Access Protection Empowerment Accountability and Leadership (CARE UGANDA)

The Nakivale Refugee Settlement spans Rugaaga and Ngarama Sub Counties within Isingiro district, situated in the South West of Uganda near the Tanzania Border. This community is characterized by industrious individuals primarily engaged in cattle keeping and crop cultivation, practicing mixed farming on a subsistence scale. The project operates at a community level, facilitating both communal and individual small-scale savings initiatives in the specified areas of South Western Uganda. With Uganda facing persistent challenges of poverty, the tailoring and craft-making project, supported by Tumaini for Refugee Women through funding and implementation assistance, aims to contribute to the resettlement and rehabilitation of individuals, families, and the broader refugee community originating from countries such as DRC, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Sudan. The project’s goal is to alleviate poverty and foster self-reliance and entrepreneurship among refugees, thereby enabling them to overcome socio-economic challenges and improve their quality of life.

Problems faced by the refugee women in Nakivale Refugee Settlement that are to be settled by this project.

Refugee women in Nakivale Refugee Settlement face various challenges that the tailoring and craft project implemented by Tumaini For Refugee Women can help address:

1. Limited Economic Opportunities: Many refugee women in Nakivale struggle to find sustainable sources of income due to limited job opportunities and access to markets. The tailoring and craft project can provide training and resources for women to develop marketable skills in tailoring and crafting, enabling them to start their own businesses and generate income.

2. Lack of Financial Independence: Refugee women often have limited control over finances within their households, making them vulnerable to economic exploitation and dependence. By empowering women with income-generating skills through the project, they can gain financial independence and contribute to their families’ economic well-being.

3. Psychological Well-being: The displacement experience can take a toll on refugee women’s mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. Engaging in creative activities like tailoring and crafting can serve as a form of therapy, providing a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and community connection.

4. Empowerment and Social Integration: Refugee women may face cultural and societal barriers that limit their participation in decision-making processes and community activities. The project can serve as a platform for women to build confidence, assertiveness, and leadership skills, fostering their empowerment and social integration within the settlement.

5. Access to Basic Needs: Meeting basic needs such as clothing and household items can be challenging for refugee women with limited resources. The tailoring and craft project can produce essential items locally, providing women with access to affordable and culturally appropriate clothing, bedding, and other necessities.

By addressing these challenges, the tailoring and craft project has the potential to significantly improve the livelihoods and well-being of refugee women in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, empowering them to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.

Objectives of the Project