Creative Learning Haven: libraries in Uganda's refugee camps

"We don't want this generation of South Sudanese, Congolese, or Ugandans to miss the opportunity of education" - Peter Hardrock (CLH Team)

Every $3 gets a book onto a library shelf.

Creative Learning Haven (CLH) is a project that has started 2 libraries since January 2025: 1 in Uganda's Imvepi refugee settlement, 1 in Uganda's Rhino refugee settlement.

CLH is implemented by myself, staff from Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT) Uganda, staff from Hope Rising South Sudan (HoRiSS), and with the support of Hope Foundation Uganda and UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency). We are currently relying on grassroots fundraising and book donations. 100% of donations go to our libraries -- to support wages for our volunteer staff, 5 weekly programs, mobile reading groups, and community outreach programs. So far, we have reached over 100 participants for our weekly programs and over 200 visitors in our libraries. Your support will help us continue and grow -- the demand for our books and programs is increasing every day!

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My name is Lulu Tian, and I am a documentary filmmaker who started Creative Learning Haven with Otim Francis (in Rhino, staff of YSAT Uganda), and Peter Hardrock (in Imvepi, leader of HoRiSS). I met Otim and Peter through 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 and Peter who both had dreams of starting libraries. Before Creative Learning Haven, there was just one public library between the two settlements (over 200,000 people).

Now, we are proud to say that thanks to book donations we've collected in America, this GoFundMe campaign, and partnerships with organizations in Uganda, our Creative Learning Haven project is off to strong start! We are housed in two secure and well-maintained buildings, 1 managed by YSAT, 1 by Hope Foundation and UNHCR.

We employ local experts to lead workshops and share their skills. Our weekly activities include:

We have also held a 1-week digital storytelling workshop in Rhino, and will hold a 2-week digital storytelling workshop in Imvepi, facilitated by myself and 2 local video production experts. We have brought our books to 3 other locations for mobile activities and hope to expand our mobile program.

Our ask: We are relying 100% on grassroots fundraising to make our project possible. If you are able, we would appreciate any amount of your donation. Currently, our libraries each have 400+ books, and expected. 800 by end of March. We hope to increase the number of books in each library at least past 1000.

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

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.

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, design, and business skills ("Creative Capacity Building").

Our goals: 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 mission is to encourage a long-term culture of literacy and creative exploration for generations to come. The libraries will provide an educational space in addition to existing schools and NGO/non-profit programs. Our libraries exist in well-maintained community centers run by YSAT Uganda (Rhino) and Hope Foundation Uganda (Imvepi). Our long-term goals are to create employment for library staff, support an ecosystem of skills-sharing and small businesses, create scholarship opportunities, and expand access to books and creativity for refugees.

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! Iyete aduma (thank you in Kakua)! Shukran (thank you in Arabic)!