Akantorana, a university student with a big heart for less privileged

Elizabeth Akantorana, 23, is a university student who is passionate about youth, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), orphans and teenage mothers.

She founded the Inclusive Youth Empowerment Organization (IYEO) through which she engages in community development programs. IYEO also does advocacy and offers skills, mentorship, coaching programs, counselling and guidance.

Akantorana was inspired to start IYEO in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown after she saw many families struggling to survive.

She believed skills and other programs would help improve the livelihoods of individuals and families.

 “We have trained, mentored and skilled hundreds of young people and PWDS across the country. Majority own small businesses while others take up leadership positions,” she says. 

Akantorana (second from left) with other students after the debate.

She also realized that many young people lack confidence and a platform to express their views. That’s how she started advocating for youth empowerment through plays and short stories she compiled in a book; An Innocent Soul.

Akantorana is currently in her third year at Kyambogo University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in community development and social justice. Earlier on, she attended Kitante Hill Secondary School for her O and A levels and KCC primary school Kamwokya for her primary education. 

She was the head girl at Kitante Hill School. Last year, in 2023 she received the best advocate award from the faculty of special needs, Kyambogo University.

On what makes her tick, Akantorana believes in the power of self-reliance, the reason she supports young people to be economically independent rather than donating cash, making them vulnerable when the cash runs out.

Scaling the career ladder

In 2019, Akantorana became the president of the International Inspirational Club, which opened her eyes to disability-related issues. 

In 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, she started offering skills including making paper bags, liquid soap and sanitisers and many beneficiaries were able to support their families. From then on, she never looked back.

Moving forward, in 2021, she started mentorship programs and in 2022, she worked as a volunteer with Neural Development Centre for persons with cerebral palsy and autism. 

In the same year, she worked as an assistant project coordinator and trainer at the Inclusive Disability Entrepreneurship project at Kyambogo University. Here, she offered skills and leadership mentorship to PWDs and youths. As a result, some of her mentees contested for leadership positions at the university.

In 2023, she started debates at the faculty of special needs for students to openly speak about issues that affect them. Also, having participated in several empowerment programs with different organizations like NIYETU and the Centre for Integrated Community Development in Buhweju district, she decided to start her organization to empower youths and PWDs.

Who inspires her?

If she is granted 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Akantorana would choose to spend it in conversation with Ugandan singer Spice Diana because she admires the great work Diana is doing to transform the lives of girl children in communities. 

She is also inspired by the late Nelson Mandela because he promoted, protected and defended the lives of South Africans. He stood for what was right without fear.

 Where she sees herself in the next 10 years?

“I envision serving as a champion of community transformation, impacting youths, PWDs and orphans in communities,” she says.