Uganda, Hoima, Uganda: Education That Changes Lives of Refugee Students

The CIYOTA Student’s Hostels seeks to Provide Education That Changes Lives of Refugees Students by enabling them to attend Secondary schools in order to prepare them for Universities around the world.

In the refugee camp with a population of over 35,000, 50% are school going-age. The population does not have a secondary school to educate the young people whose potential would be unlocked to address the challenges they are facing today and in the future. In the midst of these challenges, four young refugees recognized the power of education as a pathway out of poverty, as well as a means to heal conflict, create social cohesion, and spur economic growth. Education for youth through methods that also build corresponding commitment and support of families and the community. The four young refugees piloted a number of project including the hostel program that created a students’ home in Hoima town where refugee students were able to access quality secondary school at low or no cost.

These students are from less opportune communities that have no access to computer. As the world is becoming more technology oriented, they need the exposure to be prepared for life after high school. Having these computers would enable them to have more study materials and communication with others to help them improve on themselves and to work on their educational success. The 10 computers will be benefit 100 students every year who graduate from high school with the support from CIYOTA.

Since the opening of the hostel program CIYOTA has directly supported over 500 refugee children in Uganda and DRC to complete secondary education. Through this innovative hostel program in 2010 enabled the first five girls from Kyangwali ever to complete high school. Some of the graduates from secondary school achieved competitive admission and enrolled in national and international universities in the past two years. By equipping the students with computers we will not only create a better environment for talents development but we will also continue to bridge the gap of lack of secondary school in the camp that previously made it impossible for refugee students to access University Education.