As many as 500 refugees visit Bibliotheque Alfajiri each month, and patrons are diverse in both age and gender. One of only two publicly accessible locations in Mwange with electric lighting, Bibliotheque Alfajiri provides a place for women and those who work during the day to come read or study when it is dark. Nearly 100 people are newly oriented into the library each month. 3758 2 false Isolated from major cities and facing extreme financial constraints, Mwange's refugees have little or no access to reading materials. Local children who want to practice their literary skills outside of school and local adults eager to learn about new subjects would have extremely limited options without Bibliotheque Alfajiri. 2008-05-01T02:18:32-05:00 Mwange's library, also known as Bibliotheque Alfajiri is the only library available to residents of Mwange Refugee Camp. Its full name, “Bibliotheque Alfajiri: Source de Connaissance” comes from the French and Swahili for “Library of the first break of Dawn: Source of Knowledge” and was chosen by the community shortly following its founding. Built in 2005, this library is a peaceful haven for the Mwange community to sit on the comfortable furniture and enjoy the selection of over 2,000 books. To increase literacy and foster a culture of learning in Mwange Refugee Camp. 16 • Loaning out books to members of the Mwange community • Orienting new patrons to the library • Providing a place for lighted reading when it is dark #<Location:0xb3d09b8> 3 • To maintain an average participant level of 500 visitors per month over the next year. • To increase female participation in library activities to at least 45% by 2010. • To orient at least 85 new people from diverse areas of the camp each month. • To improve literacy among Mwange’s residents. 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. true Increasing literacy and fostering a culture of learning one year 2010-03-10T10:08:23-06:00 The counseling and sports aspects of FACE AIDS are available to all Mwange residents, and the support groups are additionally open to members of the surrounding villages. Currently, the support groups have a total of almost 20 members, and over 100 refugees benefit from FACE AIDS counseling in a typical month. Additionally, 40 refugees are involved in the FACE AIDS sports program. Beyond this, FACE AIDS has touched the lives of countless Mwange residents through its progress towards the reducing the stigma of AIDS in the community. 3644 3 false The scourge of AIDS in southern Africa is well known. In Zambia in particular, young people face a 50% life-time risk of dying of AIDS. The problem is confounded by the intense stigma surrounding those with AIDS, discouraging infected individuals from speaking out and those whose status is unknown from getting tested. 2008-05-29T18:15:35-05:00 FACE AIDS began as a FORGE project in 2005 and has since then gone on to operate as its own nonprofit organization that is a valued partner of FORGE. Its presence and impact in Mwange Refugee Camp has not diminished over the years, and its current operations include managing general support groups and orphan support groups that run income-generating activities, such as farming and small businesses, for those affected by AIDS in Mwange and the surrounding villages. FACE AIDS additionally offers counseling to individuals who have questions about AIDS issues as well as a sports program that combines recreation with education to spread the word about, and reduce the stigma of, AIDS. To support individuals affected with AIDS through financial initiatives and through the spread of information about AIDS. 23 • Running seminars and sensitizations to educate the community about AIDS • Educating the community about AIDS through sports programming • Providing counseling for those affected by or concerned with AIDS • Running income-generating activities for those affected by AIDS #<Location:0xb3be128> 3 • To increase the number of people who know their HIV/AIDS status • To raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention • To help HIV/AIDS-affected individuals in Mwange live more prosperous lives • To reach at least 20% of the Mwange community every year 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. true Mobilizing refugees to fight against AIDS 2010-03-10T10:32:12-06:00 FORGE is currently providing scholarships for 9 adult refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Angola. 8090 2 false Post-secondary education is a critical opportunity for talented and emerging refugee leaders. A degree or certificate that comes with studying at a university or learning a trade at a vocational school documents that a holder is qualified and prepared for employment at a prominent level. By providing opportunities for refugee leaders to advance their educations beyond the secondary level, FORGE ensures that talented leaders who are at a disadvantage as refugees can face as few barriers as possible as they continue the process of advancing their communities. 2008-05-30T20:25:55-05:00 The Post-Secondary Scholarship Fund provides a limited number of scholarships to talented refugee adults who have a proven commitment to serving their communities. Scholars study at universities and vocational schools in Lusaka, where they are additionally supported by a fulltime international FORGE staff member who provides additional tutoring and guidance services. Scholarships provide tuition, housing, and a stipend for food and transportation. To provide post-secondary scholarships for exceptional refugee adults who have been accepted to universities and vocational schools in Zambia. 24 #<Location:0xb3a6578> 4 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. false Building the leaders of tomorrow 2010-03-10T10:49:55-06:00 This project will benefit everyone in the community because nearly all members of the community are farmers. The ability to plant seeds on time will improve the harvest yields, which will directly increase each farmer’s food supply. The central market will allow the many vulnerable people to access a market to buy good food products. The ability to trade produce will improve the variety of the refugees diet. And with the improved economy within the community, the farmers should have more money to invest in education for their children. 4184 5 false Nearly every farmer in this remote area of Meheba Settlement has planted seeds late for the past few years because they do not have a reliable way to buy seeds or to transport seeds to their farms. Because of these problems with obtaining seeds, the harvests in this community are low, and the refugees are not able to sustain themselves or their families. There is also no organized way for the refugees to buy and sell goods and produce. Many of the farmers have a limited understanding of pricing, and they are known to occasionally sell their produce at a less than optimal price. 2008-06-05T14:27:47-05:00 The Reliable Seed and Market Program provides the almost 2,000 Angolan refugee farmers in this remote area of Meheba Settlement with a reliable and readily accessible market where they will be able to buy seeds at a reasonable price. The project provides about ten farmers with a loan of seeds and fertilizer, obtained on time through membership in a Zambian cooperative. Receiving the seeds at the appropriate times throughout the year gives the farmers every opportunity to plant at the beginning of the cultivating seasons and thus have more abundant harvests. Farmers who receive the loans are required to participate in a training workshop, through which they learn strategies to get the best results out of the fertilizer they receive. The Program will also organize a market in a central location for all the farmers to sell their produce and goods. Farmers receive training in business skills, so that they can set appropriate prices for their produce and make a profit through the market. Because the farmers should be producing a surplus by planting seeds on time, they should have produce to sell at the market even after paying back their loan to FORGE. 