A Zen Buddhist sangha at a men's maximum-security prison

Project High-Level Pitch: YAREN Vocational Training Hub for Refugee Empowerment Project Overview: YAREN Organisation LTD, founded by Muganuzi Mushongole Adonis in 2017, is dedicated to empowering refugee teenage mothers, women, and youth in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. Our mission is to provide access to education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship skills, enabling high-risk communities to achieve self-resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Problem Statement: Nakivale Refugee Settlement, established in 1958, is one of the oldest and largest refugee settlements in Uganda, hosting over 171,387 refugees from various countries. Despite its long history, the settlement faces significant challenges, including limited access to education, protection issues, poor water quality, and inadequate financial institutions. The lack of vocational skills and employment opportunities hinders the development and self-reliance of the residents, particularly vulnerable groups like teenage mothers, who face numerous hardships, including unwanted pregnancies, lack of occupation, and social rejection. Project Goals: Construct a Vocational Training Hub: Build a dedicated facility with two blocks – one for handcrafts and tailoring classes and another for large gatherings, innovation, and computer skills training. Provide Training and Employment: Offer vocational skills training in areas such as sewing, handcrafts, permaculture, and poultry, linking these skills with entrepreneurship to create sustainable income-generating opportunities. Empower Teenage Mothers: Train 3,600 teenage mothers by 2027, providing them with the skills and seed capital to start or scale their businesses, thereby improving their livelihoods and contributing to the hub’s sustainability. Foster Community Resilience: Create a space for learning, innovation, and collaboration, enabling refugees to develop solutions to their challenges, build peace among different nationalities, and shift from being aid recipients to problem solvers. Funding Requirements: To achieve these goals, we seek to raise USD 90,833.00, allocated as follows: Construction of the Vocational Training Hub: USD 8,663.3 Training Programs and Seed Capital: USD 30,000 Hub Equipment: USD 4,290 Administrative Costs for 39 months: USD 47,880 Expected Outcomes: Employment Creation: Over 100 refugees will gain employment through scaled businesses and new ventures. Community Empowerment: Refugees will develop a sense of responsibility and ownership, contributing to the hub's success and their community’s well-being. Sustainable Livelihoods: Beneficiaries will achieve self-reliance, reducing dependency on aid and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship. Enhanced Collaboration: The hub will serve as a platform for refugees from diverse backgrounds to unite, share ideas, and work towards common goals. Join Us: Every action counts. Your support will directly impact the lives of refugees in Nakivale, helping them build a self-sustaining community. Together, we can transform dreams into reality and ensure no one is left behind. Supporters: We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners and supporters, including Yorghas Foundation, The MBA Academy UK, SUKKI 222 Human Rights Campaigns, Global Water Works, Field Ready, Needslist, CBOs, AYAN, and all the individuals who have believed in our mission from day one. "We Are Because You Are" Let us join forces to build a self-sustaining refugee community together. Every penny donated brings us closer to creating a brighter future for the refugees in Nakivale. Thank you for your support.

Elovution implements projects on the field

A forest meditation place next to old trees, protected from logging.

Welcome to One River Zen Center, a Buddhist Temple in the Soto Zen tradition deeply rooted in the White Plum Lineage.

Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community services in the cracks of society.