Not long ago, Derrick was a quiet presence in his village. His farming was honest and consistent, but the income was limited and offered little room for growth. Living with a mental health condition also meant facing barriers that often exclude young people like him from economic opportunities and social belonging. Yet Derrick did not allow these challenges to define him. He continued working and dreaming of a better future where he had enough income to support himself and the mother.
In January 2026, Derrick made a bold decision to start growing onions after hearing an announcement in his village. He strategically transitioned from beans to onion farming, seeing onions as a more promising opportunity to improve his income.
Through the project, Derrick received a knapsack sprayer and a watering can, along with practical trainings at a demonstration garden. The trainings covered nursery bed establishment, proper spacing and transplanting, pest and disease identification and management, safe use of agrochemicals, watering practices, and good agronomic practices for onion production.
Throughout the planting period, extension workers regularly advised Derrick on timely planting, field hygiene, pest and disease monitoring, proper fertiliser application, and harvesting at the right time to ensure better yields and quality produce.
The support rendered to Derrick did not stop at training and input access. He also gained access to a reliable market for his produce through Trafford Export Commodities, which established a collection center within his community to aggregate produce and reduce post-harvest losses.
With an investment of UGX 910,000 (CHF 201.79), Derrick earned UGX 1,758,000 (CHF 389.84) from his first season of onion farming. This strong return confirmed that his decision to venture into horticulture was worthwhile.
With renewed confidence and capital, Derrick is now diversifying further. He has started a small poultry venture with five local hens. Although modest, this new step reflects his growth, determination, and commitment to building a more secure future.
Over the next seasons, Derrick plans to scale up to a full acre of onion production while expanding his poultry enterprise. His progress is also inspiring other young people in the community. Seeing his discipline and transformation, many are now joining Traford and stepping into horticulture with purpose.
Derrick’s story reflects one of the most powerful elements of the WeWork Green and Decent Jobs for Youth initiative: inclusion.
Youth living with mental health conditions are often overlooked, especially in economic empowerment programs. Through this project, Derrick has not only found a livelihood, but also a community where he feels valued, respected, and supported.
His progress challenges assumptions and shows that with the right support, everyone has potential. The intervention that helped Derrick is part of a broader goal to engage youth in both on-farm and off-farm horticultural production of tomatoes, onions, chili, and watermelon. It aims to create pathways for young people to become producers, service providers, and entrepreneurs while building resilience and income through climate-smart agriculture.
This initiative aims to create sustainable decent employment for 1,800 young women and men by unlocking opportunities in Uganda’s horticulture sector.
The WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth project is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Belgium through Enabel.