From a Tree's Shade to Global Impact
The story of how a young refugee's vision became a movement transforming thousands of lives in Nakivale Refugee Settlement
The Beginning: A Dream Fueled by Resilience
To appreciate the mission of AYISD which was formerly KYETE BIINGI TAI NYEME (KBTN) meaning "Shared load is always light" in one of the Congolese dialects, one needs to get close to the journeys of its founders. Benedict and his family spent over 14 years in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Kyegegwa District, Uganda. Like many refugee children, he was not able to attend secondary school after completing Universal Primary Education. His family simply didn't have the resources. But Benedict had a passion and a desire to change the standards of living for his family members, being the first born. He realized that only education could help him achieve this goal so he began to burn charcoal during the school holidays in order to get money for school fees.
After completing his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), Benedict established a nursery school to support other refugee children in reaching their dreams. He started with a class of 15, teaching under a tree shade. Two years later he raised enough money to establish 2 temporary structures under his registered Community Based Organization of YIDA. Shortly after this milestone, Benedict and his family were resettled to Australia by UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, where he would continue his education through professional courses. Benedict is now completing a Bachelor's degree from Latrobe University with plans to eventually earn a PhD since he is now capable of paying his school dues.
While Benedict was determined to support his own development, he knew that other refugees were not as lucky as he was, and he was committed to continuing his humanitarian efforts with focus on youth. In 2019 Benedict approached his cousin Mbilizi Kalombo who was living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, with the idea of starting a new refugee-led community-based organization. Benedict would be the CEO and Kalombo the Executive Director, and together they would form what would become KBTN.
Kalombo's Story: From Refugee to Advocate
At the time, Kalombo was in his first year of university, one of the lucky few refugees who received a scholarship to continue beyond secondary school due to his outstanding academic performance in Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). Kalombo had come to Nakivale Refugee Settlement when he was 9 years old, seeking refuge with his family who were forced to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was told that his father had inherited a hill of gold from his grandparents who were the gold miners for the rest of their lives in Kamituga, South Kivu province that attracted politicians and others seeking to profit from its riches. His family was eventually driven from the place through violence to release their hold on the valuable property, and they made their way to Nakivale. Kalombo completed his Primary and Secondary schooling and then a Bachelor's degree at Victoria University in Kampala. When Benedict approached him with the idea for KBTN he was eager to help start and lead the organization.
The Birth of AYISD
On February 15th, 2021 AYISD was officially registered as a refugee-led, community-based organization by Isingiro District local government in the name of KBTN, with a vision of creating an independent, resilient and self-sufficient refugee community in Nakivale which is responsible for protecting and conserving biodiversity, has sufficient agricultural harvests to feed its population and supports a young generation of innovators and change-makers. AYISD engages the entire refugee population and host communities in environmental conservation activities, food production, livestock rearing, and vocational training, regardless of one's nationality, social status, race, or gender.
AYISD was initially supported through private donations from fundraisers organized in collaboration with other diaspora communities. In 2023 KBTN was among the first cohort to win a Refugee-Led Innovation Grant from the UNHCR Innovation Service; a program designed to improve the lives of displaced people and communities. Funding supported our Seed Program and helped establish our work with youth within the settlement, with a focus on sustainable agriculture and livelihoods.
Where We Work
AYISD operates in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, one of the oldest and largest refugee settlements in Africa, located in Isingiro District, South Western Uganda. The settlement is home to over 100,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and other countries, living alongside the Ugandan host community.
Physical Address: Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Isingiro District, South Western Uganda. P.O Box 421779 Mbarara