To improve access to medical care and health education in one of the most populated refugee communities in Meheba Settlement, which has not had a working clinic for more than five years.
Geographically, Block G in Meheba Refugee Settlement finds itself at a drastic disadvantage in terms of receiving health services. Located at the back of the camp and far from any clinics, the refugees of Block G feel isolated and under-served when it comes to medical attention. When FORGE brought this community together to determine what they needed, the answer was clear: an opportunity for healthier lives. After an extensive needs assessment, the refugee project leader explains that, "the findings showed clearly that the population of all ages and classes suffered pain of lack of medical services." Thus they designed the Refugee Health Service project, which will enable patients who can’t make it to the nearest clinic to get basic medicines, allow pregnant women to get delivery assistance by trained midwives, and give children access to the care that they need. This project will help all 2,000 people in this block to live longer and healthier lives.
To decrease the incidence of unnecessary illness, death and disease in Kala camp through educating adults and children about healthy living and disease prevention.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Kala Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Knowledge about how to build healthy families, live healthy lives, and treat and avoid illness is among the most highly-sought after information in the refugee camps in which FORGE works. The refugee staff of Kala Health Services takes a holistic approach to health education by teaching about disease and illness by focusing on human anatomy and body systems. From this solid foundation, students learn about how diseases are contracted, spread, and avoided. Serving more than 50 people each month, Kala Health Services has seen marked improvements in the camp’s knowledge about caring for and maintaining their own personal health. This knowledge will be especially important upon return to Congo, where many people have no access to formal health services.
To provide computer education and trainings in peace and non-violence.
As refugees are often the victims of nations torn apart by war, peace education is both a highly sought after and highly respected curriculum within the camps in which FORGE works. Including such skills as non-violent communication, constructive collaborative, conflict resolution, and mediation, the peace component of the project teaches valuable tools that can be used to build community stability both within the camps and, eventually, within their home countries. While peace education provides the framework for a better future, scholars are quick to note that the lasting stability cannot be reached when individuals and communities have nothing to lose. Thus, the computer aspect of the project helps refugees to gain the skills that will build the economic opportunities that lay at the root of social stability. Realizing that the world has become increasingly reliant on technology for growth and expansion, refugees know that gaining a solid understanding of computer technology gives them an important tool for the establishment of a successful future. Computer skills can allow refugees to contribute to the rebuilding of their lives and countries by successfully gaining employment and by sharing the lessons that they have learned within the camp.
To develop a reliable system to deliver seeds to farmers so that they may begin cultivating at the appropriate time, and to organize a successful market for the community to buy and sell goods.
Block H in Meheba Refugee Settlement is composed mainly of farmers. In trying to support themselves and their families, these farmers depend on a reliable output from their crops. However, they have struggled in the past to obtain the seeds they need on time, resulting in disastrous losses in food supply and income. Further, even the crops they managed to produce were difficult to sell, as there has been no market near Block H. Given these challenges, the Block H community was determined to develop a project that both delivers seeds to farmers on time and ensures that they have a viable place to sell their goods. This project, one of the first planned and executed entirely by the refugees themselves, promises to increase the livelihood of Block H farmers while supplying other citizens of Block H with healthy, fresh foods to supplement their diets.
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 proudly established 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 a publication for the community to inform itself, express opinions, and celebrate its successes.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Most of the residents of Mwange Refugee Camp lack access to accurate information regarding the camp, their home country, and the outside world. Journal Mwange is designed to meet this need by giving refugees a forum to report on the issues they find important. Through articles on community role-models, Journal Mwange fosters a sense of pride and hope based on the success and ingenuity of this vibrant community. Additionally, the staff of Journal Mwange carefully and consistently fact-check their stories with the United Nations Refugee Agency and its other nonprofit partners in the hopes that their stories can counteract the rumors that sometime swirl through a camp of this size. Ultimately, Journal Mwange is not just a means of receiving information for the residents of Mwange Camp; rather, as the first newspaper that many of the younger refugees have ever read, it represents possibilities and their own potential.
To provide repatriating refugees with tools and knowledge that will help them start healthy new lives when they return to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Kala Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Many of the residents of Kala Refugee Camp have been living in refuge since 2000, when they fled the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now these individuals are preparing to return home. Often unaware of the changes that await them, the skills that will be needed to successfully rebuild their lives, and their rights as repatriating refugees, the residents of Kala expressed a great need for assistance with navigating the repatriation process. In order to support and facilitate this journey, FORGE established the Community-Driven Repatriation Center (CDRC) to provide refugees with knowledge and skills that will help them transition to a new life. For many repatriating refugees, this refugee-staffed project means the difference between a smooth and successful restart to their lives and a rocky one.
To provide skills and education to the women of the Kala community so that they can better provide for and protect themselves and their families.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Kala Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. The women in Kala Refugee Camp face many daunting challenges. Though they are typically seen as the providers of their families, they enjoy very few resources and opportunities to expand their abilities. Additionally, they are often met with violence and disparagement even from men within their own families. However, the women of the Kala Women's Center believe in the capacity of Kala's women to address many of the large-scale problems that face the camp. The programs run through the Kala Women's Center provide the community's women with opportunities to take control over their own health, economic situations, and empowerment - capacities they find invaluable both in their life in the camp and in their future back home.
