Author: GRI Social Media Team

The second school term of the academic year 2024 is here! With all Administrators, teachers, learners and non-teaching staff active and prepared for the term, we were curious to hear what the headteacher, Ms. Agnes Nambooze, had to say about the past three days since the beginning of the term;

” We are proud to announce that approximately three-quarters of our learners reported on the first day of the school term; Provision of meals (both breakfast and lunch) for our learners commenced on same day and our dedicated team of educators and staff have ensured that the teaching and learning process is running smoothly, providing a nurturing environment for our learners to thrive.
Besides that, our teachers have been diligent in preparing the necessary teaching materials, guaranteeing that every lesson is engaging and enriching. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the positive feedback we have received from our learners and their families. Together, we will continue to nurture the academic, social, and emotional growth of every learner who walks through our doors.”

This affirmation is a testament to our collective efforts in providing a high-quality education that meets some of the diverse needs of the refugee child.

Thank you for joining hands with us to support the refugee child through education.
Continue to support our Education Programme by reaching to us through info@griuganda.org

Kiryandongo refugee settlement is currently receiving new arrivals from Sudan as a result of the ongoing political civil war in their country. However, accommodating these newcomers places a significant strain on emergency relief supplies needed by refugees to begin their resettlement journey. These supplies include water, shelter, food, healthcare, education, soap, clothing, and fuelwood. Despite efforts by the Ugandan government (OPM) and UNHCR to provide relief materials, the demand remains high due to the large number of refugees in need.

With the onset of the rainy farming season in Uganda, the Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) is assisting new refugees by imparting skills in vegetable production. This initiative aims to provide refugees with access to a diverse and nutritious diet, including green leafy vegetables such as Sukuma wiki, purple eggplant, white eggplant, carrots, okra, green pepper, cabbage, and onions. GRI also prioritizes the health of refugees by ensuring they have sufficient land for farming, collaborating with OPM and equipping them with the necessary skills for vegetable farming as an emergency livelihood intervention.

So far, 200 new refugees have received assistance under this program.

We also call upon donors to join our cause in providing essential support to these refugees, ensuring their basic needs are met and fostering their integration into the community. Reach out to us on info@griuganda.org

At GRI, we recognize that a hungry child can never concentrate in class. Considering that over 80% of the learner population in most of the settlement schools in Kiryandongo Refugee settlement are refugee children who face a lot of hardships in their families, making feeding a big challenge, we chose to make the feeding program one of the priority programs at Ubuntu Model Primary School, which acts as our laboratory.

Under this program, learners are served with nutritious porridge made from a blend of soya beans and maize flour for breakfast, and beans and posho (maize flour) plus some vegetables for lunch. As supporting refugees has never been a one-man effort, Feed the Hungry East Africa (FTHEA), one of the education partners within the settlement, came through to support in the same program by availing 100 boxes of Manna pack, each box containing 13.5 kilograms this first term. Manna pack is a nutritious and scrumptious food very much adored by our learners; it comprises of rice, assorted vegetables, soy and vitamins.

Just like FTHEA, we encourage you to complement our efforts in this cause! You can reach out to us on info@griuganda.org

The Environmental Conservation Program by Global Refugee Initiatives is presently executing an agroforestry project across three schools: Bidong Primary School and Ubuntu Model Primary School, both serving refugees, and Bweyale Public Primary School, representing the host community.

This is intended to reforest the community and provide vegetables and fruits for improved nutrition for learners in the long run.

For the success of this activity, we fenced off the club plots for each of the schools to deter intrusion by animals and unauthorised persons.

Schools enthusiastically embraced this project, willingly engaging in and actively participating in all its activities. During our visit to Bidong Primary School, a school for refugees, we noticed Mr. Leo Okabo, the patron of the Environmental Kids’ Club, eagerly participating in the tree planting activity. When asked about the source of his joy and involvement, here’s what he shared:

“𝘞𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺.“

To support GRI’s Environmental Conservation program, click on link

Every child has a right to education; however, many parents/guardians in Kiryandongo Refugee settlement cannot afford to support their children in school due to financial constraints and other family hardships among others. As a result, many children end up losing access to quality education or keeping frustrated in school thus contributing to high school drop-out rates.

