Hope is growing, and thousands of lives are being changed in a Ugandan refugee settlement.
The USANA Foundation’s grant to Refugee Empowerment for Sustainable Development in Africa (RESDA) has been a catalyst for transformative change in the Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
Through this partnership, RESDA has implemented an excellent sewing and tailoring skills program and established Garden Towers, empowering the refugee community with valuable skills and sustainable sources of income and nutrition. Partners like RESDA remind us of the life-changing work that Garden Towers brings to communities in need.
Sewing and Tailoring Skills Program
The growth of this remarkable community is about more than nutrition—it’s about skills and quality of life.
With the support of the USANA Foundation grant, RESDA began providing sewing and tailoring training to members of the refugee community at Kyaka II. The program aimed to equip them with marketable skills and create opportunities for economic self-sufficiency, enriching their lives and providing employment opportunities.
Guided by skilled instructors, participants learned essential sewing techniques and developed their expertise in tailoring.
Leadership Development
Recognizing the need for sustainable growth and effective supervision, RESDA initiated a leadership development program that, with our support, is still thriving today.
Local leaders were identified and provided with comprehensive training, enabling them to oversee and manage the sewing and tailoring program efficiently. These leaders were pivotal in promoting teamwork, fostering a sense of community, and ensuring the program’s success.
The Growth of Garden Towers
Simultaneously, RESDA initiated the construction of Garden Towers within the settlement. The aim was to create a sustainable and reliable source of fresh vegetables, enhancing a community’s nutrition and food security focused on rebuilding life after so much loss for many members.
Our Garden Tower program offers a vertical gardening solution that maximizes limited space and is feasible even in a refugee settlement with harsher conditions.
Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of dozens of community members, over 2,000 Garden Towers have been successfully sewn and constructed.
Our RESDA partners have shared this inspiring story from one family that received Garden Towers:
“One of the most inspiring stories from our community is that of Amina, a refugee mother of four. Before receiving a Garden Tower, Amina struggled to feed her children and relied heavily on food aid. Today, Amina proudly grows her vegetables, ensuring her children have a balanced diet. The income she earns from selling excess produce has allowed her to start saving, with hopes of starting a small business.”
Each Tower is a testament to the refugee community’s resilience and resourcefulness as they transform their lives through skills and entrepreneurship. Moreover, the income generated from the sewing of each Tower has been instrumental in providing much-needed financial support to these individuals and their resilient families.
Harvesting Hope
The Garden Towers have surpassed all expectations, flourishing under the volunteers’ care. Fresh vegetables now fill the plates of community members, offering a nutritious and sustainable food source.
The garden’s bounty has alleviated food insecurity, benefiting the volunteers who nurtured the towers and their families. This initiative has brought hope, vitality, and renewed spirits to a community that has endured countless challenges.
Community Empowerment and Resilience
“The success of the Garden Tower Project under RESDA is a testament to the power of innovation, community empowerment, and strategic partnerships,” our RESDA partner leaders said. “By addressing food insecurity in a sustainable and scalable way, the project has not only improved the lives of thousands of refugees but also fostered a sense of hope and self-reliance.”
The impact of the USANA Foundation’s grant to RESDA has been profound. Community members have gained invaluable skills through the sewing and tailoring program, empowering them to take charge of their economic future.
Additionally, the Garden Towers have instilled a sense of pride in the community, proving they can create sustainable solutions for a better tomorrow in the face of adversity.
The partnership between the USANA Foundation and RESDA has been a beacon of hope for the refugee community at Kyaka II. Through the sewing and tailoring program and the establishment of Garden Towers, lives have been transformed, livelihoods improved, and families nourished.
This success story is a testament to the power of collaboration and the resilience of the human spirit, paving the way for a brighter, more empowered future for the refugee community in Uganda.
With continued support from our donors, we look forward to finding new opportunities to empower other communities and enable them to thrive as they become more food-secure and sustainable.
Click here if you’d like to donate and help us support more projects like RESDA’s.
