KYAKA II REFUGEE SETTLEMENT, UGANDA — Da Vision Youth Group, a women-led organization founded in March 2017, has been addressing challenges faced by women and young refugees in Sweswe Zone, Kyaka II Refugee Settlement.
The group is officially registered with Kyegegwa District Local Government and comprises 35 permanent members, 80% of whom are female. Its robust leadership structure includes nine positions, fostering effective operations and impactful programming.
Da Vision Youth Group adopts a holistic approach, emphasizing livelihood interventions to empower young refugees. Its entrepreneurship and skills training center equips vulnerable groups, including women, girls at risk, individuals with disabilities, and school dropouts, with practical skills for self-sustainability.
Training programs include tailoring, hairdressing, liquid soap making, adult literacy, and life skills like public speaking. These initiatives target child mothers, girls who have dropped out of school, and women at risk, enhancing their self-esteem and creating income opportunities.
The group conducts awareness campaigns on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and facilitates referrals, mobilizing children and youth for targeted programs. Da Vision Youth Group has partnered with organizations like Alight, Kabarole Research Center (KRC), and YARID to implement projects training women and girls in tailoring and hairdressing.
Through these partnerships, YARID sponsored 40 trainees, KRC sponsored 13 trainees, and Alight sponsored 60 trainees to acquire life skills training. Da Vision Youth Group also partnered with UNHCR in 2023 to implement a CERF project worth $4,000 in GBV prevention.
These efforts have empowered over 113 trainees to start income-generating projects, combating GBV and promoting women’s empowerment in Kyaka II. The group produces high-quality products, including laptop bags, safari bags, and African wear, marketed to NGOs and the general public.
By setting a standard for quality and innovation, Da Vision Youth Group has become a model for other refugee-led organizations, solidifying its role as a beacon of hope and empowerment in the community. The group is now self-sustaining and contributes to development in the entire Kyaka II refugee settlement.