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. 27 <ul> <li>Providing seed and fertilizer loans to Block H farmers <li>Buying and selling goods and produce in the centrally located market <li>Transporting seeds to the seed store in the market a few times per year before planting seasons <li>Training farmers on agricultural and business methods </ul> #<Location:0xb392348> 1 <ul> <li>To serve at least 500 people per day in the Market <li>To have at least 40 people selling goods in the Market each day <li>To provide a reliable system for transporting and selling seeds in this remote community in Meheba Settlement <li>To increase the Block H farmers' ability to set competitive prices for their produce </ul> 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. false Increasing supply of and access to food one year 2010-03-10T11:19:53-06:00 Through the FHS facility, the project mainly serves the population of Block C and other nearby blocks. Furthermore, through the Outreach Workers, the FHS accepts cases from the entire Settlement. While the FHS is open to all demographic groups, special attention is given to individuals unable to benefit from existing health services for reasons of immobility or otherwise. In addition, the FHS’s educational programs are planned to systematically cover the entire Settlement, beginning with the areas of greatest concentration of population. 3062 3 false The FHS is designed in response to the refugee community’s expressed need for greater access to primary healthcare, especially in regions of the Meheba Refugee Settlement remote from the existing clinical infrastructure. 2008-12-02T17:13:23-06:00 The FORGE Health Service was created in direct response to the refugee community’s expressed need for improved access to primary healthcare. With a small health facility and a team of one Registered Nurse and two Outreach Workers, the FHS aims to conduct active community outreach, render daily consultation and referral services, offer regular access to a medical doctor, administer field educational workshops, and provide a community health resource center. The FHS is not intended to be a substitute for formal clinical care, but is meant to complement the existing services through relatively small-scale interventions aimed at areas and populations of the Settlement with traditionally lower access to similar services. 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. 28 <ul> <li>Providing basic checkups for community members <li>Bringing a doctor into the camp once a month to administer more extensive examinations <li>Providing vitamins, condoms, first aid materials, and other basic health supplies to refugees in need <li>Conducting workshops to educate the community on ways in which they can maintain their own health <li>Actively seeking out vulnerable individuals in the community who are unable to act on their need for medical attention </ul> #<Location:0xb377e80> 1 <ul> <li>To provide the entire B, C, and D community access to healthcare while relieving some of the burden on the existing clinical services in these areas. <li>To improve the community’s awareness and knowledge of prevalent health-related issues through education <li>To provide basic medications to anyone in need who contacts the FORGE Health Service <li>To provide basic health screening to anyone in need who contacts the FORGE Health Service <li>To provide referrals to clinics for individuals who otherwise would not have access to clinics <li>To deliver two two-hour field workshops per month on topics such as: nutrition, dehydration, hygiene, first aid, malaria, HIV/AIDS, respiratory tract infections, sexually-transmitted diseases, family planning, and maternal health <li>To maintain geographical and gender balance in workshop participants <li>To provide access to printed health materials to all members of the B, C, and D communities </ul> 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. false Connecting refugees with health resources 1 year 2010-03-10T10:10:58-06:00 While workshops and support groups at the Community-Driven Repatriation Center are open to everyone at the Kala Refugee camp, the Center’s classes and workshops prioritize the participation of refugees who are actively preparing to repatriate. An average of 200 refugees participate in programs and courses at the Repatriation Center every month. 2653 5 false As refugees in Kala prepare to return home to war-torn areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the need for effective community-building practices, communication strategies, and economic options becomes increasingly crucial. By dispatching current information about repatriation activities and providing valuable reintegration skills, the Community Driven Repatriation Center helps clear up misinformation about repatriation and helps to ensure a successful return. 2008-02-06T02:54:03-06:00 The Community-Driven Repatriation Center (CDRC) in Kala was designed to equip refugee families with the information and skills they need to prepare for their successful return to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Refugee leaders in Kala Camp teach classes in community development, non-violent communication, community economics, reintegration, and business management. Through the Repatriation Center, FORGE works with UNHCR to provide refugees in Kala Camp with the most recent and up-to-date information about requirements and expectations for the repatriation process. 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. 9 • Updating the Kala community with current information about repatriation exercises to the Democratic Republic of Congo • Providing business skills courses for refugees as they prepare to repatriate • Offering regular workshops on effective re-integration • Providing nonviolent communication workshops • Broadcasting "Search for Common Ground" radio programs, which are meant to link returning to individuals to the communities they left behind #<Location:0xb35f8f8> 2 • To equip Kala camp residents for a safe return to the Democratic Republic of Congo • To encourage peaceful attitudes and build conflict-resolution skills in refugees returning to war-torn areas • To reach a minimum of 1000 adults living in Kala Camp through workshops every year • To prepare repatriating refugees to contribute to economic redevelopment upon return • To serve at least 50% women through workshops and programming 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. true Preparing refugees to return home one year 2010-03-10T08:35:33-06:00 Since opening in July of 2006, the Laboratoire Informatique Safari has offered 9-week computer skills courses to more than 300 refugees, young and old. It has quickly become one of FORGE’s most popular projects in Mwange, with waiting lists of refugees who wish to partake in computer training. LISa also provides a facility for the community newspaper, Journal Mwange, to draft and compile each issue of its paper. 3061 5 false In this increasingly high-tech economy, computer skills have become instrumental in acquiring employment in most places in the world. The DRC, the home country of Mwange refugees, is no different. Without the Laboratoire Informatique Safari, refugees in Mwange would have no way to pick up computer skills. They would return to their communities upon repatriation unprepared to be competitive applicants in the job market. 2008-05-01T02:24:32-05:00 The Mwange Computer Training Center, also known as "Laboratoire Informatique Safari" was named by the Mwange community to mean “Computer Technology Center: Journey” in French and Swahili. It is a fully-equipped, solar-powered computer lab that serves the entire Mwange community. Because very few refugees have ever touched a computer before in their lives, the computer courses focus on basic skills such as typing, navigating a computer screen, and using Word and Excel. Some advanced classes exist for more experienced users. To provide an empowering skill that will expand the vocational and educational horizons of refugees upon their return to the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). 