Staff wellbeing is not a luxury in refugee settings, it is a necessity.

Last Friday, the YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA) team stepped away from our desks for a well deserved stress management activity, and it turned out to be one of our most memorable days yet.
We started with community work, coming together to fence part of our Youth Initiative Primary School, a small but meaningful contribution to the safety of the children who learn there every day. The afternoon then turned competitive as our Primary School staff took on Head Office staff in a friendly football match. The final score was 1-2.

Working in refugee and humanitarian settings demands a great deal from our staff, both emotionally and physically. Days like this remind us why intentional stress management and team bonding activities matter.

At YIDA, we believe that caring for our staff is just as important as caring for the communities we serve.

In Uganda, 1 in 4 children aged 6 to 18, is out of school today.

That 1 in 4 is a child with energy, ideas, and a bright future quietly put on hold.

And for refugee children, the story is even harder, daily fight for survival push education even further out of reach. For many children in settlements like Kyaka II, school isn't a given, it's a battle.

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we believe every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and dream no matter where they were born or the kind of environment they live in.

You can be part of changing that story, Support a child today.

Visit our website to learn more and get involved https://youthinitiativefda.org/

#RefugeeEducation #YIDAYouthInitiative

These smiles have a story behind them.

Cohort II of YIDA's Mushroom Project just completed their assessment with the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UBTEB), a nationally recognized body certifying competencies gained through formal and informal TVET pathways.

These young people started with nothing but potential and desire to learn, grow and thrive. Now they're waiting on results that will officially recognize what they've already proven on the ground: that refugee youth can master a trade, run a business, and build a future.

Our Executive Director James Gihoma joined them for a photo after the assessment — and the smiles say it all.

Results pending. Graduation coming. And YIDA isn't done yet we'll be with them every step of the way.

Yesterday, we hosted the Cohere team at our office in Kyaka II refugee settlement, a visit that meant a great deal to all of us at YIDA Youth Initiative.

Micheal Gumisiriza and Basika Sabiti joined us to witness, up close, the impact taking shape here in Kyaka II. Our work is deeply human, demanding a lot from our team emotionally, physically, and mentally, as we operate within the realities of a humanitarian and refugee setting.

Our Executive Director, James Gihoma, and the team had a candid conversation with the Cohere team on the impact of our programs and where YIDA is headed strategically.

What stood out most: real impact is built on real relationships. Cohere has walked with us for a long time, and it's partnerships and shared purpose that carry this work forward.

As YIDA continues growing its work in entrepreneurship and affordable, quality education for refugee youth in Kyaka II, we're grateful for partners like Cohere who choose to stay close to the journey.

What does a great school day look like for a child in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement?

It starts with energy. At YIDA Youth Initiative Kindergarten, every morning opens with fun group energizers, activities that boost morale, build community, and get young minds ready to learn.

We know that for refugee children, school is more than academics. It's stability. It's hope. And it starts with a smile in the morning.

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we remain committed to providing quality and affordable early childhood education to the children who need it most.

Visit our website to learn more and support a child https://youthinitiativefda.org/

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we believe no child should have to choose between eating and learning.

Every school day, we ensure each child in our program receives a warm cup of nutritious porridge enriched with sugar and goat's milk because concentration begins with nourishment.

The results speak for themselves: 

✅ Better focus in the classroom 

✅ Improved energy and health 

✅ Higher school retention rates

A hungry child cannot learn. When we feed a child, we don't just fill their stomach — we open the door to their future.

Our school feeding programme is one of the quiet pillars holding up everything else we do. It keeps children in school, present, and ready to grow.

Yesterday, YIDA Youth Initiative joined fellow farmer groups in Byabakola Zone, Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, for an Agriculture Farming and Livelihood Exhibition organized by Peace Winds Japan.

Among the highlights was our youth-led Mushroom Project, a testament to what young people can achieve when given the tools, training, and platform to grow. Our young farmers proudly showcased their mushroom produce and walked event attendees through the fundamentals of mushroom production, sparking curiosity and inspiring conversations about sustainable, accessible livelihoods.

In Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, the classroom is being reimagined. Through the Flying Colors project powered by Kolibri — Learning Equality's digital learning platform, children at Youth Initiative Primary School now have access to quality education right at their fingertips.

Each child is equipped with a tablet loaded with engaging, curriculum-aligned content. The results speak for themselves: measurable improvements in numeracy and literacy are already being seen among learners who previously had limited access to quality educational materials.

"For many of these children, the tablet is their first experience with interactive learning. Watching them navigate lessons, solve problems, and grow in confidence is extraordinary."

Term 2 is here and at YIDA Youth Initiative, we believe no child should choose between hunger and learning.

Every school day, our young refugees walk through our doors not just for lessons, but for a warm, nutritious meal that gives them the energy and focus they need to thrive in the classroom. When a child is fed, they listen. They concentrate. They dream.

Our mission has always been simple give refugee children the same foundation that every young mind deserves affordable, quality education paired with the nourishment to make the most of it.

"Feed a child, and you open the door to everything else they can become."

As we kick off this new term, we remain committed to building a space where these young minds are not only educated but truly cared for body and mind.

Schools kicked off for second term and today, we shine the spotlight on one of our own Emmanuel Nuwamanya. His passion for teaching is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: young minds are the future of tomorrow. We're proud to have him shaping that future, one child at a time.

#RefugeeEducation #YIDAYouthInitiative

You may remember our story about 51 refugee youth in Cohort II at Kyaka II Refugee Settlement who embarked on a mushroom production journey. We then shared the exciting news that the mushrooms had started growing.

Well, today we have even bigger news, our participants have started harvesting.

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we believe that when you invest in a young person, you invest in an entire community. This journey from mindset change, to training, to hands-on production, to harvesting and selling is proof that all-inclusive empowerment works.

This initiative is also directly addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing refugee communities youth unemployment, livelihoods, and food security by putting nutritious, locally grown food on tables while putting income in the hands of young people.

#YouthEmpowerment #MushroomFarming #Entrepreneurship

School enrolment in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement here consistently falls below Uganda's national average. Across the country, only 2% of refugee youth make it to university and in settlements like Kyaka II, that number is even harder to reach.

Yida Youth Initiative (YIDA) is changing that from right inside the settlement offering a convenient workspace for refugee youth to access;

— Laptops & reliable power

— Free Wi-Fi

— A workspace to apply to universities & scholarships

— Computer training & hands-on application guidance

Our Scholars Workspace supports over 70 young refugees monthly showing up every day, ready to build their futures.

The workspace is designed to help students and youth apply for universities and continue their education.

Support us. Share this. Let's open more doors for young people for they are a promise of the future.

#KyakaIIRefugeeSettlement #ScholarsWorkspace #RefugeeYouth #Education

In Kyaka II, a refugee settlement in western Uganda, change often starts with one person who shows up. For hundreds of young people, that person is Gray Bagula. As part of the YIDA Youth Initiative team, Gray works day-to-day with youth in the settlement, guiding them through entrepreneurship training, building their confidence, and helping them see a future beyond displacement.

His approach is simple but powerful: he genuinely believes in them because he is also youth.

"Youth are a promise of the future. My job is to make sure they believe that about themselves" - Gray Bagula - Assistant Entrepreneurship Lead

In Uganda, 1 in 4 children under five is stunted due to chronic malnutrition, and 20% of rural learners go without lunch, directly affecting their attendance, concentration, and cognitive growth.

At YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA), we believe a hungry child cannot learn. That is why we have taken a bold step launching an irrigation farming program to secure year-round food supply for learners at Youth Initiative Primary School and Kindergarten in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement.

We saw this reality every day in our classrooms. Children arriving on empty stomachs, struggling to focus, and at risk of dropping out entirely. Learner retention, health, and academic performance are deeply tied to food security.

This is more than farming. This is an investment in the health, dignity, and potential of every child we serve. We are grateful to our community, volunteers, and partners who make this work possible.

