Turning refugees into change makers – that is the goal of the Unidos Social Innovation Centre. In the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in South West Uganda the refugee-led organisation aims at empowering young refugees with entrepreneurial skills.
It is becoming increasingly important to empower refugees as external support decreases. The World Food Programme (WFP) progressively reduced food rations for refugee settlements in South-West Uganda to 40% in 2021 (compared to 2019). According to Unidos, the ongoing drought is further exacerbating the consequences by decreasing the refugees’ own harvests. That’s why the organisation’ founders decided to re-write their own story: By inclusive education and the dissemination of entrepreneurial skills they aim at establishing food security in their refugee settlement. Through the application of permaculture these determined refugees do not only regenerate soil and ecological environment but also their own lives and the community.
Unidos’ vision
Regenerative Agriculture by Unidos
To create resilient communities, Unidos applies several regenerative techniques: Composting methods for high quality fertiliser supports permaculture gardening for sustainable agriculture. In this context, the refugees also pay attention to nature conservation and plant diversity. As permaculture regenerates the soil and saves water, its application benefits the whole community. The lack of space also encourages the young people to think outside the box and use methods such as vertical farming. Regular further training enables a constant process of adaptation to individual needs and circumstances.
For Unidos, women are the bedrock of community development. Empowering women is an effiecient way to ensure that the whole family is cared for. The refugee organisation also aims at minimising domestic violence, teenage pregnancies and forced marriages by reducing poverty in families.
The Social Innovation Centre offers English lessons which is especially important in Nakivale Refugee Settlement as many people from different countries come together. Being able to speak English deminishes loneliness and opens up new opportunities – not only in the work environment. In combination with teaching the women how to make soap, the refugee-led organisation also offers business training and networking opportunities. Leadership training and a contact point for general advice helps the refugees and displaced women to find their way around in the new environment. Finally, equipping new arrivals with farming tools and knowledge on natural farming techniques helps the women to become established.
The Social Innovation Centre is grateful for volunteers who support them at different stages of their processes: in the planning or the implementation of their projects, as well as in an advisory capacity. Partnerships are very valuable for Unidos to get information, tools and resources. These are often decisive for success.
