To increase literacy and foster a culture of learning in Mwange Refugee Camp.
The FORGE Mwange Library is the sole library available to the 20,000-person community of Mwange Refugee Camp. The library's full name, Bibliotheque Alfajiri: Source de Connaissance means “Library of the Break of Dawn: Source of Knowledge” and was coined by the community to show their belief in the importance of education. Built in 2005, this library is a peaceful haven for the Mwange community to enjoy the selection of over 2,000 books. The all-refugee staff also leads activities such as a library youth group, a storytelling group, evening reading, and a women's book group. The library serves over 6000 visitors each year.
To provide preschool education and creative opportunities to
children ages 3-5 living in the Meheba Refugee Settlement.
Although they come from many different countries and represent many different ethnic groups, the common experience of war seems to have united the refugees of Meheba in the belief that educating their children is the key to a better future. Educational science reinforces this belief, proving that children who build a solid educational foundation early in life are more likely to succeed in subsequent years of school. Building upon this commitment to education, FORGE has established two community preschools in Meheba: Kunachi (the Swahili word for 'illumination') and Dufatanye (the Rwandan word for 'togetherness'). Together, the refugee-staffed Meheba Preschools serve over 200 students, who gather daily to sing educational songs, learn basic reading, writing, and math skills, and practice critical life skills like personal responsibility, sharing, and working collaboratively in a group. In a community that otherwise lacks books and basic educational materials, these preschools offer the only structured educational stimulus that most children under six ever receive.
To expand opportunities for adult literacy and learning through courses in computer technology, English and musical instruments.
With the knowledge that their future prospects hinge upon their level of skill and education, many refugee teenagers and adults actively seek out opportunities to advanced themselves while in the camp. Led by a multi-talented refugee staff, the Meheba Adult Skills project is the only service in Meheba Refugee Settlement that specifically targets the needs of adult advancement. The programs offered at this center include instruction in computer technology, English language education, and music theory and practice. These classes exist to enable adults to be productive during their time in exile and successfully prepare themselves for integration into the workforce.
To increase literacy and educational opportunity in Kala Camp by providing the only access to educational and information materials.
In communities where knowledge is so actively sought, a library quickly becomes a bastion of learning. For the population of Kala Refugee Camp, the Kala Peace Library (Bibliotheque de la Paix) plays anchor to this pursuit of knowledge. With well over 2,000 titles, stacks of periodicals, games, puzzles, and over 200 CDs, there are dozens of ways in which the patrons of the library enjoy reading and learning. The librarians also conduct letter-writing and resume-writing classes for adults, in order to help them secure employment when they return home. On the weekends, the library is home to story-telling hour for children and educational movie screenings at night. The Kala Peace Library is open to all 20,000 residents of Kala.
To educate refugees in Meheba about their rights and to facilitate the access of services that fit their needs and rights.
Meheba Refugee Settlement is a 14,000-person, 720-square-kilometer community in which some refugees have lived for over 30 years. As Meheba was developed as a long-term settlement, rather than a camp, direct services have steadily decreased due to the expectation that residents would become established and able to care for their own needs. This process of withdrawal by many of the original aid organizations has left many Meheba refugees without reliable knowledge regarding their rights or the appropriate measures to take when faced with challenges such as domestic violence, obtaining legal rights, and accessing food distribution. Through its all-refugee outreach staff, the FORGE Refugee Advocacy Initiative (RAI) acts as a bridge between refugees and their rights to services - facilitating the flow of information throughout the Meheba community. This project has helped dozens of vulnerable refugees access food rations, confront domestic abuse, and realize their rights as refugees.
To promote reading, learning, and enrichment through library resources.
On any given day, you can enter a Meheba Friendly Library to find dozens of adults and students reading novels, studying computer engineering, and educating themselves in history, leadership, and current events. Before the Meheba Friendly Libraries, the refugees of Meheba had no way to access any type of books. Now, the Settlement is home to the largest library in a refugee camp anywhere in the world. Since the inception of the first Meheba Friendly Library in 2004, FORGE and the all-refugee library staff have expanded their original program to create a network of 5 libraries in Meheba that house a combined total of over 20,000 books. Hailed as ‘a miracle in the middle of the bush’ by the UN refugee agency, the libraries are open to all 14,000 members of the Meheba community and their outstretched network makes access to information and self-improvement possible for all.
To provide early childhood and adult literacy education in a community with a high percentage of young children and low literacy rates.
Early childhood education in Block F of Meheba Refugee Settlement is practically nonexistent. With the nearest school over a two hour walk from this community, few of its children have had the opportunity to attend preschool, starting them off at an educational disadvantage very early in their lives. Because of these restrictions, the leaders of Block F have planned and are now proudly establishing the Mwangaza Education Centers, a network of services in the camp that will promote early learning through preschools and continued learning through adult education classes. As the name of the center, “Mwangaza” (“light”), suggests, this project represents hope and possibilities for a brighter future for these refugees.
To provide the opportunity of secondary education to talented refugee youth who cannot afford the cost of school.
Believing strongly in the power of education to advance communities, FORGE provides scholarships to promising individuals to attend secondary school. By allow young refugees to increase their personal prospects and horizons, these scholars help to build community vitality and provide hope for the future. The Meheba Scholarship Fund provides educational scholarships to refugee youth who are promising students but are otherwise unable to afford schooling. Scholarships cover the cost of tuition, books, pens, uniforms, transportation to and from school, and a small amount of pocket money for miscellaneous expenses. The small investment in the education of these promising individuals will continue to pay off over the course of their lifetimes.
To provide post-secondary scholarships for exceptional refugee adults who have been accepted to universities and vocational schools in Zambia.
For many refugees in Zambia, secondary school is a privilege, and university seems an impossible proposition. Not only is university tuition expensive, but obtaining the legal approval to leave the camp and travel to a campus is nearly impossible for these refugees given their limited resources for communication and navigating the Zambian system. This situation is tragic, given that many of the refugees with whom FORGE works are exceptionally intelligent and academically motivated. The FORGE Post-Secondary Scholarship Fund provides the structure and means for these exceptional students to attend university, obtain a degree, and outfit themselves with the qualifications necessary to find a job upon their return to their home countries. Many of these students have chosen to focus their studies on nonprofit management, in the hopes that they can use their education to give back to their communities and build strong systems for the future.
