Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) is promoting high-value crop farming to enhance livelihoods and economic empowerment in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement. Through this initiative, GRI has supported over 200 newly arrived refugees with 2,000 sweet yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa) seedlings, well-suited to the regionโs soil and climate.
To scale up impact, GRI has constructed a greenhouse shelter that now hosts both passion fruit and agroforestry tree seedlings, contributing to reforestation and sustainable agriculture in the area. Already, 3,000 passion fruit seedlings have been distributed to 150 farmers from the host community, strengthening peaceful coexistence through shared economic opportunities.
Together, we are planting seeds of hope, resilience, and prosperity.ย
Thanks to your generous support, something truly beautiful is growing in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement and host community!
Together with 240 enthusiastic children and 12 dedicated teachers across six schools, weโre transforming schoolyards into vibrant agroforestry demonstration gardensโliving classrooms for climate-smart agriculture. With fenced plots, enriched soil, and thriving nurseries, young hands are nurturing seedlings that will soon flourish alongside trees in sustainable gardens.
But these gardens grow more than food. Theyโre teaching vital skills in sustainable farming, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. Children are learning how to restore land, conserve water, and build resilience to climate change.
By blending trees with vegetables, these gardens enrich soil, protect natural resources, and strengthen food security for both refugee and host communities.
Most importantly, you’re helping raise a generation of climate leadersโchildren who believe in their power to make a difference, because you believed in them first.
Letโs grow the next gardenโand the next young leader. Click here to keep the impact growing.
The first school term in Uganda is always an exciting time for primary school athleticsโand this year marked a major milestone for Ubuntu Model Primary School. For the very first time, our learners proudly competed in inter-school sports events within the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. And they didnโt just participateโthey brought home some well-earned victories!
With boundless energy, determination, and heart, our young athletes gave it their all in sprints and relays. One unforgettable moment was when they received their first-ever sports uniformsโa generous gift made possible by your support. The change was immediate: confidence soared, smiles widened, and our learners wore their new kits with immense pride, raising Ubuntuโs banner high.
Reflecting on the experience, their dedicated sports patron, Mr. Robert, shared: โOur learners are incredibly talented, but weโve always lacked the equipment to nurture their full potential. Even with limited resources, they performed remarkably. Just imagine what they could achieve with full support! Weโre deeply grateful to GRI for stepping in with some much-needed athletic items. Your support made a real difference.โ
Inspired by their determination, we now call on more donors, partners, and well-wishers to join us in fully equipping the sports clubs at Ubuntu Model Primary Schoolโand across other schools in the settlement. Together, we can help our children run even further toward their dreams.
Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI), in collaboration with Ubuntu Model Primary School, recently conducted a livelihoods program needs assessment aimed at introducing newly arrived refugee parents from Sudan to existing income-generating opportunities. The meeting, attended by 87 parents (54 women and 33 men), provided a platform for both new and existing parents to share knowledge on economic activities that can help sustain their families and support their childrenโs education.
Key insights from the discussions revealed that:
65% of parents expressed interest in farming, proposing activities such as poultry, piggery, vegetable growing, and large-scale maize production.
25% of parents emphasized the need for business skills and startup capital for ventures like soap making, baking, tailoring, and small shops.
10% of parents, particularly skilled workers, requested tools and equipment for trades such as bricklaying, welding, and milling.
With over 100 parents eager to join GRIโs economic empowerment initiatives, this assessment highlights the urgent need for expanded livelihood support to help refugee families rebuild their lives. The inclusion of new arrivals from Sudan in these programs ensures that they can integrate into the community and contribute meaningfully to their children’s well-being.
We are calling on donors, partners, and well-wishers to support this transformative program. Your contribution, whether through funding, technical support, or resource mobilization will make a lasting impact on refugee families.
For partnerships and support, reach out to us today at info@griuganda.org
Farming in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement is challenging, especially during dry seasons when limited land and water scarcity worsen food insecurity. Refugee mothers struggle to access nutritious vegetables, increasing malnutrition among infants and expectant mothers.
To tackle this, GRI is supporting 200 refugee farmers through block farming. By providing access to land, training in soil water conservation techniques like mulching, ridge planting, and solar-powered irrigation, we are ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods.
This initiative is making a real differenceโhelping refugee families grow nutritious food and boost household incomes. Together, we can expand this impact! Click here to support.
This year, we welcomed five new educatorsโtwo teaching assistants (one Sudanese and one South Sudanese) and three Ugandan-registered teachers. Among the successful candidates was Amani, a Sudanese, who stood out as one of the top applicants. Along with her colleagues, she underwent orientation to smoothly integrate into our school community.
Reflecting on her journey at Ubuntu Model Primary School, Amani shared:
A quiet yet powerful transformation is unfolding at Ubuntu Model Primary School in one of the most anticipated classes of the dayโthe English Bridging Program.
Designed to support Arabic-speaking Sudanese pupils with no prior knowledge of English, this program has become a game-changer, sparking excitement for learning, fostering social interaction, and bridging the gap between struggle and success.
For many learners, stepping into an English-speaking classroom once felt like being dropped into an unfamiliar worldโconcepts were lost in translation, confidence wavered, and participation seemed out of reach. But with the introduction of the bridging program, everything is changing. New Sudanese pupils are now confidently interacting with classmates from other nationalities in English.
Through engaging activities and interactive lessons, the classroom has become a space where learning thrives. Each day, it echoes with laughter, progress, and the undeniable proof that with the right support, every child can flourish.
Together, we can break even more barriers in the education journey of refugee children in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement and beyond!
The morning sun cast a golden glow over Ubuntu Model Primary School, signaling the start of a fresh school term last week. The air buzzed with excitement as children, dressed in their neat uniforms and some in clean non-uniform clothing, hurried through the school gate, their backpacks bouncing with every eager step. But this term was unlike any other. This time, the pupils had something extra special to look forward toโa new grade in a brand-new classroom!
For months, they had watched in anticipation as the new structure took shape. They had peeked through the windows, imagining the lessons they would learn and the stories they would share within those four walls. And today, their patience was finally rewarded.
“This is the best classroom ever!” whispered Queen, a Primary Four pupil, as she ran her fingers along her new wooden desk. Her friends nodded in agreement, their faces lit with excitement.
The teachers, too, couldnโt hide their joy. The new classroom meant more furniture, smaller class sizes, better teaching and learning conditions, reinforced job security, and a brighter future for their pupils.
A special thanks to our donors and partners for making this possible and to all our supporters for paving the way for a better tomorrow for these learners and their communities!
Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) invites qualified and dedicated professionals to apply for the position of ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ. Join us in our mission to support refugee communities and provide quality education to children in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement.
GRIโs ๐บ๐๐๐-๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ participated in the FAO Uganda-organized Farmer Field Day, showcasing their vegetable produce and passion fruit farming techniques. They highlighted agronomic practices, nutritional benefits, and market potential of vegetables while recommending the highly disease-tolerant Passiflora flavicapa variety for better yields.
The event brought together stakeholders like UNHCR, MAAIF, and local government, fostering collaboration between settlement and host community farmers to promote sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods.
