We are excited to announce that Global Refugee Initiatives has begun the construction of a second classroom block at Ubuntu Model Primary School, thanks to the generous support from private foundations, particularly from the Netherlands.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง (๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง).Currently, the school has 200+ children enrolled from South Sudan, DRC, IDP, and the host communities in Kiryandongo.
The block will also feature an ICT lab offering digital skills to learners, youth, and women in the refugee settlement.
In celebration of World Day of the Girl, Ubuntu Model Primary School came alive with creativity and hope for the future! Learners showcased their talents through songs, poems, skits, and games, entertaining guests, teachers, and each other.
The female staff, alongside GRI, shared messages of wisdom, guidance, and inspiration to empower the girls and nurture their vision for a bright future. The day was crowned with simple yet thoughtful gifts to remind the girls of the strength behind the words shared.
Together, we are building a future where girls lead with vision and confidence!
On Saturday, GRI proudly celebrated the exceptional teachers at our Ubuntu Model Primary School, located in the Kiryadongo Refugee Settlement. These devoted educators are key to shaping the futures of refugee children, IDPs, and those from host communities.
During the celebration, teacher Idia Lona Daniel expressed heartfelt gratitude: โThanks for all the efforts put in place to make this day colourful. Long live GRI, long live teachers. God be with you.โ
We recognized and rewarded our teachers for their unwavering dedication to providing quality education under challenging circumstances. Your commitment continues to inspire us all!
As part of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) initiative, Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) collaborates with 200 host community church members to cultivate church land for farming projects.
The primary goal of these initiatives is to enhance resilience and self-reliance in refugee-hosting districts by producing surplus crops for food security and income generation. One such beneficiary is the YESU TWERO (an Acholi phrase meaning “Jesus is able”) farming group in Katulikile, Mutunda Sub-county, Kiryandongo District.
This group, consisting of 30 members, grows vegetables such as African eggplant, Sukuma wiki, and onions, primarily for income. They have collectively earned 1.5 million UGX from their produce sales, which has been reinvested in constructing a priestโs house for their church.
According to our livelihoods officer Brian Gonzaga, “Such economic empowerment activities enable church communities to undertake their projects independently of central church budgets, fostering broader community development.”
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.ย
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 schoolโs 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 atย info@griuganda.org.
Research shows that 88% of Uganda’s land is arable, and the country’s economy is predominantly agricultural. According to the UNโs Food and Agriculture Organization, Ugandaโs 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.
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