18 • Holding basic and intermediate computer skills classes • Holding practice hours for community members to hone their computer skills • Providing the facilities for the publication of Journal Mwange #<Location:0xb348068> 3 • To equip refugees with valuable computer skills that will help them gain employment upon repatriation to the DRC • To train 400 new computer users each year • To offer affordable word processing and printing services to members of the Mwange community • To prepare students for potential university studies 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. true Leveraging the power of technology 2010-03-10T10:59:01-06:00 The Meheba Friendly Libraries are open to people of all ages and nationalities living in Meheba. Because libraries are located in five of the eight settlement zones, they are highly accessible to refugees throughout Meheba. The majority of people who visit the library are youth and students, but a significant number of adults age 40 and older also frequent the libraries. 4826 2 false In isolated and resource-poor areas like Meheba, educational resources like libraries are often considered beyond the scope of NGOs and government agencies. Although classrooms in schools are crammed full with students, rarely will students have access to the books and materials they need to study and achieve in school. Furthermore, without common meeting spaces dedicated to reading and learning, refugee communities often lack the capacity to support groups of learners. 2007-12-28T06:02:37-06:00 The Meheba Friendly Libraries are a network of five libraries and reading rooms throughout the Meheba Settlement. All together, the libraries house over 20,000 titles, making the Meheba Friendly Library system the largest in any refugee camp in the world. Hailed by the UN refugee agency as “a miracle in the middle of the bush,” the libraries are used by students and non-students alike. In addition to providing access to literary resources, the librarians offer programming such as basic research competitions in order to acquaint visitors with the available resources. To promote reading, learning, and enrichment through library resources. 4 • Holding open library hours six days every week • Making more than 20,000 titles available to the Meheba community • Conducting outreach and literacy activities to raise awareness about libraries and increase membership #<Location:0xb3338fc> 1 • To add 200 new library members every year • To increase circulation and use of library materials by 20% every year • To increase literacy in Meheba by 5% every year 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. false Promoting reading, learning, and enrichment one year 2010-03-10T09:25:45-06:00 PECT’s services reach a total of 360 computer and peace students across the Meheba Settlement each year. Separate computer classes are held for men, for women, and for youth. Forums on peace education are held in several of Meheba’s primary schools, and are open to adults and children alike. When community conflicts or disagreements occur, the PECT Instructors act as moderators and non-violence facilitators, helping to ensure that all conflicts are worked out before violence erupts. 5160 5 false As the global economy becomes increasingly dependent on technology, projects like Peace Education and Computer Training become even more essential. People isolated without technological resources in refugee settings become progressively disadvantaged and less prepared to participate in high-tech economies. Furthermore, as refugees in Meheba prepare to return to their war-torn home communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere, peace education becomes even more critical. Very few refugees have ever had the opportunities to explore questions about non-violence and conflict resolution in a formal, open, and critical setting. Helping to establish a vocabulary for peace building among refugees – people who chose peace over war – is a tremendous step forward for communities revitalizing after war. 2008-04-28T13:25:46-05:00 Peace Education and Computer Training (PECT) allows refugees in Meheba to learn the basics of computer literacy and to study peace in formal discussions about non-violent communication and conflict resolution. The two PECT Instructors use solar-powered laptops to train refugee women, men and youth on how to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. On days when they are not teaching about computers, the trained Instructors host discussions to explore topics such as non-violent communication and conflict resolution. To provide computer education and trainings in peace and non-violence. 10 <ul> <li>Provide regular classes in Microsoft Word, Excel & Powerpoint <li>Host discussions on non-violent communication and conflict resolution <li>Organize bi-annual “Ubuntu Forums” that explore topics such as “Can a husband rape his wife?” and “Do condoms help our community or promote bad behavior?" </ul> #<Location:0xb31f1e0> 1 <ul> <li>To increase computer literacy among Meheba residents by 5% every year <li>To develop non-violence and conflict resolutions skills among Meheba residents and to prepare them for peacebuilding in their home countries. </ul> 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. false Combining peace education with job skills one year 2010-03-10T10:49:56-06:00 While the Adult Skills project is open to all teenagers and adults living in the Meheba Settlement, most students live in the area surrounding Block ‘D’ in the center of the settlement. The project serves a total of 120 teenage and adult refugees every month. 2656 2 false Life as a refugee can be tedious, slow and inactive. Especially for some adults who have completed schooling or are too old to return to school, time seems to stretch out like an unlimited expanse with very few constructive ways to fill it. Furthermore, not speaking the government language of the country of refuge can present significant problems for refugees, especially as they seek to negotiate government services and English-speaking camp authorities. 2007-12-29T08:38:08-06:00 The Adult Skills project is the only service in Meheba open to all teenagers and adults who seek to extend their learning in English. English classes equip refugees to operate more successfully in a Zambian context where government and business transactions occur in English. To expand opportunities for adult literacy and learning through courses in English. 8 • Offering language classes in beginning, intermediate, and advanced English throughout the week #<Location:0xb30630c> 1 • To increase English literacy in the Meheba Settlement by providing lessons to at least 200 adult and teenage refugees every year 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. false Teaching marketable skills to teenagers and adults one year 2010-03-10T10:07:40-06:00 9250 5 false FORGE's extensive baseline surveys and data collection has revealed a strong potential for FORGE's work to impact the post-conflict populations in southern DRC: there are currently no organizations using a participatory-planning model like FORGE's <i>Collaborative Project Planning Process</i> in the entire Katanga region. In order to adequately provide basic leadership development and social entrepreneurial education, FORGE must hire, train, and place at least two more staff members to facilitate its programming in 2010. 2009-11-26T00:38:12-06:00 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. 1 To hire, train and place one international and one local staff member in FORGE's site in Moba, Democratic Republic of Congo. 31 #<Location:0xb2f5f5c> 5 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. 