General Report
Tomorrow Vijana is actively leading livelihood activities within a consortium of five Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) in the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement. This collaboration with community groups as project partners is a significant and positive development, blending professional fieldwork with essential quality improvement services that meet the community's needs.
By engaging directly with existing groups, Tomorrow Vijana enhances the efficacy of its strategies, ensuring long-term and sustainable solutions. The cooperation among partners is built on a careful distribution of roles, leveraging each partner's unique experiences and interests. The project is being implemented as planned, with a strong emphasis on capacity-building for all involved groups.
Tomorrow Vijana has expanded its activities to reach deeper into the community, addressing a wider range of needs. As part of this effort, Tomorrow Vijana is mentoring five refugee groups, with the ambitious goal of transitioning them into official Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). This milestone represents a significant step towards self-sustainability and community ownership, underscoring Tomorrow Vijana's commitment to empowering the refugee community. project Empowering Youth for Sustainable Livelihoods
· The following groups are collaborating with Tomorrow Vijana in this initiative:
- KAZIMBELE formerly BRH (Build Refugee Hope)
- NOPEI formerly PAD (Pillar for Africa Development)
- MYDS (Muungano Youth Development Skills)
- RSF (Refugee Self-Reliance Skills)
- NZANGO Modern
Tomorrow Vijana achieved significant milestones in its livelihood project. Five groups were identified and provided with training in leadership, community engagement, and financial services. Out of these, two groups successfully acquired a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). A total of 523 direct beneficiaries were reached, with 125 individuals receiving skills in crafts making, tailoring, and financial literacy.
Key collaborations included working with PAD on community development, providing 12 sewing machines to women trainees, and supporting craft materials to enhance productivity and creativity. Additionally, Build Refugee Hope, specializing in mushroom production, trained 117 beneficiaries to create collective mushroom gardens for income generation.
Nzango Modern focused on addressing mental health through social activities, benefiting 89 women, while Muungano Youth Development Skills trained 107 individuals in tailoring and hairdressing. A five-day workshop on Digital Communication Strategies for Community-Based Organizations was also conducted, attended by 48 representatives from 25 refugee CBOs, equipping them with essential skills to improve outreach, awareness, and donor engagement. These efforts collectively contributed to building self-sustainability and community empowerment in Rwamwanja.
- The project’s training and mentorship efforts significantly strengthened the leadership, organizational skills, and community understanding of five identified groups, leading to tangible outcomes like acquiring a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
- The adaptability shown in the ongoing restructuring of Nzango Modern’s management and focused training efforts emphasized the need to tailor strategies to meet evolving community needs. The Digital Communication Strategies workshop further demonstrated the importance of digital literacy for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in expanding their reach and impact.
- Practical, hands-on training, such as collective mushroom farming, increased engagement and the likelihood of sustained success. Lastly, culturally sensitive approaches in activities like craft making and mental health support ensured better community acceptance and meaningful impact.
