The institute’s specific objective is to empower underprivileged communities with vocational skills in areas such as woodwork, metalwork, plumbing, building, bakery, tailoring, craftwork, computers, and agriculture. The region’s population is still grappling with the effects of the long-lasting war, with high poverty rates, substance abuse, and early marriages being prevalent. Training youths and young adults to have vocational skills is one of the most impactful ways to address these challenges and build a better future.
Our Objectives
1. Provide the girl child, single mothers, youth and capable adults with the necessary skills for employment in the fields of woodwork, metalwork, Carpentry, plumbing, building, bakery, tailoring, craft work and agriculture.
2. Increase the employability of the girl child, single mothers, and the youth by equipping them with industry-relevant skills.
3. Promote economic growth by addressing the shortage of skilled labour in the fields of woodwork, metalwork, Carpentry, plumbing, building bakery, tailoring, crafts and agriculture.
4. Reduce unemployment by providing training and employment opportunities.
5. Reduce aimlessness and hopelessness by giving the community an opportunity to dream and aspire for better livelihoods.
CROSSING CULTURES, CONNECTING THE KINGDOM
MEET THE MEN BEHIND THE MISSION
Since 2016, Dereck Mombera and Doug Meadows have shared the vision to do business as a blessings, creating enterprises that make kingdom impact and bring community change.
Together they created up an international partnership that’s focused on building the Yehudah Training Institute. Through their respective nonprofits in Uganda and the US, Doug and Dereck are excited to build the future. Read their story below…
Dereck Mombera, Founder & Visionary
Hi! I’m Dereck Mombera, an Entrepreneur, Transformational Leader and Mentor.
With an entrepreneurial spirit and love for farming, I ventured into farming having bought land in Northern Uganda for crop farming and animal husbandry. I made a viable business decision of food processing in mainly maize, soybeans, beans and sunflower, trading within Uganda through export companies. As a big believer in entrepreneurs being change-makers, I introduced proper farming practices to the local farmers in my area, and with the support of my family, we drilled a borehole for the community to access clean water. The availability of clean water and increase in crop yields through proper farming practices has greatly contributed to the family well-being of most households in the region.
Both my business acumen and professional career are rooted in the firm foundation of the training in Business Management and Administration I acquired from The British College of Professional Management , and Project Planning and Management of Development Projects from The Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) in Uganda.
My passion for ministry fueled my pursuit for deep leadership training informed from a Christian perspective. So, I enrolled and completed two programs in Church Ministry at The Prophetic Voice Institute-USA and Church Transformation in Lifeschool International-USA. Inspired by a transformational leadership approach, I planted two churches in Uganda and mentored more than 1000 unreached and untrained Pastors in partnership with Lifeschool International.
To complement the principles of ministry and management I learnt, I gained knowledge and skills in social transformation after completing the People4Change program at MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS-TCDC) in Tanzania.
With evangelism, education and entrepreneurialism as my empowerment tools, I established Yehudah Training Institute, a vocational training institute to help reshape the lives of the residents of Paicho in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Having mingled with the community, I discovered that due to unemployment, a vast majority of the locals resorted to drunkenness and prostitution as a means to survive which has led to early pregnancies and the burden of teenage parenthood.
With conviction and compassion, I was moved to buy another 8.2 acres of land to build the institute with one goal in mind; To transform their lives, from idle and unskilled to healthier, more responsible and purposeful.
My expertise extends beyond just entrepreneurship and ministry. I am also a qualified expert in Networking and Cyber Security from ISBAT University in Uganda, and in IT Penetration Testing, participated in a Business Behavior and Success program from Leuphana University in Germany.
Doug Meadows, Founder, Visionary + Hero Maker - NTB International
Doug Meadows is a dedicated businessman with a heart for helping others and creating opportunities for growth. As the owner of David Douglas Diamonds, Doug has built a successful jewelry business through his resilience, strategic thinking, and commitment to excellence. However, what truly sets him apart is his deep passion for making a positive impact beyond the world of business.
Doug’s entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just about profit—it’s about building communities and supporting those around him. One of his most recent endeavors is the partnership with NTB International & Yehudah Training Institute, an initiative that reflects his desire to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. This project is a testament to Doug’s belief in empowering others to reach their potential, just as he did when overcoming challenges in his own career.
Whether it’s through his mentorship, his community involvement, or his dedication to providing valuable training and resources, Doug is focused on making a difference in the lives of others. His approach to business is not just about financial success but also about fostering growth and transformation in the people he works with. Doug’s heart for service, coupled with his sharp business acumen, makes him a true leader who sees the potential in others and works tirelessly to help them thrive.