GRI therefore started its sponsorship program to support and secure the education of children from such vulnerable backgrounds firstly at Ubuntu Model Primary school and then later to other primary schools within the settlement. In close collaboration with the school administration and other stakeholders, children from most vulnerable homes were identified and recommended for this program.

“I lost my daughter and her husband to the war in South Sudan where we were happily living, since then I assumed full responsibility of these children, the house we constructed collapsed and we were offered this one by a sympathizer at church to occupy for free till further notice, weak as I am there’s nothing much I can do to earn a living, we are fully dependent on support from UNHCR and well-wishers from our church. Am so humbled by your visit and my heart is filled with gratitude for GRI and Ubuntu Model P/S for allowing my two grandchildren to study freely without any disturbances otherwise they would be home with me just like their elder sister here.” Idita Kamisa Said, South Sudanese Refugee.

We count on your support to educate the refugee child

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Your contribution can make a difference in someone’s life, family and community

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At GRI we recognize the critical role forests play in sustaining life on our planet and as such through our environment program in schools in Kiryandongo refugee settlement and host communities, we advocate for a peaceful co-existence between man and his environment. We do this through classroom teachings & reading, tree planting, recycling plastics and other materials, taking nature walks among others.

We engage our environment kids club members in tree planting and maintaining and also support and encourage them to keep planting trees in their homes and as well educate their parents/guardians about the importance of trees, emphasizing that trees/ Forests, known as Earth’s lungs, are vital for a balanced environment, they filter harmful carbon dioxide from the air and are essential for life, they provide food, water and shelter for both humans and animals, and that by cutting down these trees we risk losing these irreplaceable ecosystems around the world.

Together lets plant more trees in Kiryandongo refugee settlement and host communities. Click here to support the cause. Happy International Forest Day 2024

Last week, Our School held its much-anticipated school elections, where pupils showcased their leadership potential and competed for various positions of responsibility ranging from head boy and head girl to class prefects within the school community and later the successful candidates swore in. The event not only highlighted the democratic process within the school but also underscored the significance of nurturing leadership skills among children from a tender age.

At Ubuntu Model Primary School, the emphasis on leadership goes beyond just holding positions of authority; it is about cultivating qualities such as empathy, integrity, and resilience among others.

“Providing opportunities for pupils to take on leadership roles, the school empowers them to become confident, responsible, and empathetic individuals who are capable of making meaningful contributions to society.” Agnes Nambooze, Ubuntu Model Primary School Head Teacher.

GRI officials graced the swearing-in ceremony and with much pleasure congratulated, welcomed and encouraged the new and pioneer prefectural body to work closely with school administration for a better Ubuntu Model P/S

Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of women around the world. Lets continue to work towards a more gender-equal society, where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential.

In Kiryandongo settlement, water scarcity poses a significant challenge, especially for production facilities. However, through collaborative efforts, we have seen a positive change.

Global Refugee Initiatives is proud to support 7 Village Savings and Loans Association VSLA farmer groups comprising 120+ members in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. With assistance from Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Self-Help Africa, we have installed a shallow well and a solar pump, ensuring access to water for production even during the dry season.

But our commitment doesn’t stop there. We have established a Water User Committee, with 50% female representation, to ensure effective governance of this precious resource. Their responsibilities include setting up by-laws to guide usage, collecting maintenance contributions from the facility users, and managing a maintenance fund for long-term sustainability.

Join us in overcoming water challenges in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Together, we can make a difference.

Streets bustling with children heading to Ubuntu Model Primary School, part of GRI’s education project in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Our team ensures inclusive, quality education for refugee, IDP, and host community kids.

Excitement fills the air as children reunite with friends after two months. With dedicated staff and engaging activities, learning is in full swing! Afternoons are packed with games, sports, and drama to boost intellectual and social skills.

We’re proud to collaborate with parents, teachers, and partners to nurture these young minds. Our recent PTA meeting saw over 80% participation-a testament to our strong community bond. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for these children.

Please join us in supporting the cause by making a donation through the link