CIYOTA

CIYOTA, a Refugee-Led Organization, has empowered over 6,000 refugee and host community learners since 2008 and currently serves 2,000 annually. To enhance education quality, we’re raising $25,000 for our Teacher Training Program, ensuring teachers gain modern skills like ICT integration and inclusive learning strategies. This campaign runs until February 2025. Join us in transforming education for refugee children in Uganda.

We are writing to you with some devastating news:

Violent clashes have displaced more than 10,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Uganda, and over 30,000 are internally displaced in remote areas of Congo without help. These clashes began on March 28th, and Uganda has opened its borders to these refugees, including many unaccompanied children, elderly folks, people with disabilities, and women. 

Our hearts go out to those refugees and those affected by this violence. We are especially heartbroken because many of us have close communities and ties to this region of the Congo, and have been refugees for decades. 

CIYOTA is firmly committed to our mission to ensure peace, prosperity, and equality. Pictured above is our co-founder / DRC country director, Benson Wereje, supporting the delivery of emergency food and supplies to affected communities in Bunagana.

We need your help to support 1,000 most vulnerable refugees with mainly food. Included are:

- 100 unaccompanied minors and orphans that CIYOTA rescued from violent rebel invasions in the Ituri region of the Congo.

- Food rations and additional support for refugees suffering from war casualties.

- Women and girls who face sexual violence that need health care and psychosocial support.

- Offering special education for children to continue their education, including support for their national exams.

A note from of Co-Founder, Benson Wereje:

"New arrivals are sheltering themselves along the road, in markets, schools, and in unfinished buildings. Most of these that I was able to visit are in critical condition due to hunger, and war causalities who do not access better health services. According to UN, only 8% of their operational budget is funded to support refugees. But even if it would, UN gives each refugee around $3.7 per month for food ration. This makes the situation complicated, worse, and more urgent to support these refugees. "

With persisting violence in the DRC, and another influx of refugees into the Kyangwali Settlement, we continue to find ourselves strapped for resources.

We would greatly appreciate your support through a contribution; Your donation serves the refugees that need it most and  uplifts our team working tirelessly to achieve our goals.

Also, to share this widely to educate your community about ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and those that are affected by this violence. 

Refugees relocating from the violent clashes beginning March 28.

Background about CIYOTA:

We are a grassroots initiative empowering displaced youth to build resilient communities in Africa. Through functional Education and Entrepreneurial Leadership, we are embedding peace and prosperity in conflict areas from the Ground Up. CIYOTA helped more than 5,000 refugees and local natives access education and build social entrepreneurial leadership skills. These young people have in turn impacted lives of over 50,000 people in Uganda and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.