From a Small Refugee Initiative to Transforming Thousands of Lives
In 2017, YAREN Organisation began as a small initiative led by refugees determined to create change within their own communities. What started with simple community actions in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda has grown into a movement that empowers refugees and vulnerable communities through education, entrepreneurship, health, and humanitarian support. Over the years, YAREN has demonstrated that even small resources can create powerful transformation when communities are empowered to lead their own development.
The Early Years: Building Hope in Nakivale
YAREN’s first initiatives focused on addressing urgent social challenges faced by refugees, especially women, youth, and vulnerable families.
Through health awareness programs, YAREN trained over 200 women and teen mothers on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health. These training sessions helped women gain the knowledge to protect themselves and their families.
At the same time, the organization supported orphaned children and vulnerable youth with education assistance, school materials, and community mentoring. Language barriers were another major challenge for refugees, so YAREN organized English training sessions that helped dozens of adults improve communication skills and access new opportunities.
Youth empowerment quickly became another priority. Community meetings and youth forums were organized to understand the needs of young refugees and to promote leadership and peacebuilding within refugee settlements.
These early programs laid the foundation for what YAREN would later become: a refugee-led organization committed to empowerment, resilience, and community leadership.
Expanding Health, Dignity, and Protection
As YAREN’s work expanded, the organization launched programs focused on protecting women and promoting dignity and health.
Training sessions were conducted to address early marriage, reproductive health, and sexual health education, reaching more than 120 teen mothers. These initiatives helped young women gain awareness and confidence to make informed decisions about their lives.
During the same period, YAREN collaborated with partners to support refugees in sharing their stories and experiences through media and storytelling training. This initiative empowered young refugee filmmakers to document their realities and raise awareness about refugee life.
Understanding that unemployment was a major barrier for young refugees, YAREN also supported youth in exploring job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities, helping them understand employment challenges and build solutions for economic independence.
Responding to Crisis: Protecting Communities During COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached refugee communities, YAREN quickly mobilized to protect vulnerable populations. Through partnerships with humanitarian organizations, YAREN helped distribute hygiene supplies, protective equipment, and menstrual health products to thousands of vulnerable individuals.
Among the most impactful initiatives were:
• Distribution of sanitary pads to teen mothers, persons with disabilities, widows, and albinos, restoring dignity and improving hygiene.
• Community training on mental health and trauma healing for young leaders.
• Distribution of face shields and protective equipment to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
These interventions protected communities that often had limited access to essential health resources.
Improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Access to safe water remains one of the biggest challenges in refugee settlements. YAREN has taken practical steps to improve hygiene and prevent waterborne diseases.
The organization supported the distribution of Sawyer water filters to schools, health centers, and community institutions, improving access to safe drinking water.
YAREN also conducted community surveys to understand drinking water consumption patterns and identify causes of waterborne diseases. These studies helped inform community awareness and prevention programs.
Hygiene initiatives continued with the distribution of soap and medical hygiene supplies to vulnerable groups, including children with disabilities and orphaned children.
Together, these actions helped communities strengthen sanitation practices and prevent disease outbreaks.
Empowering Women Through Livelihoods
Economic empowerment is essential for sustainable change. YAREN introduced livelihood initiatives designed to help women and youth build independent sources of income.
One of the most successful initiatives was training in liquid soap production, where women and men learned practical business skills to start small hygiene-product businesses. This training not only promoted hygiene but also created income-generating opportunities.
Later programs focused specifically on supporting teen mothers aged 13 to 17. These young women received training in:
• tailoring
• handicrafts
• English language skills
• reproductive health education
• mental health support
Through these programs, 223 teen mothers were empowered to rebuild their lives, gain economic independence, and support their families.
Creating Opportunities for Youth and Community Development
YAREN also invested in youth creativity and leadership development. Young refugees were trained in photography and storytelling, helping them gain practical skills while sharing their perspectives with the world.
Community initiatives, such as libraries and educational support programs, helped address barriers to learning. Through these programs, over 7,500 people benefited from improved access to educational resources and community development support.
YAREN also organized community water dialogues and advocacy events, bringing together community leaders, women, youth, and stakeholders to discuss sustainable water access solutions.
Strengthening the Organization for Greater Impact
As YAREN’s impact grew, the organization invested in strengthening its operational capacity.
Efforts included:
• establishing office spaces within refugee communities
• improving working environments for the YAREN team
• building partnerships with international organizations
• developing an official website to increase visibility and attract support
These steps were essential in positioning YAREN as a credible and sustainable refugee-led organization.
Gallery
Snapshots of hope and transformation in action
Our Story and Mission
Creating a better society for high-risk communities by improving living standards, tackling poverty and unemployment, increasing local capacities, and promoting self-resilience among refugees and vulnerable populations.
Our Vision
Our Mission
To train, promote, and empower high-risk communities with skills that enable them to become self-reliant and stimulate entrepreneurial spirit through sustainable community practices