Author: GRI Social Media Team

We were thrilled to engage 136 participants, including learners, teachers, and school administration heads from all three Environmental Kids’ Clubs (EKC), in an enriching conservation field trip to Murchison Falls National Park.

During the trip, the students got first-hand exposure to the species they’ve been learning about in their environment conservation lessons, including the Uganda Kob, waterbucks, hippos, and more! The highlight was hiking to the top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces through a narrow gorge, creating a stunning view of the powerful cascade and misty spray. Participants also learned about the surrounding trees, birds, and wildlife.

A special thanks to Uganda Wildlife Authority for their insightful session at the park’s Conservation Information Centre. Through this experience, teachers and students gained a deeper appreciation of the importance of conservation, with many parents eager to have their children join the Environmental Kids’ Clubs. 

We call upon more partners and donors to join us in empowering future environmental champions by supporting conservation education programs. Together, we can protect our planet for generations to come. 

At GRI we are committed to providing quality Education to refugee, IDP, and host community children in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement. Our primary school serves 200 learners, 90% of whom are refugees from South Sudan and the DRC.

Despite our progress, many students face financial hardships that prevent them from attending school. They lack basic requirements like books, pens, bags, shoes, uniforms, and school fees, which hinders their ability to learn.

We have identified 20 of our most vulnerable students who need immediate support (see photo below). By sponsoring a child, you will help them to stay in school, pursue their dreams, and build a bright future. Your support means more than just education; it is an investment in their potential to become leaders in their communities.

Join us in making a difference. Visit our Sponsorship Page to learn more about how you can help a child in need.

At Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI), we understand that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet it remains a significant challenge for many refugees in the Kiryadongo settlement. To address this, GRI has recently established a shallow well, bringing a vital source of clean water closer to the community. This well is a crucial step in reducing the water shortages that have long plagued the settlement, improving the lives of countless families.

However, our work is far from over. The need for sustainable water solutions continues to grow, and we are committed to expanding our efforts. We invite our partners, supporters, and all who believe in the right to clean water to join us in this mission. Together, we can create lasting change and ensure that every refugee in Kiryadongo has reliable access to safe water.

In addition to empowering refugees with education and farming skills, we take pride in providing them with paid employment. This opportunity allows them to gain valuable experience, exposure, increased income, and confidence. Our efforts have been particularly successful in the informal sector, where 80% of our casual labor force comprises refugees from the Congolese and South Sudanese communities. As we continue to grow, we aim to include even more refugees in our workforce.

This week, we are excited to introduce Yasmine Grace and Charity Maneno, who are parents of students at Ubuntu Model Primary School. They are also pioneers of the GRI block farm and work as cooks at the school. Here, one of them shares her experience with GRI.

“My name is Yasmine Grace, also known as Mama Queen. I am a parent of one child at this school, where I also work. I love my job because I get to cook for the children at Ubuntu Model School, including my own child. My employers are kind, respectful, and pay me well. The children are also a joy to be around. The money I earn here helps me pay school fees for my children and cover other essential needs, like soap and medicine. I am deeply grateful to GRI for building this school, which not only provided me with a job but also saved my daughter from traveling long distances to attend school. I pray for the school’s continued growth so that my other children can benefit as well. I have also learned valuable farming skills from GRI.”

Join us in expanding Ubuntu Model Primary School to serve even more children and families. Your support can make a significant difference. To contribute, please reach out to us at info@griuganda.org.

Research shows that 88% of Uganda’s land is arable, and the country’s economy is predominantly agricultural. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the potential to feed 200 million people. This is why our Livelihoods Department prioritizes farming as a means of empowering the refugees we work with.

Given the increasing innovations in the agricultural sector, we have made it a priority to participate in the National Annual Agriculture Trade Show, held annually in Jinja City, Uganda, where most of these innovations are showcased.

As in previous years, our Livelihoods Officer joined other livelihood and clean energy sector partners operating in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement to attend the 30th Annual National Agriculture Trade Show, which ran from July 24th to August 4th, 2024. The team also included model farmers from the refugee community, who are expected to return and help improve farming practices among their peers, thereby strengthening the livelihoods sector in the Kiryandongo Settlement.

Brian Gonzaga, GRI’s Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment Officer, who attended the event, shared his thoughts: “𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥-𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.”

Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement continues to receive new arrivals from Sudan. As these refugees adapt to their new environment, they are encouraged to engage in productive activities like farming. However, they face challenges such as a lack of seeds and farming tools to fully benefit from agriculture.

Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) is working to reduce the impact of conflict through our livelihoods and economic empowerment programs. We provide new refugee groups with high-quality vegetable seeds and farm tools to support their production efforts.

This support is especially timely as farmers prepare their fields for the upcoming rainy season in Kiryandongo District. Let’s all join hands in supporting this noble cause. Click here to donate

Just like the success story of our fruit tree orchard in one of our recent posts, today we are proud to share yet another beautiful step that we have taken together with you towards sustaining the feeding program at Ubuntu Model Primary School.

Continuing from last year, in March this year, we planted maize on 2.5 acres of land (alongside vegetables grown by learners and GRI) to supplement the feeding program.

This initiative ensures that learners have food even when supporting partners are unable to assist. This approach to sustainability not only serves its intended purpose but also contributes to environmental conservation and provides hands-on learning experiences for our pupils. Concepts like germination, among many taught in class, are practically demonstrated in the school garden.

At Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI), we are dedicated to improving the lives of refugee communities by supporting them in vegetable production. We are proud to support over 100 refugee farmers in growing nutritious vegetables like Sukuma wiki, green pepper, onions, cabbage, spinach, and okra.

These vegetables are sold locally within the settlement to other refugees, and some are bought by traders from the Bweyale market (A market close to Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement). This generates vital income to support their household needs.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with FAO, which has facilitated the construction of our second irrigation solar system. This innovative system enables our farmer groups to engage in block farming, producing vegetables and passion fruits even during the dry season.

Together, we are making a difference and empowering our communities to thrive! 

When designing our school feeding program, we envisioned a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other healthy nutrients. To achieve this, we decided to plant our own orchard with a variety of fruit trees, including mangoes, papayas, soursop, and guava. This initiative aims to benefit the school now and for generations to come. Today, we can proudly say that our vision is starting to unfold.

Focusing on papaya, one of the fastest-growing fruit trees in our orchard, the students have begun enjoying its fruits. They are served and relish the sweet, fleshy fruit as their dessert. While our primary focus is on the nutritional value it provides, our beneficiaries are delighted by both the taste and the quantity served. This fruit has certainly met the expectations of everyone involved.

With your support, we are steadily improving lives and health!

To contribute further, please click here

This week, Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) proudly joined the Run for Climate organized by Tree Adaptation Uganda (TAU)! Our involvement featured patrons from schools in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement and the host community, who are part of GRI’s Environmental Kids Club project. This initiative empowers young minds to protect and cherish our environment.

Together, we run for a greener, more sustainable future!