401 false Creating the capacity for lasting security in the world's most war-torn country January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010 2010-03-10T11:20:08-06:00 While savings services, vocational trainings, and knitting circles are open only for women, all men and women are welcome to participate in the educational workshops offered through the Women's Center. An estimated 2,000 women and men participate in Women’s Center programming every year 6044 1 false Worldwide, the majority of refugees and displaced persons are women and children. As in most refugee contexts, women in Meheba outnumber men. Despite this disparity, girls continue to enroll in school in lower numbers than boys; girls marry younger, and are disproportionately burdened with household, child rearing, and agricultural responsibilities. Domestic violence is a common practice in Meheba, and rarely are women entrusted with the responsibility of managing and saving a household’s money. Despite this pervasive gender imbalance, women have tremendous potential to build the foundation for development and revitalization in war-torn communities. 2007-12-27T09:35:43-06:00 The Meheba Women’s Center invites all women in the Meheba Refugee Settlement to participate in vocational training, women’s rights and empowerment workshops, and group savings opportunities. Led by three refugee women, the Women’s Center also offers informal counseling to victims of domestic violence, and helps women negotiate legal processes after suffering an attack. Through extensive outreach activities in all communities in Meheba, the Women’s Center encourages all residents of Meheba, men and women, to participate. 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. 3 • Hosting regular week-long workshops about human rights, women’s rights, reproductive health, and family planning for women & men • Conducting weekly knitting and crochet circles exclusively for women in communities through the settlement where women are encouraged to share their stories and perspectives on self-defense and women’s security in a safe and confidential environment • Offering vocational training sessions in tailoring • Providing informal drop-in counseling for victims of sexual and violent abuse, and helping victims file a report with camp authorities • Hosting multiple women’s saving and lending circle through which small groups of committed women pool their savings to help each other pay for health and family-related expenses or capital for income-generating activities • Providing free contraceptives for women #<Location:0xb2e6e94> 1 • To increase women’s ability to find employment and sustain themselves and their families • To enable women to advocate for themselves and their rights • To nurture responsible savings and spending practices for Meheba families • To develop women’s literacy on topics including women’s rights and security through workshops that reach 10% of Meheba’s women every year 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. false Teaching women's rights and skills acquisition one year 2010-03-10T10:54:07-06:00 As the only computer learning center in Kala, the Computer Center is open for enrollment to all youth and adults living in Kala Refugee Camp. Serving an average of 750 people per year, the project has already provided computer training to nearly 15% of the Kala Camp community. The skills participants gain prove immensely valuable for finding jobs in the DRC, and for enhancing the human capital in their war-torn home communities. 3301 5 false Given their insufficient employment opportunities and limited ability to find education opportunities outside camp grounds, refugees in Kala are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to developing job skills relevant to an increasingly high-tech global economy. The Kala Computer & Technology Center equips refugees with the skills they will need to be competitive for new jobs in the DRC. 2008-05-01T01:59:23-05:00 The Kala Computer & Technology Center provides computer-training courses to an average of 750 refugees in Kala Camp every year. The twelve computers and one printer are powered by five solar panels and one generator. One Computer Instructor and a core of skilled volunteers teach separate courses in French, Swahili and English for men and women on how to use programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In exchange for donating their time and skills, the volunteer instructors get additional training from the Computer Instructor in higher-level programs and procedures. The skills gained by refugees in Kala have already proven crucial in helping repatriated refugees to find employment upon their return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To enhance the earning potential and job skills of Kala Camp residents through valuable computer skills. 11 • Providing daily computer lessons in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Paint • Offering beginning and advanced computer courses taught in Swahili, French and English #<Location:0xb2cec54> 2 • To reach at least 15% of Kala Camp adults through computer-training courses every year • To prepare people for gainful employment upon their return to the DRC • To train future computer teachers 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. true Providing Skills for the New Economy one year 2010-03-10T10:47:24-06:00 Annually, the Mwangaza Education Centers directly benefits about 150 children between the ages of 3 and 6 as well as at least 75 adults. Indirectly, the Centers lift the burden of childcare from the children’s caretakers for much of the day and bring regular activity and educational opportunities to what is currently a community with low literacy levels and no access to early childhood education. 3834 2 false The majority of children living in this remote area of Meheba Settlement have never had access to early childhood education. Preschool education offered through the Mwangaza Education Centers prepares children to succeed when graduates matriculate to Basic School. Lack of access to education and illiteracy are widespread problems among adults. Providing writing, reading and language education to adults in the community enables them to better communicate within their culturally diverse community and with people in their host-country, Zambia. 2008-06-05T14:21:19-05:00 Each of the Education Centers offer both preschool and adult literacy and language classes. Preschool classes provide access for all children in this large community to basic education in literacy and arithmetic. Regular Parent-Teacher Association meetings involve the families of students in their education. The Education Centers also provide literacy and English language classes for adults. The Centers are entitled Mwangaza, meaning "light" in Swahili, because the community believes the Centers enlighten the lives of all the refugees living in the surrounding area. To provide early childhood and adult literacy education in a community with a high percentage of young children and low literacy rates. 25 <ul> <li>Conducting daily exercises in basic literacy and arithmetic <li>Leading lessons that develop play skills, communication and teamwork tools <li>Hosting monthly Parent-Teacher Association meetings to involve families as volunteers and solicit feedback on student progress <li>Teaching adults both reading and writing skills as well as how to read, write and speak in English </ul> #<Location:0xb2b93cc> 1 <ul> <li>To prepare 150 of the children living in the surrounds of the Center for primary education annually <li>To ensure at least 90% of the preschools’ graduates matriculate to local Basic Schools <li>To eliminate the burden of childcare up to 5 hours a day for caretakers living in the community <li>To ensure that both men and women are given the opportunity to learn to read and to write <li>To increase the number of community members who can communicate in English </ul> 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. false Fostering learning across lifetimes one year 2010-03-10T09:25:45-06:00 Any women in the Kala community are able to participate in one or more of the Kala Women's Center's programs. In turn, their families benefit from the women's education and skills. 