Starting Libraries in Uganda's refugee camps

Every $3 gets a book onto a library shelf.

Every $10 can buy 10 meals.

Creative Learning Haven is a project to start community libraries and creative workshops in Uganda's Rhino and Imvepi refugee settlements. We are working to realize our vision with Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT) Uganda, Hope Foundation Uganda, and Hope Rising South Sudan (HoRiSS). We are currently relying on grassroots fundraising and book donations to start these libraries in January 2025 -- keep reading to learn more about the impact that your support would bring to Rhino and Imvepi.

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My name is Lulu Tian, and I am a documentary filmmaker working with MIT D-Lab to document projects in Uganda's Rhino and Imvepi Refugee settlements. While in the settlements, I heard a clear need for books from community members and formed a team with Otim (in Rhino, staff of YSAT Uganda) and Peter (in Imvepi, leader of HoRiSS) who both had dreams of starting libraries. There is just one public library between the two settlements, and it is not accessible to many.

Now, we are proud to say that thanks to the book donations we've collected in America and partnerships with organizations in Uganda, our Creative Learning Haven project will start 2 community libraries in January 2025 -- 1 in Imvepi, 1 in Rhino.

Libraries have the power to encourage education, emotional well-being, and shape new futures for the countries represented in the camps -- primarily South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Ugandan host community. Our goal is to encourage a long-term culture of literacy and creative exploration for generations to come. In addition to housing books, our Creative Learning Haven team will provide workshops on topics such as photography, digital literacy, and oral history interviewing. The libraries will provide an educational space in addition to existing schools and NGO/non-profit programs.

Our ask: We are relying on grassroots fundraising to make our project possible. If you are able, we would appreciate any amount of your donation. I will be returning to Uganda in January to bring our first round of 800 books (thank you to our many generous book donors!), and we will start the libraries thanks to your support. We might not be able to realize our vision without your help.

100% of your donation will go to our library project:

More background: Primary and secondary schools in the settlements have libraries, but many are not in school. In 2017, there were over 45,000 youths age 6-17 in Imvepi and over 50,000 in Rhino. Around 80% of this population in Imvepi were out of school. In Rhino, 67% were out of school (Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda). Residents in Imvepi and Rhino settlements have fled conflicts in countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo especially within the past 11 years.

MIT D-Lab, with whom I have been working as a documentarian, has been working with Uganda's Rhino and Imvepi Refugee Settlements for several years now with a focus on empowerment through engineering and design (Creative Capacity Building). Here’s a video about MIT D-Lab's Beyond Creative Capacity Building program in Uganda that trains people to design machines and build businesses.

Our goals: Our first goals are to distribute the materials and launch 1 pilot library in each Rhino and Imvepi, with activities to engage the community. We will monitor and evaluate this pilot project to then expand the library project. Our library will exist in well-maintained community centers run by YSAT Uganda and Hope Foundation Uganda. We will hold workshops at these centers and also mobile workshops that bring activities to different parts of the community. Our long-term sustainability goals are to create employment for library staff, scholarship opportunities, and expand access to books and creativity to more refugee communities.

I am the team's accountant. Otim and Peter are managing logistics on the ground in the settlements. All donated funds will be kept in a personal account, fairly distributed, and used 100% for the library project. Any excess funding will be saved, and we will develop a plan to ensure that all funding is used for the benefit of the community.

We are beyond grateful for your support and attention to this project! As we set up the libraries, we also hope to create something that acknowledges and updates everybody who supported the project. Thank you so so much!

Social Media graphics, if you'd like to share: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ROi-jBof95pO-UitZBn5S_X0Er3rk_8X?usp=sharing