#RefugeeEducation #YIDAYouthInitiative

Remember the story we shared here about the 51 refugee youth of our Cohort II in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement who embarked on Mushroom production?

Yes, that journey is almost paying off!

Today, we visited one of the mushroom production groups in Bukere, Kyaka II, and what we saw left us genuinely amazed. The mushrooms have started growing — and they are thriving!

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we don't just teach skills. We build people first. From mindset change and self-discovery, to theory, and now to full hands-on practical results — this is what transformation looks like.

Very soon, these incredible young people will move from learners to harvesters — and we could not be more proud.

This is part of our Institutional Strengthening Project, implemented by YIDA Youth Initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

#YouthEmpowerment #MushroomFarming #KyakaII #RefugeeResilience #Entrepreneurship

Meet Akonkwa Ariane, 31, a single mother of one who, together with her family, fled the Democratic Republic of Congo due to political instability and settled in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Kyegegwa District.

After years of being a refugee, unemployed and struggling, Ariane in 2023 learnt about YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA) Entrepreneurship skilling program under the Entrepreneurship Project, implemented in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation. When she joined the training, she and other participants were each given USD100 as startup capital to start a business.

Today, on a normal month, Ariane earns UGX 400,000, which she uses to pay school fees for her daughter, support her family, and sustain her business.

Ariane is now training 4 young girls who are single mothers, orphans, and other vulnerable young people and she expects to train more.

#YouthEmpowerment #YIDAYouthInitiative #KyakaIIRefugeeSettlement

Today, YIDA Youth Initiative and Hodari Foundation, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, distributed Personal Protective Equipment including gumboots, gloves, hair bonnets, and overall jackets to participants in Mushroom Production under Cohort II of our Institutional Strengthening Project.

Mushrooms are highly sensitive to bacteria, competing fungi, and environmental contaminants. Hair bonnets, gumboots, overall jackets and gloves act as essential biosecurity barriers, helping maintain the clean, sterile conditions that a healthy harvest demands.

#YouthEmpowerment #MushroomFarming #KyakaIIRefugeeSettlement

From displacement to enterprise - 51 young refugee and host community entrepreneurs are rewriting their story.

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we don't just teach skills. We build people first. From mindset change and self-discovery, to theory, to now full hands-on practical training in Oyster Mushroom farming in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement.

Fast-growing, low-cost, and highly nutritious - Oyster Mushrooms are not just a crop. They are a livelihood and a future.

Cohort II of our Institutional Strengthening project, implemented by YIDA Youth Initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

#YouthEmpowerment #MushroomFarming #KyakaII #RefugeeResilience #Entrepreneurship

Students at YIDA Youth Initiative sat their ECD & Primary examinations - a proud milestone for a refugee-led organization committed to quality education for all.

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we believe every child - regardless of displacement, deserves access to learning that opens doors and transforms futures.

#RefugeeEducation #EducationForAll #YIDAYouthInitiative

51 young refugees and host community members in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement have begun 3 weeks of intensive hands-on Mushroom Production training under Cohort II of our Institutional Strengthening project

After completing 3 days of theory, participants are now learning by doing divided into smaller groups for personalized, in-depth coaching.

This initiative deliberately targets youth & women, because when they gain marketable skills, entire households and communities transform.

At YIDA Youth Initiative, we believe every child deserves more than just a seat in class they deserve a nutritious meal to fuel their learning.

Good food keeps children healthy, focused, and ready to thrive. When we feed young minds well, we invest in a brighter future for our communities.

#SchoolFeeding #YIDAYouthInitiative

At YIDA Youth Initiative Primary School in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, education goes far beyond textbooks. Today, we celebrated Sports Day, a reminder that every child deserves the right to play, grow, and thrive.

Through sport, our students are building confidence, teamwork, and resilience skills that last a lifetime.

Because nurturing the whole child means giving them space to run, laugh, and dream.

#KyakaII #RefugeeEducation 

Yesterday, 51 youth refugees and from host communities successfully completed a 3-day theory training for Cohort II Mushroom Production under our Institutional Strengthening project.