2885 1 false The plans for the Kala Women's Center came from a two-month long study of the needs of Kala Women, conducted by a former FORGE volunteer. She found four pervasive issues facing these women. Firstly, women of the community were harmed by the effects of premature pregnancy and marriage. After conducting research within each section of the camp, FORGE estimated there to be at least 207 girls under the age of 18 who are pregnant, half of whom are not married, and half of whom are not in school. Though the parents of the community recognized the danger of these numbers, it is not culturally appropriate for parents to discuss these issues with their children. The problem is exacerbated by the temptation that many young girls face to sell sex for money, thereby supporting their families. Another factor working against Kala women was the lack of child health care and education about preventative health measure. These women were anxious to learn how to keep their children healthy, but the resources to do so were not available. Single women in Kala face unique challenges, such as receiving fewer food rations, facing discrimination from the community, and being targeted as sex workers. Finally, married women in Kala face spousal abuse, infidelity, abandonment, and jealousy from their husbands. These issues arise partly from their husbands' struggle to retain their masculinity in the disempowering environment of a refugee camp. 2008-12-03T18:57:17-06:00 The Kala Women's Center provides women with the resources they need to gain the skills and knowledge to function as effective leaders. The project is multifaceted, including teen workshops on issues surrounding reproductive health, knitting classes combined with Savings Circles for women to save money to start small income-generating activities, and maternal and child health for new and expecting mothers. 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. 29 <ul> <li> Running workshops that educate teen women on the realities of marriage and parenthood, reproductive health, STI's and HIV/AIDS, the dangers involved in early pregnancy, and women's empowerment. <li> Implementing Savings Circles for women, including curriculum on feminism, self-reliance, knitting and capacity building through economic self-sufficiency. <li> Providing seminars on Maternal and Child Health Care, including discussions on common illnesses, their prevention and treatment, maternal and child nutrition, information on healthy pregnancies, and information on when to seek professional medical attention. </ul> #<Location:0xb2a2be0> 2 <ul> <li>To reach 75% of the teenage girl community of Kala Camp through educational seminars each year. <li>To decrease teen pregnancy rates by 10% in the next two years. <li>To facilitate the savings of $250 in 2009. <li>To teach 100 women to knit per year. </ul> 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. true Equipping women to be strong, informed, succesful leaders 1 year 2010-03-10T10:44:06-06:00 The Refugee Health Service will benefit all demographics of the community. The sick will be offered basic medicines and consultation services from a trained health worker. Trained health advocates will work in the community to find cases that need health care services from the Refugee Health Service office. Women will be offered maternal health care and nutrition education to teach them how to better care for their children. The health center will also benefit those community members who are not sick because preventative education workshops and sensitizations will be offered every month. 4960 3 false There has not been a clinic for the 2,000 refugees living in this remote area of Meheba Settlement since 2003. Since then, the community has had very limited access to any clinical services. This has been especially problematic for pregnant women and for those vulnerable people who need frequent health care services, because they are physically unable to get to a clinic. The community also does not have a system to refer serious cases that must be treated at a hospital. 2008-06-05T14:25:00-05:00 The Refugee Health Service will provide basic medical services and act as a health consultation and education center for the 2,000 refugees living in Block G. The Refugee Health Service will improve access to a variety of health-related services. While the health center will not offer full clinical services, it will provide maternal health care by trained midwives, consultation and referral services by trained community health workers, basic medicines to those patients who are unable to make it to the nearest clinic, and community-wide educational workshops and sensitizations about topics such as nutrition and water-borne illnesses. 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. 26 <ul> <li>Offering consultation services for all community members <li>Distributing basic medicines to those patients who are unable to access a clinic <li>Providing advice and health care to pregnant women from a group of trained midwives <li>Educating the community through monthly workshops and sensitizations about important health issues such as nutrition and how to prevent diseases </ul> #<Location:0xb288b28> 1 <ul> <li>To make sure that all 2,000 refugees living in the community have access to health care services through the Refugee Health Service office or through referral to a hospital <li>To increase the number of healthy women and children <li>To make the entire community aware of health and nutrition problems they can prevent <li>To minimize the speed at which communicable diseases are spread by increasing education, distributing condoms, and improving access to treatment <ul> 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. false Bringing vital medical services to an isolated community one year 2010-03-10T10:10:58-06:00 Scholarships from the FORGE Education Fund are available to refugees from Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. FORGE sponsors an approximately equal number of boys and girls to complete secondary school, and chooses academically promising students who are also often at an extra disadvantage as orphans. To date, FORGE has procured scholarship funds for 21 secondary students and 12 post-secondary students. 6178 2 false With the knowledge and skills gained through formal education, every Meheba scholar stands a better chance of gaining employment and advancing themselves, their families and their communities. The value of an education for an individual displaced by war is immeasurable. Beyond providing someone with reading, writing and mathematical skills in communities where illiteracy rates run high, education opens up a world of possibility in an environment severely depleted of hope and healthy aspirations. 2008-05-29T17:41:16-05:00 The Meheba Scholarship Fund provides educational scholarships to refugee youth and young adults who live in Meheba and are otherwise unable to afford schooling. Believing strongly in the power of educated individuals to advance their communities, FORGE provides scholarships to promising individuals to attend secondary school. 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 ultimate result of investing in the education of these promising individuals will not be fully appreciated for years and even decades. By helping communities overcome the achievement gap that so many displaced youth and young adults fall into after fleeing war, FORGE is confident that these scholarships will yield results that will be magnified over time as FORGE scholars put their knowledge and skills to use by helping to advance their home communities. To provide the opportunity of secondary education to talented refugee youths who cannot afford the cost of school. 