Today, we brought together youth, volunteers and community members for a clean-up in Nsambya. We focused on walkways, drainage points and shared spaces outside our doorsteps.
This initiative focused on creating a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone. Beyond sanitation, the activity led by YARID’s Youth Engagement Initiative and supported by @hiltonfoundation strengthened teamwork and a shared sense of community responsibility. It also served as an opportunity to raise awareness about environmental conservation and the importance of maintaining clean public spaces.
By engaging in civic action, these young people continue to demonstrate that positive community change is possible.
This week, our Digital Skills learners reached the final stage of their 3 month journey, presenting websites they developed as part of their final practical exercise.
As part of their training under 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝟰: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 & 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀, learners worked in groups to apply design thinking by identifying real challenges within their communities and developing business ideas as solutions.
During the presentations, each group introduced a clear problem statement before demonstrating how their idea responds to that need through websites built using Google Sites. 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀, 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀.
More than just building websites, our Digital Skills Training challenges learners to think critically, work as teams, and turn ideas into practical solutions.
At YARID’s ICT Hub in Nsambya, Kampala, learners continue gaining hands-on digital skills connected to today’s opportunities and realities. Registration is now open for the next cohort. Drop by our office or contact us at +𝟮𝟱𝟲 𝟳𝟰𝟭 𝟯𝟱𝟲 𝟴𝟲𝟯, 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗘) 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
We attended the national launch of the 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗘) 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 in Kampala, marking a significant step forward for Uganda under the theme “𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀.”
Led by the @educsportsug with support from partners like @unicefuganda , the policy reinforces the importance of investing in children aged 0–6 as the foundation for lifelong learning and development.
At YARID, we see a strong connection between this vision and our ongoing Child-Friendly Spaces, where children in refugee and host communities access safe, inclusive environments for play, learning, and psychosocial support.
At YARID, we remain committed to family-centered programming that supports early childhood development while creating opportunities for parents to build skills and access essential services.
Last week, we marked the successful completion of Cohort One of our Job Training and Placement (JTP) with a learning field experience at 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Uganda in Rubaga.
The session offered participants a valuable opportunity to connect their training with practice, while gaining a deeper understanding of how the Bless the Child Foundation supports children living with cancer through a range of programmes.
62 participants from our classes in Wakiso District and Makindye Division in Kampala took part in this activity. For many, especially those interested in childcare and child minding, it was a chance to see what the work looks like in practice and explore possible career options. Participants also valued the opportunity to learn directly from professionals, better understand the workplace, and build confidence through hands-on experience.
Registration is now open for the next cohort of YARID’s Job Training and Placement Programme, an 8 week training course designed to prepare job seekers for employment, starting in the first week of May.
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 + 𝟮𝟱𝟲 𝟳𝟰𝟭 𝟯𝟱𝟲 𝟴𝟱𝟳, +𝟮𝟱𝟲 𝟳𝟴𝟱 𝟵𝟲𝟮 𝟱𝟱𝟴 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁@𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗱.𝗻𝗲𝘁
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹: 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 🌍
A few weeks ago, we came together for an inception meeting with five RLOs now leading initiatives across Kyaka II, Palabek, and Nakivale. Today, they are advancing five distinct projects grounded in lived experience and direct community realities.
This journey began with an open call that received more than 100 applications from across Uganda, highlighting the scale and diversity of refugee-led initiatives. Following a competitive pitching process, we selected five organisations to receive seed funding alongside tailored organisational support.
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘀:
1. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀)
🌱 Climate-smart agriculture initiatives for refugee and host communities.
2. 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢
🐓 Poultry enterprises strengthening household income and food security.
3. 𝗨𝗕𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 @ubuchange
🍌 Women transforming banana fibres into marketable products.
4. 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 @liidafrica10
🤱🏾 Young mothers accessing skills training alongside childcare support.
5. 𝗡𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (NOWEMPA)
🧶 Women and girls building livelihoods through artisan crafts
These are not externally designed solutions. They are built from lived experience, local knowledge, and trusted community structures. YARID works alongside these organisations to strengthen internal systems in compliance, finance, and monitoring, while increasing their visibility and recognition within the wider ecosystem.
The 𝗥𝗟𝗢 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗟𝗢 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 is supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative 🤝. It creates space for shared learning, peer exchange, and stronger positioning of refugee-led organisations.
Follow along as they share their impact in the months ahead 🚀
From “I’m nervous” to “I’ve got this”
Mock interviews + real feedback = growth!
Our learners just went through mock interviews and got real feedback to improve 💼
We are excited to share a new partnership with @_hellofuture that Endures, making an important step toward strengthening youth-centered education and experiences for refugee and host community youth in Uganda.
Last week, we completed a 𝟯-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗧𝗼𝗧) with dedicated facilitators and educators from YARID facilitated and led by Hello Future.
This training was not a traditional workshop but it was about a deeper shift in how we think about teaching, learning, and the role we play in the classroom because what shapes a classroom is not just what we teach, but how we show up. Hello Future equips organisations with tools and ongoing coaching needed to build confidence, agency, and real-world skills that balance giving students voice and responsibility while guiding them toward learning goals.
YARID, with its strong presence in both urban and refugee settlement communities in Uganda, continues to play a vital role in providing education, protection, and vocational skills training to both host and refugee communities.
This partnership is about building sustainable systems, strengthening local facilitators, and making learning more engaging, practical, and transformative for adolescents and young adults.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁?
The trained facilitators and educators will now begin rolling out the pilot project 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗯: 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲, supported by @_hellofuture that is guided by its methodology and curriculum. This next phase will bring the training into practice, making learning more interactive, with continued coaching and support along the way.
𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲: even after difficult seasons, it is possible to begin again.
At YARID, we see this every day. People returning to learning. Starting small businesses. Finding confidence. Rebuilding step by step. Investing in new beginnings.
Wishing you a peaceful #Easter and the strength to rise again, with meaningful connections and opportunities to come. ✨
#NewBeginnings
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗗 🔧
We are offering a 6 month welding training with hands on practice. Learn how to make gates, metal beds, doors and windows, carry out metal repairs, and more.
Register at our training centre in Makindye, Kevina.
+256 783 811 077
+256 771 338 727
The training is free of charge and open to all nationalities, with support from the @hiltonfoundation
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 #𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀. 📚 When Amani enrolled at Bwiriza Primary School in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, she struggled to keep up. Reading was difficult, writing felt overwhelming, and numbers left her at risk of dropping out.
At home, her mother were worried. Coming from the DR Congo, she supports her three children through a small business in the settlement. Seeing her daughter struggle with numbers made her fear for her future.
Through 𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗗’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵-𝗨𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, Amani received additional learning support before and after the regular school day, using the Teaching at the Right Level approach.
With lessons matched to her level, she gradually strengthened her reading, writing, and numeracy skills. Teachers started to notice the change. She began participating more in class, reading with more confidence, and keeping pace with other children.
𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 and dreams of becoming a nurse.
When children who fall behind receive the right support, they do not just catch up. They excel. ✨
EID MUBARAK! 🌙
To our incredible community, near and far: we wish you a day filled with peace, joy, and the warmth of togetherness.
This Eid, we celebrate the compassion and bonds that bring us closer. At YARID, we see this spirit every day in the strength and heart of the refugee and host communities we serve across Uganda.
From all of us, we wish you a blessed Eid! ✨
