Changia Africa Organization

29/05/2026

This initiative, implemented by Changia Organization in partnership with Footprint to Freedom , is designed for long-term impact by:
* Equipping participants with practical, income-generating skills
* Promoting independence and self-reliance
* Enabling participants to train more survivors and single mothers within the Nakivale community
We believe that skills dev
Changia Africa Organization Wane Rusagara Marijana Dojcinovic Yulia Tarasova Educational Missions Africa Francine Bahige Solar Education Project Malaika Footprint TO Freedom Lesley Gewin Guillaine Kajojo Tibeijuka Paul Paulette Finnegan Embassy of Sweden in Kampala Embassy of Denmark in Uganda Mark Engstar Susan Olmstead Moses Këdë-sh Kausi Ercan Küçükarslan Lyza Shika Chess in Education Commission - FIDE Rotary District 5840 - South Central Texas Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Nelson Mandela Foundation Mandela Washington Fellowship For Young African Leaders - Kenya Chapter Joel Dacosta World UNITY Week LéO Africa Institute Sharon Chemello TheMother Corp Caring Hearts Uganda. Reach A Hand Uganda

22/04/2026

Strengthening Early Childhood Education in Nakivale .

At Changia Africa Organization, we are committed to building strong foundations for children’s learning through community involvement.
Recently, a training session was held at Changia ECD & Primary School in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, facilitated by PHB, where parents came together to take an active role in their children’s education.

Key highlights from the session:
A new Center Management Committee (CMC) was successfully formed, with parents stepping forward to lead and support the school.
Parents openly shared challenges affecting learning, including communication barriers, concerns about disciplinary methods, and management of scholastic materials.

Meaningful discussions focused on child protection, accountability, and improving education quality.

Encouragingly, parents showed strong commitment to working collaboratively with caregivers to create a safe, supportive, and effective learning environment.
Through this Two-Generation approach, families are empowered to actively participate in their children’s education because quality education starts with strong partnerships between schools and communities.
Together, we are building a more inclusive and responsive future for every child.
Educational Missions Africa Wane Rusagara Malaika Footprint TO Freedom Marlaine Cover

25/03/2026

Today Changia Africa Team had the opportunity to visit Children Foundation Uganda to better understand their work and explore areas for collaboration.

Our discussions focused on how a potential partnership can strengthen Early Childhood Development (ECD) by equipping caregivers with the skills, tools, and approaches needed to support children in vulnerable and emergency settings.

We found strong alignment in promoting quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and improving children’s overall well-being through caregiver-led support systems.

Through this collaboration, we aim to co-develop and scale caregiver trainings using trauma-resilient and learner-centered approaches, enhance psycho-emotional support for children, and expand access to inclusive, quality learning environments.

Importantly, we are integrating social enterprise approaches into ECD programming to promote sustainability and inclusion creating opportunities for caregivers, especially women, to generate income while supporting children’s development. This will help build more resilient households and strengthen community-driven support systems.

With plans to implement this work in Nakivale, the partnership presents a valuable opportunity to deepen impact and reach more children and caregivers in need.

We are excited about the possibilities ahead and look forward to continued engagement toward building a meaningful and sustainable collaboration.
Mukiisa Humanity And Inclusion Foundation Solar Education ProjectEducational Missions AfricaMandela Washington Fellowship For Young African Leaders - Kenya ChapterAdeline Essentials Limited Malaika Footprint TO Freedom

17/03/2026

Today, we had the honor of welcoming a team of researchers from UNHCR to Changia ECD and Primary School in Nakivale Refugee Settlement for an endline evaluation.

At Changia Africa Organization, we are committed to providing quality education for all children, especially in humanitarian settings. We work to support learners who have faced challenges such as displacement or limited access to schooling by helping them stay engaged and succeed in their education.
Our approach focuses on:

• Supporting children who have missed out on schooling due to displacement, poverty, or other challenges
• Helping learners catch up and reintegrate into formal education systems
• Providing flexible learning pathways based on individual needs
• Using effective, learner-centered teaching methods to improve learning outcomes
The endline evaluation by the UNHCR research team highlights the importance of inclusive and adaptable education in addressing learning gaps and creating opportunities for vulnerable children.
We are proud to contribute to solutions that restore hope through education.

24/12/2025

We were honored to participate in the End-of-Year Stakeholders’ In-Person Conference under the Kompass Project, themed
“Cross-Sector Alliance Symposium: Uniting to End Human Trafficking”, with this year’s focus on “Safe and Ethical Screening Practices- Referral Pathways.”
The symposium convened key actors from humanitarian, government, and civil society sectors to strengthen collaboration, share best practices, and advance survivor-centered approaches to preventing and responding to human trafficking.
Changia Africa Organization was proud to be part of this important platform. Our Executive Director, Rusagara , served as a panelist, presenting on “Indicators of Human Trafficking in Refugee Settlements,” drawing from both professional expertise and his lived experience as a refugee leader. His contribution emphasized the urgent need to integrate community-based knowledge into screening, identification, and referral systems to ensure they are ethical, effective, and responsive to real-world realities.
We strongly believe that survivor-informed and refugee-led perspectives are essential to building protection systems that truly work. When those with lived experience are part of the conversation, solutions become more grounded, dignified, and impactful.
We extend our appreciation to the Malaika Footprint TO Freedom and all partners for creating this powerful space for cross-sector learning and action. Changia Africa remains committed to strengthening ethical screening practices, improving referral pathways, and advancing a future where every person-especially the most vulnerable-is protected from exploitation.
Educational Missions Africa Sharon Chemello Lesley Gewin Mandela Washington Fellowship For Young African Leaders - Kenya Chapter Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Save the Children US International Women Space MugomokaFiston Murhabazi Fish KA Solar Education Projectts

20/12/2025

Yesterday, we had a deeply meaningful meeting with Lesley , reflecting on Changia Africa’s impact since 2016 and shaping our continued commitment to supporting refugees and vulnerable host communities in Kampala and Nakivale through 2026.