22 • Providing merit-based scholarship to students who excel in the classroom and whose families cannot afford to send them to school. • Offering extra tutoring services through community volunteers and academic counseling from full-time FORGE staff. • Working with school administration to keep track of scholars’ academic progress #<Location:0xb26fb14> 1 • To provide secondary school scholarships to talented refugee youths • To carry out a process of community-building through ensuring that new scholars are chosen by a community selection committee comprised of refugee leaders and local schoolteachers • To ensure that scholars are making academic progress and successfully passing all their classes • To provide additional tutoring services to scholars to supplement their schoolwork 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. false Education for the next generation 2010-03-10T10:49:55-06:00 Every year the Meheba Preschools directly benefit 300 children ages 3-5 enrolled in the preschools. Indirectly, the preschools lift the burden of childcare from the children’s family and caretakers for much of the day, and bring regular activity to what has been a severely resource-poor community. 8263 2 false In Meheba, children aged 5 and younger comprise a significant proportion of the total population. Without preschool, these children would have no opportunities for formal learning before entering primary school. The Meheba Preschools are located in isolated communities with an especially high density of preschool-aged children. Without these schools, none of the children would have access to preschool education. Many of the children have been orphaned by AIDS or left behind by parents pursuing opportunities elsewhere, and they would otherwise enter primary school at a disadvantage to the children who receive informal education in their early years. 2007-12-03T11:49:06-06:00 FORGE's Meheba Preschools consist of two preschools in the Meheba Refugee Settlement that serve children ages six and younger. Both preschools provide basic education in literacy and arithmetic, as well as lessons in song, dance, and crafts. The name “Kunachi” was chosen by the Kunachi Parent Teacher Association because it means “illumination” and “growth.” The Dufatanye Preschool serves children specifically from the Rwandan community in Meheba, and is named after the Rwandan word for “togetherness.” To get parents involved in sustaining the school, FORGE devised an innovative goat-lending project, through which all Dufatanye families are required to raise one goat at a time to be sold for a profit at nearby markets. All profits from the goat-lending project go directly to supporting the Dufatanye Preschool. To provide preschool education to children ages 3-5 living in the Meheba Refugee Settlement. 2 • Conducting daily exercises in basic literacy and arithmetic • Leading lessons that develop play skills, communication, and teamwork tools • Providing activities involving music, dance, and crafts in a safe and secure environment • Hosting monthly Parent-Teacher Association meetings to involve families as volunteers and solicit feedback on student progress • Helping to sustain school through innovative goat lending project #<Location:0xb257988> 1 • To prepare the 300 children enrolled for primary education • To ensure at least 90% of the preschool graduates matriculate at local Basic Schools • To eliminate the burden of childcare up to 5 hours a day for adults and caretakers • To provide healthy creative outlets for youth through arts and crafts 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. MEH11 false Providing early childhood education one year 2010-03-10T11:18:30-06:00 All Meheba residents over the age of 18 can apply to participate in microlending opportunities, regardless of their gender or financial history. Currently, the project serves men and women from Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 2788 5 false The FORGE Microlending Project invests in individuals to bootstrap themselves out of poverty. Many farmers in the Meheba community find it difficult to access seed and fertilizer in time to plant their crops at the peak of the season. Thus, they lose out on realizing the full potential of their crops. Other farmers cannot afford to purchase fertilizer and find themselves attempting to cultivate land that groups less and less fertile with the years. Through agricultural loans, the FORGE Microlending Project allows refugees to to provide a more reliable source of food for their families and communities. Everyday the staff of this unique lending project witness responsible clients becoming effective community leaders with goods, resources and insight to offer their neighbors. 2007-12-29T08:33:49-06:00 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 recipients also receive agricultural education so that they can maximize the potential of their crops using the loaned seed and fertilizer. Upon harvesting, farmers pay the FORGE Microlending Project back with a portion of their harvest, and they can keep the rest for consumption and sale. 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 reduce poverty and hunger and develop the skills of farmers in Meheba. 6 • Providing microloans of seed and fertilizer to help local entrepreneurs and farmers begin a profitable business • Training each client in best agricultural practice and the proper use of fertilizer #<Location:0xb23d2f4> 1 • To reduce poverty within Meheba • To endow the Meheba community with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities • To increase food security for the Meheba community 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. false Increasing self-sufficiency through agricultural training 2010-03-10T10:30:07-06:00 Kala Health Services serves men, women, boys and girls, including disabled refugees and refugees preparing to repatriate to the DRC. The service center also reaches out to students in secondary school and to families in each “block” of Kala Camp in order to reach refugees in Kala who may not have time to enroll in an extended course. Kala Health Services also provides classes and workshops in both French and Swahili in order to remain accessible to the greatest number of Kala Camp residents. 5000 3 false Knowledge about health and well-being is essential for refugees preparing to repatriate back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Whey they repatriate, even fewer health resources will be available to families, even though they may be at a greater risk of becoming ill with sicknesses such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cholera, and Ebola. Most refugees in Kala have never had the opportunity to formally study the human body, the science behind sickness, or simple ways of keeping healthy. Health education in Kala is therefore crucial to the health and well-being of the refugees, their families, and the communities to which they will eventually return. 2008-05-01T02:05:49-05:00 The Kala Health Services project provides health education classes to adults and children living in Zambia’s Kala Refugee Camp. Lessons focus on human anatomy and on prevention methods against contracting harmful diseases. Traveling teachers provide workshops in schools and community centers throughout the camp, and children’s classes integrate community service as a method for improving public health in the Kala Camp. To decrease the incidence of unnecessary illness, death and disease in Kala camp through educating adults and children about healthy living and disease prevention. 13 • Providing Health and Body courses for adults throughout the year • Offering youth health course throughout the year • Hosting day-long repatriation well-being workshops specifically for refugees planning to repatriate to the DRC • Conducting traveling classes on subjects from family planning to first aid #<Location:0xb2262d4> 2 • To increase general knowledge about health and well-being among refugees in Kala • To create a network of repatriated refugees in the DRC who will spread information about health issues and disease prevention • To decrease the contraction of diseases among refugees in Kala and the DRC • To improve the general public health of the Kala Camp community • To spread knowledge of signs and symptoms of various health problems to encourage early detection and treatment 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. true Decreasing the incidence of illness, disease, and death one year 2010-03-10T10:10:58-06:00 <p> The population of Tanganyika Province is comprised of repatriating refugees from camps in Tanzania and Zambia as well as people who never left the DRC. Based on projections from the reach of our existing programming, FORGE’s expanded programming would impact an estimated 100,000 residents of the greater Moba-Kalemie region. It is also FORGE’s expectation that the CPPP would help alleviate residual post-conflict tensions between refugee groups (often viewed with resentment by local residents who remained in Congo through the conflict) and those who remained in country. By facilitating an inclusive sense of responsibility for the community’s well- being, FORGE’s work will support peaceful, post-conflict development on both an economic and social level. Because FORGE’s work with communities of returned refugees is explicitly intended to build a strong foundation for post-conflict reconstruction while avoiding creating any dependency on international support, programming in the province will be fixed-term in length (36 months) and will emphasize income generation and sustainability beyond the duration of FORGE’s presence. 