John Bosco Bashinyora is a Community Solutions Program (CSP) Fellow from Uganda where he works as a Youth Supervisor with Kampala Capital City Authority. CSP is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX. The goal of the Community Solutions Program (CSP) is to engage community leaders to positively impact the complex economic, environmental, political, and social challenges in their communities and become ambassadors for mutual understanding.
John came to GRID with expertise in project design, implementation, and curriculum development for training out-of-school youth. In Uganda, he empowers young adults in urban slums with employability skills. It is this vast experience that has enabled him to contribute to the workforce development activities of GRID Colorado since August 2018.
It has been a life learning and changing journey that started October 2017 when John started on the application process for this Program. “During my stay at GRID, I have been able to contribute to the work of GRID Alternatives Colorado and also learned a lot from the organization. I participated in Solar Training Academy (STA) that helped me to appreciate the different strategies in managing training programs that I will replicate in my organization. My participation also helped me to understand all the processes from start to finish and identify areas of improvement. These areas of improvement were shared with the STA team, many of which have been adopted,” says John.
John has further used his technical expertise and experience to support GRID Solar Training Academy by helping to digitize the application process, assist interns by providing individualized support on resumes, participate in conducting interviews, new hire selection and onboarding.
Additionally, John has supported the GRID team as a key resource person to develop the guidelines for the creation of the Workforce Advisory Committee with the goal of creating strong relationships and strengthening connections with solar industry employers, training institutes, and communities.
“In my leadership journey, I have learned photovoltaic technology and how it connects to people, planet and employment. GRID has provided an opportunity to also learn how to engage with corporate companies to raise funds that are used to change lives.”
John’s passion for creating green jobs is becoming reality. He returns to Uganda early December 2018 to implement new ideas acquired in his four month practicum.
In Kampala, Uganda, plastic waste is a big challenge affecting the majority of the communities and the City authority spends a significant amount of taxpayers’ money in an attempt to get rid of it. However, John knows it can be put to good use through recycling which rids the city of waste, protects the environment and creates pathways for youth employment. He hopes to apply the leadership skills acquired to implement a project that aims at increasing awareness on the importance of garbage sorting and recycling, all while scaling up youth employment in the recycling of plastics business.
“It has been a life changing journey. I have met incredible people both within GRID and outside. These have created long lasting memories. I will leave the U.S with a different set of skills, attitudes and perceptions that make me a stronger leader than before.”