To provide and structure opportunities for residents of Moba to spearhead development initiatives in their community
In light of the current repatriation of Congolese refugees from Kala and Mwange camps, two of the camps in which FORGE works, FORGE has elected to open a new base of operations in Moba, Democratic Republic of Congo. As Moba faces the issues common to many returnee villages including tensions between returnees and the local community, a small skilled workforce, a lack of economic opportunities, and a fragmented community mentality, FORGE sees an opportunity for our work to strongly support UNHCR and its mission. In Moba, FORGE will work collaboratively with returnees and the local community at large. Utilizing a rigorously-developed community empowerment framework, FORGE’s programming develops the capacity of local leaders to affect change in their communities. The final outcome of this process will be locally designed sustainable development projects, implemented by and for the Moba community.
To increase literacy and educational opportunity in Kala Camp by providing the only access to educational and information materials.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Kala Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. 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, and basic literacy courses for those who wish to learn to write. On the weekends, the library is home to story-telling hour for children and youth reading competitions. The Kala Peace Library is open to all 20,000 residents of Kala.
To reduce poverty and hunger and develop the skills of farmers in Meheba.
Due to legal restrictions, formal employment is not permitted for refugees in Zambia. This leaves many refugees dependent on rations and handouts in order to meet their daily needs, and fails to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit so prevalent within the camps. Therefore, refugees' ability to successfully cultivate their land has become more and more important. FORGE's Microlending Project provides agricultural loans to members of the Meheba community, ensuring that they receive seed and fertilizer in time to plant at the peak of the season. Loan by loan, the lending project steadily reduces poverty, increases food security, alleviates dependence on international aid, and allows individuals affected by war to regain control over their lives.
To hire, train and place one international and one local staff member in FORGE's site in Moba, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Adequate staffing capacity will prove critical to FORGE's success at helping communities in southern DRC restablize after war. This initiative will allow us to place one new Site Manager (international staff) and one new Program Coordinator (local staff) in FORGE's Field Office in Moba, Democratic Republic of Congo. These key employees will provide the necessary capacity to facilitate the launch of six locally-designed and implemented community programs over the next two years.
To increase literacy and foster a culture of learning in Mwange Refugee Camp.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. The FORGE Mwange Library is the sole library available to the 14,000-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 library serves over 6000 visitors each year.
To provide an empowering skill that will expand the vocational and educational horizons of refugees upon their return to the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC).
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. The Mwange Computer Training Center, or Laboratoire Informatique Safari (LISa), is a fully-equipped, solar-powered computer center that offers refugees the opportunity to learn about and work with computers – something few have ever had a chance to do. Knowing that this skill will provide increased opportunity for employment in the world’s evolving economy, the classes are unfailingly full, and each of the ten Panasonic Toughbook laptops is used for as long as its battery can last in intensive training sessions. The Mwange Computer Training Center has provided computer skills to over 1000 refugees.
To provide the opportunity of secondary education to talented refugee youths 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 allowing young refugees to increase their personal prospects and horizons, these scholarships 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. The 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 actively deliver basic health care assistance to under-served residents of the Meheba Refugee Settlement through outreach, preventive health education, and basic diagnostic and curative services, and to encourage and improve the community’s access to the existing clinical infrastructure.
For many members of Meheba's Block C community, the prospect of entering the settlement's health care system is a daunting one. Clinics are either far away or busy, and many individuals are unsure of how to even begin addressing their health needs. Through checkups, basic treatment, and outreach workshops, the FORGE Health Service empowers refugees to take steps towards protecting their own health.
To support individuals affected with AIDS through financial initiatives and through the spread of information about AIDS.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Of the 25 million people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, those who have fled war are particularly vulnerable. Yet at the same time, the refugee populations with whom FORGE works are often amongst the first from their countries to have heard of the virus, and are strategically poised to spread life-saving information when they return home. The Mwange FACE AIDS Project takes advantage of this opportunity to spread knowledge and information about AIDS and how it can avoided. It also facilitates support groups in which individuals affected by the epidemic come together to assist each other financially and psychologically. By working to reduce its spread and impact, the FACE AIDS Project empowers refugees to take a stand against this devastating global epidemic.
To enhance the earning potential and job skills of Kala Camp residents through valuable computer skills.
As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Kala Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Refugees know that during their time in refuge, the world has become more and more reliant on technology. In this, they know that the future prospects of their families and their countries may depend upon the extent to which they gain the skills of the new "tech economy". To make sure that Congo and the residents of Kala do not get left behind, the Kala Computer and Technology Center provides training in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to over 1500 refugees annually. Courses are taught in English, French, and Swahili. In a recent voyage to the Democratic Republic of Congo, FORGE found that many of the local employees who worked with computers were former FORGE computer students. These individuals credit FORGE with their success in finding work and being able to support their families.
To provide preschool education 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 research 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 300 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 English.
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 center offers English classes for people at all stages of proficiency - from beginning to advanced. These classes exist to enable adults to be productive during their time in exile and successfully prepare themselves for integration into the workforce.
To develop the skills, knowledge and confidence of refugee women by providing a safe space for women to work together, create, learn, and expand their horizons.
The strength and leadership that female refugees provide bolsters their homes and communities on a daily basis. Working with FORGE, Angolan refugee Jacqui B. established the Meheba Women’s Center in 2005 to encourage and support women in the Meheba community. To this end, Jacqui B and the staff of the Meheba Women’s Center, in conjunction with FORGE, have created a place for women to pursue vocational training, workshops on their gender-specific rights, and informal counseling services to address cases of rape and domestic abuse. Today, the Meheba Women's Center, managed entirely by refugee women, is a vibrant and bustling cornerstone of the Meheba Community.
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.
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 <b>the largest library in a refugee camp anywhere in the world.</b> 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.
