Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation

Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation - CECI Uganda

Promoting peace, self-reliance and dignity in refugee communities in Northern Uganda since 2017

By Refugees For Refugees

We are a refugee-led organization directly working with youth, women and girls from refugee and host communities to prevent, reduce, and transform violent conflicts. Our peacebuilding, education, livelihood, and environment programs are rooted in local innovations and driven by local needs. They create an enabling environment for healing, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence in refugee settlements while empowering individuals and communities to participate actively in their own development.

Local Solutions

We co-create sustainable solutions with local communities to address violent conflicts and poverty.

Using small, scalable projects, we promote positive interactions, peace, social cohesion, livelihood opportunities, and skills for development. We believe in co-creating innovative and creative local solutions that address the urgent needs of refugees and their host communities.

Our Work in Uganda

We work in three refugee-hosting districts to promote peace, self-reliance, and dignity among youth and women from refugee and host communities.

Peacebuilding

Strengthening the role of youth and women in preventing and resolving conflicts to promote peaceful resolution of disputes and reconciliation, build and increase peaceful coexistence and social cohesion.

Education

Improving primary and accelerated education access for women and girls and early childhood development programs for children to promote positive development.

Livelihood

Building skills that support development and peace, build resilience, and increase employability among youth and women in both refugee and host communities.

Environment

Engaging youth and women to promote community-led environmental conservation and climate action in refugee and host communities.

Bicycles Deliver Hope

Bicycles Deliver Hope Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

Our transformative Blue Messenger Bicycle Initiative on COVID-19 in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement reached over 9,389 youth, children, women, men, PWDs and Elderly persons, improving homeschooling, COVID-19 prevention in vulnerable households, and increasing handwashing and mask-wearing. The Humanitarian Platform for Local and National Organizations in Uganda featured it in its newsletter, the Tales And Innovations Of Local Actors In Humanitarian Response.

Faiza

School Drop-Out Turned Entrepreneur

CECI’s Watson Basecamp helped Ropani Faiza, a school drop-out, develop an innovative business idea that led her to become an entrepreneur owning and operating a tailoring school and a mobile money business. Faiza’s businesses now earn her monthly profits exceeding UGX 200,000/- and allow her to care for her ill parents while using her tailoring school to enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable girls.

Ajonye

From a Trauma Survivor to Owning A Business

CECI's Sawa Le Salaam Project has helped Sarah Ajonye transform her life by providing her with business skills, startup capital, and mentorship. Today, she runs a thriving business that enables her to provide for her family's basic needs and now dreams of growing her business to be able to send her siblings to school.

Salaam Radio

Discover the first and only radio station and tower in the world’s largest refugee settlement. Established in 2020 with funding from OXFAM, Salaam Radio strengthens communication with communities by disseminating vital information on health, food, employment, and online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. It integrates technology into peacebuilding and education, improving refugees’ access to knowledge and skills. Local communities recognize the Radio as an effective tool for healing, where diverse people feel safe coming together to play, speak, and interact.

Bridging Divides

We believe in the unique power of music to save lives, now and in the future. Through music, we create safe spaces where people from all backgrounds can come together, share their stories, and engage in dialogue. Our music advocates for peaceful conflict resolution, resource sharing, and dialogue among refugees and host communities. It reconciles and bridges communities divided by conflict and displacement. Join us in using music to build peace for all.

Partner With Us

Partnerships are critical to our success in helping refugee youth and women to recover better, build resilience and self-reliance.

We are always looking for new partnership opportunities. If your organization has an idea for a campaign or event, or is exploring ways you might support CECI’s work, we’d love to hear from you.