Kampala , Uganda ( CNN ) -- On the streets of the Ugandan capital of Kampala , scores of vulnerable children face uncertain futures . Living down alleyways and trying to make a living near busy traffic junctions , these kids are often subject to abuse and exploitation . Youth unemployment is rampant in the east-central African country , with reports by international bodies , like the African Development Bank , putting estimates as high as 83 % . But one former street kid , Innocent Byaruhanga , is hoping to turn things around . In 2011 , Byaruhanga launched Pamoja , a center working with former street children and vulnerable youth to produce sustainable shoes out of disused tires . `` What we did was come up with [ an ] idea that can give skills to these children , '' says Byaruhanga . A former street child himself , Byaruhanga is well aware of what hundreds of vulnerable kids are being exposed to -- dangers like substance abuse , crime , lack of nutrition , exploitation and stigmatization . `` The biggest challenge that youth and former street children face is unemployment and drug abuse , '' he explains . `` They are either exploited by the drug lords or use them to enable them forget their problems . This is because they live in poor conditions and have to cope with their poverty or find a livelihood by all means available to them . '' Trash into treasure . Byaruhanga 's Pamoja Center is an initiative of his not-for-profit , Save Street Children Uganda , which he established in 2005 . The center 's goal is to help the youth realize their potential by equipping them with techniques and knowledge that they can use to `` make a contribution to society within their communities . '' `` We came out with an idea of making shoes and we said what can we do that people are not doing ? '' explains Byaruhanga . `` What can we do that will attract people to buy ? What can we do in order that will earn us money at a quicker speed and at the same time which is very cheap ? '' The answers were n't far : looking around the slums , the resourceful entrepreneur saw piles of ruined tires laying strewn aside , so he decided to turn trash into treasure . `` We want to use the things that people do n't see as valuable , '' says Byaruhanga as he outlines the startup 's approach . `` Number one : Ugandan-made ; two : Ugandan-owned ; three : made from the thing that people do n't see ; four : we want to do something that is very durable , '' he says . `` The work we are doing is not only help us to create employments for vulnerable children . We also want to protect the environment . '' Creating leaders . And so from exhausted rubber tires , youngsters in Kampala are taught how to cut and manufacture eco-friendly footwear . Since 2011 , Byaruhanga says Pamoja Center has been able to employ and train over 80 former street children and 37 vulnerable community youth aged between 12 to 24 years old . Not only that , but for every pair of shoes produced and sold , Pamoja shares the profits with the youthful cobbler , in turn allowing them to support themselves . `` We want to surprise the entire Uganda as a nation . We want to set up an industry , '' Byaruhanga says full of vigor . `` Young people should be the ones to lead , to make decision-making . `` We want to create jobs for the youth , we want to create jobs for former street children , and also the orphans . ''
Innocent Byaruhanga launched the Pamoja Centre in 2011 in the slums of Kampala , Uganda . A former street kid himself , founder wants to end high child unemployment . He offers job training to disadvantaged children from Kampala City . He says : ` ` We want to create jobs for former street children , and also orphans ''