82700 4 false <p> The Tanganyika Province (formerly Katanga Province) in southeastern Congo has a population of approximately 2.5 million people. With access to the western shore of Lake Tanganyika, is it home to two major port cities of Moba and Kalemie. Rich in minerals and strategically located, the province suffered severe infrastructural devastation during the Second Congo War (1998-2003). Education and health care systems were decimated, and over half of the region was displaced. As in most areas affected by the War, the majority of deaths in the province were the result of a lack of basic economic, nutrition and health care resources. According to a 2001 Washington Post article, a survey in Moba “showed nearly half of the infants were dying before reaching their first birthday.” </p> <p> Currently, tens of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are returning to the province, and the region now has both the human potential and natural resources to reestablish itself as an economically prosperous hub. Given its location on the lake and its proximity to the still-volatile Kivu region, the Tanganyika Province has the potential to be both a hub of trade and economic growth for the country and a model of re-stabilization and development for its neighbor provinces to the north. In addition, thousands of refugees FORGE works with (or has worked with) in Kala, Meheba and Mwange camps in Zambia are relocating to the province at this time under UNHCR voluntary repatriation. </p> 2009-10-29T17:44:25-05:00 <p> In response to the well-established links between poverty and conflict, FORGE works to enable economic stability and self-sufficiency at both individual and societal levels. FORGE believes that individuals affected by conflict are crucial actors in breaking the cycle of war and poverty in Africa. </p> <p> Rather than imposing solutions from the outside, FORGE enacts a collaborative development process to find practical and sustainable solutions conceived of and implemented by the community itself. FORGE believes that the insight of community members into their unique social, physical, and political setting yields the most effective and relevant development projects. A focus on empowering communities to pursue their educational, economic, and social goals enables FORGE leaders to guide their countries to a stable, peaceful and prosperous future. </p> <p> Participants in the CPPP undergo intensive training in social entrepreneurship, community development, and leadership in order to carefully and systematically transform insights into action. Each CPPP activity generates a locally conceived, designed, and managed development project. FORGE’s unique approach offers local leaders the opportunity to shape the future of their communities as they develop skills that empower them to grow as individuals and leaders. Under this model, projects implemented by FORGE are deliberately designed to be independently sustainable for years to come, and participants gain the confidence and capacity to carry out similar problem solving initiatives on their own. </p> <p> Ultimately, the CPPP yields two distinct results: the creation of an innovative project to benefit the community and the development of leadership, community building, and project planning capacity. </p> To provide and structure opportunities for residents of Moba to spearhead development initiatives in their community 30 <p> All programming in DRC will be designed and implemented through FORGE’s flagship project-planning model, the Collaborative Project Planning Process (CPPP). </p> <p> Based on the belief that the most effective, relevant, and sustainable development projects come from the community itself, FORGE’s Collaborative Project Planning Process provides a systematic framework to translate local needs into action. While community participation is a recognized best-practice in sustainable development, the CPPP model is more complete and radically power-shifting than any we have encountered. Its application in a post-conflict setting should be particularly impactful, as it will offer timely support for the growth of civil society. 3 </p> <p> FORGE begins the Collaborative Project Planning Process by identifying emerging social entrepreneurs in the community who are especially capable of spearheading development initiatives. Once chosen, these leaders conduct extensive research through participatory methods to determine specific community needs. </p> <p> The community leaders and FORGE staff work together to develop a deep understanding of these needs and to suggest and analyze possible solutions. This process culminates in the completion of a project proposal, drafted by refugee leaders, that is submitted for funding by FORGE donors. To promote sustainability and avoid creating long-term dependencies, all proposals must demonstrate a plan to become financially independent after the completion of 2 years. Once the proposal process in complete, the project receives 2 years of funding from FORGE and is implemented and monitored by a Project Coordinator chosen from and by the group of refugee leaders. </p> #<Location:0xb20e760> 5 <p> To assess the impact and effectiveness of the Collaborative Project Planning Process, FORGE first monitors the acquisition of knowledge and the leadership development of all men and women who participate in the program as Community Representatives and Project Coordinators. In turn, the community and the Project Coordinators set project-specific indicators, and Project Coordinators collect and analyze this data on programmatic impact and demographics. Quantitative outcomes (pre- and post-tests, attendance, community surveys) measure the number and demographic composition of project beneficiaries, and qualitative outcomes and/or focus group evaluations provide a deeper understanding of programs’ impact over time. FORGE also conducts twice- annual 360-degree evaluations of all staff members and supervisors. </p> <ul> <li>Increasing the capacity for collaborative and inclusive problem solving: By modeling a process through which the community can come together to take responsibility for finding solutions to their own problems, FORGE builds the capacity for future community-based problem solving to take place without the intervention of an outside agency. <li>Increasing empowerment: Through putting project control in the hands of local people, FORGE emphasizes the efficacy of local people to be agents of change in their own communities. <li>Increasing entrepreneurship: FORGE’s Collaborative Project Planning Process trains members of the community in skills, such as mission setting, budgeting, and management, that are critical for any entrepreneurial activity. <li>Increasing economic opportunities: FORGE’s collaboratively planned projects create economic opportunities for the local population both through the creation of jobs with FORGE projects and through skills training and capacity building that increase the qualifications of the local population. <li>Reducing the potential for