Author: GRI Social Media Team

This week, Ubuntu Model Primary School, Bweyale Public Primary School, and Bidong Primary School in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement joined hands for a conservation education film screening of Habitats. The film showcased diverse ecosystems such as freshwater, rainforests, deserts, and grasslands, helping pupils understand the meaning and importance of habitats.

The experience was both educational and exciting, as students explored the lives of wildlife in their natural settings and learned about their ecological roles. The initiative emphasized the need to protect and conserve habitats, leaving a lasting impression on the young minds about environmental stewardship.

“Film shows are a powerful medium that inspires and educates young minds about the importance of caring for our planet.”– Angera Nduhukire, Environment and Health Officer

Newly arrived Sudanese refugees are embracing commercial agriculture through passion fruit farming, thanks to GRI’s mindset change training sessions in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. 

In response to the call for community-driven farming, eight Sudanese farmer groups, each with 15-20 members, requested land for commercial agriculture. GRI’s livelihoods team has since trained these groups’ leaders on passion fruit nursery bed setup, covering both theory and hands-on seed preparation and planting.

These farmer groups have been allocated land in our Block Farm (Cluster C), where an adequate water supply will support irrigation through the upcoming dry season. Passion fruits are widely enjoyed in Kiryandongo and beyond, often used to make juice for schools, homes, and local businesses.

Join us in transforming lives through sustainable agriculture.

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.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 (𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧).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: “Thanks for all the efforts put in place to make this day colourful. Long live GRI, long live teachers. God be with you.”

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 priest’s 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. 

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.