Author: GRI Social Media Team

Peace: Elena, welcome back. You worked with us for a full year in 2023 and have since been a member of the advisory board. Have things changed since your last visit?

Elena: Thank you, Peace, it’s really good to be back. Yes, things have definitely changed. You can feel it as soon as you arrive. The population in the settlement has increased, largely due to the recent influx of refugees from Sudan. With that, there has also been a visible growth in small businesses, such as bakeries selling Arabic bread, which bring a sense of cultural diversity and resilience.

At the same time, there are serious challenges. I’ve heard from staff and community members that funding has dropped significantly, particularly following recent U.S. funding cuts. This has had immediate consequences: fewer services, reduced staff, and increased pressure on systems like healthcare and education. Teachers are overworked, and access to essential services has become more limited.

Despite all this, I’m genuinely impressed by how GRI has remained resilient. Not only are the established programs still running, but new initiatives have also been implemented. Some of the ideas we discussed back in 2023 have now become reality, and that is incredibly rewarding to witness.

Peace: Can you tell us more about your experience on the ground?

Elena: One of the highlights was the warm welcome I received at Ubuntu Model Primary School. The children prepared traditional dances and songs; it was such a joyful and moving moment.

After that, I joined the Environmental Kids Club (EKC). On that day, students were preparing soil and planting vegetables in nursery beds. It was inspiring to see how hands-on the activities are. Through EKC, children not only learn about environmental protection but also gain practical agricultural skills.

Back in 2023, we worked on introducing extracurricular clubs such as Music, Dance and Drama, as well as EKC. Seeing how active and engaged the students are today clearly shows that these initiatives have taken root and are thriving, with 70 students participating in the clubs.

Peace: Besides the educational activities, you also visited livelihood programs. What caught your attention there?

Elena: I was particularly impressed by the ICT centre. It is equipped with laptops and tablets and supported by trained staff who provide digital skills training, especially for refugee women.

What makes this program especially impactful is its focus. It targets stay-at-home mothers and girls who have dropped out of school. They are learning basic digital literacy and marketing skills that they can directly apply to strengthen their small businesses. It’s a practical and empowering approach to improving livelihoods, having reached over 150 participants, including learners and teachers of Ubuntu Model Primary School.

Peace: How was your visit to the gardens?

Elena: That was another highlight. Back in 2023, there was no irrigation system, which made farming during the dry season very difficult. Now, thanks to strong partnerships, there is reliable access to water in the community gardens. This has completely transformed what is possible, farmers can now cultivate their land year-round.

I also had the opportunity to see how the passion fruit project has developed. When I was here before, it had just been launched. Now, farmers across the settlement are growing passion fruit around their homes, creating an additional source of income. Some of the gardens are incredibly well maintained; you can really see the pride and effort people put into them, with 20 livelihood followers involved.

Peace: Anything you’d like to add?

Elena: I’ve often been critical of so-called development work and foreign aid. But what I truly appreciate about GRI is its approach. The focus is on local solutions to local challenges, with sustainability at the core of every project, whether environmental or economic.

It’s not about short-term fixes; it’s about building systems and skills that last. Coming back and seeing that in action has been both reassuring and inspiring.

Over the past year, Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI), in partnership with Worldwide Women’s Web (W4), has established the Ubuntu Tech Training Centre (UTTC) in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda.

This is more than just a training space.
It is:

• the first ICT centre in the settlement dedicated to girls and women, 

• the first centre hosted within a remote refugee primary school and powered by solar energy, ensuring access to digital learning even in off-grid settings, and 

• a unique model bringing together school children, out-of-school girls, and community women in one inclusive learning environment. 

In a context where access to technology is limited, the centre is addressing multiple challenges at once, education, digital inclusion, and economic empowerment.

We officially launched the centre on 9 December 2025, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for refugee communities. Since then, the response has been overwhelming. Applications exceeded expectations, and our first cohort of learners has shown remarkable commitment and enthusiasm.

From the Ubuntu Tech Divas (girls at risk of dropping out), to community women, to pupils and teachers at Ubuntu Model Primary School, the impact is already visible.

The initiative has also sparked new opportunities. Through W4, we connected with the Maendeleo Foundation, whose collaboration brought the MTN Internet Bus to the settlement, expanding access to digital literacy for even more women and girls and strengthening community engagement around the centre.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the W4 team, Lindsey, Manon, Daisy, and Lea Sophie Gill, for their trust, guidance, and support, and to Asia Kamukama and the Maendeleo Foundation team for their collaboration in delivering these impactful activities.

The Ubuntu Tech Training Centre is unlocking potential and opening pathways to opportunity, but this is just the beginning.

If we are serious about closing the digital gap, we must invest in solutions that reach the most underserved, including refugee women and girls.

We welcome partners and supporters to join us in scaling this model and transforming futures together.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 16th January 2026

Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) invites qualified and dedicated professionals to apply for the position of 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫. Join us in our mission to support refugee communities and provide quality education to children in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement.

In Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, a Sudanese refugee is transforming agricultural skills into a sustainable livelihood after receiving passion fruit production training and seedlings from the GRI Field Livelihoods Team.

Following the training, he began producing fresh mixed-fruit juice using passion fruits, avocados, oranges, and bananas. His natural juice quickly gained popularity within the community and sells at UGX 2,000 per glass.

“The training helped me realize I could add value to the fruits I grow. Juice making has changed my life,” he shares.

The business now generates a steady daily income, enabling him to meet household needs and reinvest in his enterprise. He adds, “Every glass I sell supports my family. I feel proud and confident.”

His journey is inspiring fellow refugees, particularly young women and men, to explore value addition and small-scale business opportunities within the settlement.

This story highlights how targeted livelihood interventions are strengthening self-reliance and economic resilience among refugees.

Environmental Kids Club members from six participating schools took part in a Fine Art Competition under the theme “Eco Super Heroes.”

A total of 240 children (40 from each school) showcased their creativity and passion for environmental protection through inspiring artworks that celebrated young heroes who care for the Earth.

The activity encouraged learners to see themselves as Eco Super Heroes, protectors of trees, water, soil, animals, and the air we breathe. Through their art, pupils expressed practical ways of conserving nature such as planting trees, cleaning school compounds, saving water, managing waste, and using clean energy.

Their drawings beautifully told stories of hope and action, from children picking litter and watering gardens to rainwater harvesting, recycling, and solar energy innovations. Creative characters like “Captain Tree Saver” and “Mama Nature” (meaning Mother of Nature) brought imagination to life, showing that everyone can play a part in protecting the planet.

This initiative is part of the ongoing project “Enhancing Environmental and Climate Change Education and Awareness” in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement and host community primary schools. The project continues to equip young learners with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to build a sustainable future.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘐 𝘢𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥

Recently, International Day of the Girl Child was celebrated at Ubuntu Model Primary School. This day is all about celebrating and supporting the rights of girls in Africa, especially their right to education, safety, and equal opportunities.

We celebrated this day through different performances from our girls. Every afternoon club showcased their talents through different performances which the rest of the girls enjoyed. After the performances, games were played and everyone enjoyed.

To close this day, best performing girls were appreciated with gifts to motivate them and encourage others to do the same, while every girl received a new pencil from the school administration presented to them by the education officer from GRI. This simple gift was to encourage the girls to keep in school.

Thank you everyone who is working tirelessly to ensure that the girl child is not left out on education.

To all our partners, donors and friends, we appreciate your efforts in supporting these young children through your donations towards construction of the school buildings, sponsorship opportunities, and other projects such as the menstrual hygiene management that targets increasing the rate of girl child retention in schools. As the school grows, we encourage you to continue with your support.

At Ubuntu Model Primary School, learning goes hand in hand with the promise of two warm meals each day. Our school feeding program has never paused, not because of unlimited resources, but because of the unwavering commitment of the administration and parents who work tirelessly to sustain it.

To strengthen these efforts, the school established a garden where maize, beans, and vegetables are grown every farming season. At GRI, we proudly support this initiative by providing farm inputs and technical guidance, ensuring that every harvest contributes directly to the children’s meals. We also established a fruit tree orchard, adding much-needed vitamins to their diet. Beyond this, our partnership with Feed the Hungry has been a blessing, with their MannaPack food supplies providing dependable support that keeps the program running smoothly.

The results are clear. Children now attend school more regularly, remain attentive in class, and perform better academically. For them, food represents more than just filling an empty stomach; it is joy, comfort, energy, and hope for a brighter future.

As we look ahead, we know this journey is best walked together. With your continued support, we can sustain and expand this program, ensuring that every child at Ubuntu Model Primary School is nourished in both body and mind.

Would you like to join us on this sustainability journey? Click here.

Something remarkable took place in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Together with our partners at FINCA Bank Uganda, Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) brought hope and opportunity to 50 smallholder farmers by training them on Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA).

VSLA is a community-driven model that helps families save, access small loans, and invest in their futures. For many of these farmers, traditional banking feels out of reach. Through VSLAs, they now have a chance to save together and grow their income, access emergency funds when times are hard, invest in seeds, tools, and small businesses, and build resilience that uplifts entire communities.

One farmer shared, “This training has shown us that even with little, we can start something big together.”

At GRI, we believe this is more than financial training. It is a pathway to dignity, resilience, and independence. With the support of FINCA Bank Uganda, refugee and host communities are finding new ways not just to survive but to thrive.

Imagine the impact if more farmers gained these skills. Imagine the children who could stay in school, the families who could endure crises, and the communities that could flourish.

To our generous donors, we are deeply grateful. Your support makes stories like this possible. With your continued commitment, we can expand this work and reach even more families. Join us in creating lasting change.