The conversation was grounded in evidence, lived experience, and vision. We reviewed how far we have come, what we have learned on the ground, and how we must now move into the next stage of deeper, more sustainable impact in the two regions we serve.

A central part of our discussion was Lesley’s extraordinary book, Hide and Seek, written from lived experience. Together, we shared key reflections and lessons that strongly resonate with the realities of refugees, displaced people, and marginalized host communities.

From Hide and Seek, we learned how childhood experiences, silence, fear, scarcity, and feeling “unseen” shape the way individuals view themselves and the world. The book powerfully shows that suffering does not have to define a person-and that healing begins when people reclaim their voice, worth, and responsibility for their inner world.

This message is especially relevant for communities affected by displacement, trauma, loss, and invisibility. Lesley’s journey demonstrates that even after violence, rejection, and hardship, individuals can rebuild dignity, courage, and purpose. It invites a shift from victimhood to inner strength, from scarcity to hope, and from silence to self-belief-creating pathways for healing, reconnection, and imagining a future beyond survival.

The meeting carried a rare and powerful energy-one of alignment, wisdom, and renewed commitment. It strengthened our resolve to continue working with communities not only to meet immediate needs, but also to support inner healing, leadership, and long-term transformation.

Our Recommendation
As Africa, we strongly encourage refugee leaders, community facilitators, and anyone passionate about human resilience and transformation to read Hide and Seek. The book carries unseen and often untold inspirational stories that many people need to encounter.

The book is available free in PDF format.
If you are a reader and would like a copy, please reach out to us and share your reflections after reading.

Together, we move forward-rooted in experience, guided by purpose, and committed to impact.


Conrad N. Hilton FoundationSolar Education ProjectMukiisa Humanity And Inclusion Foundation Michigan Human Trafficking Task ForceKastro ByamukamaBlessing a strangerSharon ChemelloEducational Missions AfricaSave the Children USSadiki PolepoleMandela Washington Fellowship For Young African Leaders - Kenya ChapterInternational Women Space Lesley Gewin

23/10/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday to Our Visionary Founder and Director! 🎉

Today, we celebrate an extraordinary leader the heart, mind, and driving force behind Changia Africa Organization.

Your unwavering commitment, bold vision, and tireless dedication have transformed challenges into opportunities and ideas into impact. Through your leadership, Changia Africa continues to uplift communities, inspire innovation, and empower countless lives across the continent.

Your passion for sustainable change reminds us every day that leadership is not about titles it’s about service, purpose, and heart.

On this special day, we extend our deepest gratitude for your endless support, wisdom, and belief in the power of collective action. Thank you for inspiring us to dream bigger, work harder, and lead with compassion.

Happy Birthday, Rusagara
Here’s to another year of extraordinary impact, continued growth, and boundless inspiration. The entire Changia Africa family celebrates you today and always.

22/10/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday to a Remarkable Leader! 🎉

Today we celebrate Dieu-donne Kavumu , a courageous and inspiring leader , Field Coordinator at Changia Africa Organization and Headmaster of Changia ECD & Primary School in Nakivale Refugee Settlement.

Your tireless dedication, compassion, and commitment to empowering children and communities in Nakivale continue to transform lives and bring hope where it’s needed most.

We deeply appreciate your leadership, vision, and the positive change you champion every day. May this new year of your life bring you even more strength, wisdom, and opportunities to continue your amazing work.

Thank you for being a shining example of service and resilience. 🙏
Happy Birthday, and cheers to many more impactful years ahead! 🎂🎈

15/10/2025

Give the Gift of Hope This Christmas
This festive season, we invite you to join us in bringing smiles and removing barriers for children in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, one of the largest refugee communities in Uganda.
For many children here, something as simple as a pair of shoes stands between them and their education. Walking barefoot to school exposes them to injury, infection, and embarrassment yet, they still dream of learning and building a brighter future.
The Shoe That Grows is helping change that. These innovative, adjustable shoes expand as a child grows, ensuring they have durable footwear for years.
By donating even a small amount, you can:
Help a child attend school safely and confidently
Support education in refugee and host communities
Spread the true spirit of giving this Christmas
Together, we can make sure no child is left behind because of something so basic shoes.
Donate today and be part of their journey toward hope, dignity, and opportunity. https://lnkd.in/dPzy3Tyh
Educational Missions Africa Jibrizy Love Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence AwarenessFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Young African Leaders Initiative Blessing a stranger Human Rights Watch
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21/09/2025

Term 3 Has Begun at Changia ECD & Primary School in nakivale Refugee settlement.

As our refugee children settle back into learning, we are reminded of the challenges they face. To make the most of this term, they need feeding support and books.

Even the smallest contribution whether it’s food items, school supplies, or financial support goes a long way in giving these children the chance to learn with dignity and hope.

Your kindness can help them finish the term strong.

👉 Anything you can share will make a difference.

& Primary School Blessing a stranger Jibrizy Love