conflict: Recognizing that the recurrence of violence in a post-conflict community often stems from issues of distrust, inequality, and hopelessness, FORGE brings together people of diverse backgrounds and interests to work together to plan for and invest in a productive and stable future for their community. <li>Increasing the sense of hope and control over one’s future: FORGE’s work focuses on helping local communities identify the areas in which they can positively impact their own lives rather than depending on others to facilitate change. This shift in perspective is especially important in refugee and resettled communities that have often spent years or decades depending on humanitarian aid for their survival. <li>Increasing gender equality: In selecting participants for the Collaborative Project Planning Process, FORGE practices gender equality in order to ensure that both women and men can have a say in setting the development agenda of their community. Further, the training that women receive through the Collaborative Project Planning Process allows them to be competitive candidates for other influential positions in the future. <li>Increasing civic engagement capacity: By bringing together the interests of UNHCR, partner agencies, local leaders, and the local community in a process that furthers the objectives of all parties, FORGE builds the capacity for the efficacy of future civic engagement activities. <li>Strengthening social cohesion: Because tensions are often present between local communities and returnees, FORGE is purposeful in bringing together returnees and people who stayed to work together to address the needs of their community through the Collaborative Project Planning Process. <li>Empowering communities to participate in their nation’s political, social, and economic development: By constantly soliciting and placing a high value on the opinions and perspectives of the local community, FORGE empowers people to, in turn, value their own opinions and voice them in important political, social, and economic settings. </ul> 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. false Fostering social entrepreneurship in a rebuilding community 3-5 years 2010-03-10T10:49:56-06:00 The Kala Peace Library benefits the adults, youth, and young children who visit the library stacks, use the reading room, and enroll in classes and library activities everyday. As refugees repatriate back to the Democratic Republic of Congo, they will carry the knowledge and skills they gain with them, thus helping to revitalize their home communities. 3023 2 false During forced displacement, education systems and services are often among the first to fall by the wayside. Outside of basic primary education, refugee camps rarely provide residents with the resources and space to enable refugees of all ages to continue learning, improve their literacy, and explore the subjects that interest them. In addition to providing many books and resources, the Kala Peace Library functions as a community center where everyone in the Kala Camp community can come to share ideas and learn together. 2008-05-01T02:10:22-05:00 The Kala Peace Library is a thriving center of educational resources and activities in the Kala Camp community. The library stacks are home to over 2,000 titles in French,Swahili, and English ranging from novels to reference documents to books on geography, history and science. Kala Peace Library also offers members the ability to listen to over 200 compact disc recordings of African artists on portable CD players within the library. Magazines, newspapers, games, and puzzles are available for library visitors to use in the reading room. During the week, librarians offer resume and letter writing classes for adults that help them secure employment when they repatriate and basic literacy classes for those who are hoping to learn to write. On weekends the librarians host a storytelling hour for children and youth reading competitions to encourage the habit of reading in young people. The Kala Peace Library aims to reach all members of the Kala Camp community, and to increase attendance from women and youth especially. To increase literacy and educational opportunity in Kala Camp by providing the only access to educational and information materials. 14 • Holding daily library hours during which camp residents read books, check out books, and listen to CDs from the music library • Conducing regular workshops for groups of adult women and adult men in basic literacy, resume writing, and letter writing • Providing weekly storytelling activities for children in the Kala Camp • Holding youth reading competitions to encourage literacy #<Location:0xb1d0cbc> 2 • To increase literacy and encourage educational attainment • To help Kala Camp residents find employment upon their return to the DR Congo by equipping them with enhanced literacy and writing skills • To expand library membership by 300 members annually • To increase women’s use of library resources • To raise cultural awareness among Kala Camp children about the DR Congo and its history 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. true Increasing literacy and educational opportunity one year 2010-03-10T10:20:21-06:00 Journal Mwange publishes approximately one issue, in both French and Swahili, every month. Each issue produces 210 copies, which are distributed throughout the camp at no charge. The paper regularly sells out in a matter of days. Additionally, a copy of each issue is placed in the library for the entire community to access. Among the foremost beneficiaries from the paper are its staff, who receive invaluable training in writing, journalism ethics, photography, and computer skills. 1683 4 false The Mwange Refugee Camp has in the past relied on word of mouth to pass news throughout the camp, meaning that information would sometimes fail to reach those who needed it most. The word of mouth system spread much misinformation and provided no means to corroborate truths or dispel rumors. Seeking to provide a more reliable method of sharing information, Journal Mwange writers collaborate with UNHCR and other NGO partners to ensure that the community receives accurate and relevant news. In addition, the “Kids’ Page” of the paper promotes literacy by providing fun and engaging activities for Mwange’s youth. 2008-05-01T02:21:13-05:00 Journal Mwange combats the lack of access to accurate information that many refugees face by giving refugees a forum to write about the issues they find important and to share information with other members of the community. Highlighting the achievements of outstanding community members, Journal Mwange promotes unity in Mwange Camp and outlines stellar examples for others to follow. News writers for Journal Mwange interview and collaborate with UNHCR officials when drafting their articles to ensure that their publication is accurate and unbiased and to improve relations between refugees and officials in the camp. To provide a publication for the community to inform itself, express opinions, and celebrate its successes. 17 • Conducting interviews with refugees and refugee officials • Writing news, editorial, sports, and kids’ articles • Collaborating with refugee officials to ensure accuracy and positive relationships • Publishing twelve issues each year #<Location:0xb1b7924> 3 <i>*Because of budget constraints, FORGE has temporarily scaled back the scope of many of its projects. The project descriptions and budgets seen here describe the project's typical operations, and might therefor not reflect the current situation on the ground. Once sufficient funding is secured for each project, its operations will be expanded back to those reflected in this description and budget.</i> • To increase readership by 10% by 2010 • To hold at least two meetings with community members to solicit feedback on the Journal • To attract at least 10 new clients to the library each month to read Journal Mwange 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. true Building an informed community one year 2010-03-10T10:52:47-06:00