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Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Uganda | July 2026
The Refugee Change Makers Network (RECAN) is proud to be implementing the Harvest of Hope Project, a transformative initiative under the Uplift Programme, supported by Africa Forward in partnership with the One Family Foundation. The project is equipping refugee youth in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement with practical skills, entrepreneurship knowledge, and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.
The Uplift Programme is designed to strengthen social entrepreneurship as a pathway to employment and enterprise development. By working through ecosystem partners, the programme supports locally led solutions that enable young people to create businesses, access employment, and contribute to economic growth within their communities.
Investing in Refugee-Led Solutions
At the heart of the Harvest of Hope Project is RECAN’s commitment to localization. Rather than creating parallel systems, the project works directly with Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) and skilled refugee artisans who already possess valuable expertise and trusted relationships within the settlement.
Following a comprehensive due diligence process, RECAN partnered with organizations including EMAP Foundation, Mutu Kama Na Wewe People Living with Disabilities Association, and Conviction Power of Africa Organization, alongside experienced local artisans. These partnerships ensure that training is community-driven, practical, and sustainable while strengthening the capacity of refugee-led institutions.
Building Skills That Create Opportunities
The Harvest of Hope Project combines vocational training, climate-smart agriculture, and entrepreneurship to help refugee youth transition from dependence on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance.
During the first phase of implementation, RECAN is targeting 150 annually, and for the first Cohort RECAN successfully enrolled 81 refugee youth, with 78 participants successfully completing the initial skilling programme. Training has included shoe making, carpentry, climate-smart agriculture, and entrepreneurship, delivered through practical, hands-on learning led by refugee artisans and partner organizations.
The project has also engaged three Refugee-Led Organizations and two skilled refugee artisans to deliver training, mentor participants, and strengthen community ownership of the initiative.
Empowering Women and Promoting Inclusion
Women remain at the centre of the Harvest of Hope Project. In line with the programme’s commitment to ensuring that at least 70 percent of participants are women, young refugee women are actively participating in trades that have traditionally been dominated by men, including carpentry and shoe making.
Participants are not only learning technical skills but are also developing business management, financial literacy, record-keeping, and marketing skills that will enable them to establish and grow sustainable enterprises within their communities.
The project also promotes inclusion by working with organizations that support persons with disabilities, ensuring that vulnerable groups have equal access to livelihood opportunities.
Partnerships That Drive Impact
The success of the Harvest of Hope Project reflects the strength of collaboration among refugee communities, government institutions, humanitarian organizations, and development partners.
RECAN has worked closely with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), community leaders, and humanitarian partners throughout implementation. During the project’s inception workshop, government representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting refugee-led development initiatives and promoting transparency, accountability, and safeguarding across all project activities.
Looking Ahead
As the project progresses, RECAN remains committed to expanding opportunities for refugee youth through mentorship, enterprise development, and market linkages. The next phase of implementation will continue building participants’ technical and entrepreneurial skills while strengthening the capacity of Refugee-Led Organizations to deliver sustainable, community-owned solutions.
The Harvest of Hope Project demonstrates that when refugee communities are trusted to lead, they become innovators, entrepreneurs, employers, and changemakers. Through strategic partnerships and locally driven action, RECAN is helping create pathways to dignified livelihoods and a more resilient future for refugee youth in Uganda.
Together with Africa Forward, the One Family Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, Refugee-Led Organizations, local artisans, and the communities we serve, RECAN is building a future where refugee youth are equipped not only to survive but to thrive.