Primary School Child Uses Lockdown To Gain Tailoring Skills

Jimmy Mukiibi, aged 13 is a primary school pupil in Mbale town where he was found with his father at his workshop.

This workshop was started by Jimmy’s grandfather, whose names he inherited in 1973. Unfortunately, he passed on 20 years ago, so he didn’t get to see his grandson. He left the project in the hands-on his son, Jude Munyigwa, Mukiibi’s father, who has been running this business till now.

Munyigwa lauds his son for his quick learning abilities, passion, and natural talent in the fashion industry, attributes that he first exhibited at home before he joined him at the workshop.

“Whenever I had just finished using the sewing machine at home, I always saw him jump on it and sew his torn clothes by himself, and I felt like he had a burning interest to do this, so I started bringing him with me to the workshop, so he could learn more about this trade. Luckily, he was deeply interested and quick to learn, so I followed the same steps my father took to teach me,” Mr. Munyigwa said in an interview with NTV.

Class Seven Pupil, Jimmy, Wants to Become an International Fashion Designer

Jimmy Mukiibi is currently in primary seven, a candidate class, and dreams of becoming a global fashion icon in the future as he says,

“I want to become an international fashion designer because I am interested in creating fashion trends. That’s my heart’s desire,” he said.

At present, he knows how to make masks, shirts and how to put over locks on clothes, and he says these are the easy parts that every beginner starts with. His father has huge plans for teaching his son lots of cloth designs after he is done with his primary education.

“When he is done with his Primary Leaving Examinations, I will teach him how to cut and sew the trouser and others, because they are more complicated, therefore requiring him to focus deeply and understand them,” Mr. Munyigwa said.

Jimmy takes pride in going out with his father to the workshop and adding his contribution to sustaining the family on a daily basis, instead of staying at home and waiting for schools to reopen as the majority are doing.

“I am the one who wanted this. I asked him (my father) to start teaching me, and he did,” he said.

Mukiibi and his father set a perfect example to all parents, that they can and have to engage in teaching their children life skills and technical work, on top of the formal education they receive at school.