This training marks an important milestone in our project with a focus on Mushroom Production a high-demand, high-potential opportunity in the settlement.

These 51 young people resilient, determined, and full of potential have completed classroom learning and will now embark on a 3-week intensive hands-on practical training to gain real skills for real livelihoods.

Through the Mastercard Foundation partnership, YIDA Youth Initiative and Hodari Foundation are transforming 51 young refugees and host community members in Kyaka II refugee settlement into skilled mushroom producers, building self-employment, food security, and lasting economic resilience where it matters most.

THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, we celebrate the #strength, #resilience, and #innovation of #women in our community.

Through YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA)'s #Entrepreneurship Program, women are gaining practical skills such as soap making and #mushroom production, turning knowledge into #sustainable #livelihood opportunities. These initiatives empower women not only to support their families but also to contribute to the economic #growth of their #communities.

In #RefugeeSettlements where opportunities can be limited, women continue to demonstrate remarkable determination, transforming simple skills into pathways for independence and dignity.

Today, we celebrate the women who are #building, #creating, and #leading change every day.

#InternationalWomensDay #WomenEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship #RefugeeLeadership #SustainableLivelihoods

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CREATIVITY MEETS OPPORTUINITY ??

After just one month and two weeks of training, entrepreneurs from YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA) second cohort proved that innovation can grow quickly when the right environment is created.

During a recent Creativity & Innovation session, participants were challenged to #develop #solutions using only locally available materials. The result was a powerful showcase of resourcefulness....from recycled plastic products to creative home Décor and Art.

What made the moment even more remarkable was that several entrepreneurs priced their products and secure clients directly during the showcase.

For YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA) representatives, this was more than a training exercise, it was a clear sign that with the right support, refugee #youth can rapidly transform ideas into opportunities.
This is the impact of investing in entrepreneurship: building confidence, unlocking creativity, and turning potential into real livelihoods.

Yesterday, we conducted a TaRL (Teaching at the Right Level) assessment at Youth Initiative Kindergarten, a refugee-led initiative committed to improving foundational learning within our community.

In a #refugee setting where children often face disrupted education and diverse learning gaps, this assessment was especially meaningful. We evaluated learners based on their actual literacy and numeracy levels; not simply by age or grade and regrouped them accordingly to ensure each child receives instruction suited to their current ability.

For us as a refugee community, TaRL is more than an assessment tool; it is a pathway to restoring confidence, rebuilding academic foundations, and giving every child a fair opportunity to learn and thrive despite challenging circumstances.

Seeing our community take ownership of quality education for our children is powerful. As a refugee-led organization, we remain committed to ensuring that no learner is left behind.

We care for generations

Last week, we held a parents’ meeting at Youth Initiative Primary School, and it was a very successful engagement.

The meeting created a valuable platform for dialogue between parents and the school community. Key discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to support learners’ academic progress and overall well-being.

One of the major outcomes was the election of new Parent–Teacher Association (PTA) representatives, chosen by the parents to serve the school community. This step reflects a strong commitment to shared responsibility and active parental involvement in the growth of the school.

Grateful for the positive turnout and the spirit of unity demonstrated throughout the meeting.

As we prepare for the school opening, we have successfully conducted a refresher teacher training focused on digital learning and the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology. 📚💻

This training equips our teachers with updated skills and practical tools to deliver inclusive, learner-centered lessons, strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, and effectively integrate technology into the classroom.

We are excited to begin the new term with a motivated team of educators ready to support every learner to progress at their own pace and reach their full potential. 🌟✏️

Happy New Year 2026! 🎉📚

We are excited to announce that we have officially resumed work for the new year, and registration is now open for children to access high-quality education that nurtures excellence, values, and future leaders.

Bring your children to YIDA Schools, where we are committed to providing one of the best learning experiences in the world through dedicated teachers, a supportive environment, and holistic education.

📌 Please note: At YIDA Schools, we have limited slots available for new learners, so early registration is highly encouraged.

Enroll today and give your child a strong foundation for a brighter future!