Programs and Projects
Fabrications: Sewing Arts Training Center. Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda
We are celebrating the one-year anniversary of Fabrications! In partnership with Youth Organization for Building African Communities (YOBAC), we are proud to continue our work at the Sewing Arts Training Center within the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda. Our latest cohort of artisans, which began in February, is receiving hands-on, practical training in tailoring, from basic to advanced skills, with the goal of fostering economic independence.
Vocational Training and Creative Arts Center. Bujagali, Jinja, Uganda.
In partnership with Igulu Foundation, this June we launched the Bujagali Vocational Training and Creative Arts Center in Bujagali Village, Jinja, Eastern Uganda, "the Source of the Nile." Building on the Fabrications model in Kyangwali, the center provides practical vocational training, with an initial focus on sewing and tailoring, to help participants build sustainable livelihoods. By equipping single mothers with valuable skills, we aim to create pathways for entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. The center’s products will eventually join the Handmade with Love Collection, further expanding the opportunities for the artisans in Jinja.
W.A.S.H. Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
The YOBAC WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) project is dedicated to improving access to clean, safe water for the 700 refugee children at the YOBAC Nursery and Primary School in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. Currently, the school relies on a well that is unsafe for drinking and unsuitable for daily use, which poses significant health risks to the children. To address this, we worked with a generous project sponsor, YOBAC, and local engineers to install a new water system that provides safe and reliable water for the school community.
New Arrivals Welcome. Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
Since January 2025, 150,000 people have fled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), surpassing the total number during all of 2024. At the same time, the landscape of global aid is shifting, with many organizations experiencing changes in funding and support. These changes are felt most acutely by the world’s most vulnerable communities, including those living in refugee settlements. The United Nations World Food Programme has made significant cuts, which means the needs in places like Kyangwali Refugee Settlement are more urgent than ever. During our field visit in June, we set up a food distribution at the sewing center to provide immediate support for some of the new arrivals from DRC.
Food Security. Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
In 2024, the Mahaba Foundation acquired 1.5 acres of fertile land for Youth Organization for Building African Communities (YOBAC), contributing to a sustainable food source for students while creating economic opportunities for the local community. The farm helps provide regular, nutritious meals, improving students’ health and encouraging school attendance.