Windle International Uganda

Established in 1996, WIU aims to promote peace and development in communities across the country by providing access to quality education to refugee and host communities. As trusted partners of the Ugandan government and organisations like the UNHCR, WIU operates programmes at all levels of education. Below are some highlights of the current projects.

WIU Programming

The WeWork Kampala Metropolitan Project, funded by Enabel and implemented by Windle International Uganda (WIU), equips 500 vulnerable youth, refugees, women, and girls in Kampala and Wakiso with market-relevant vocational and entrepreneurship skills in trades such as baking, barista services, cooking, creative arts, and food processing. Aligned with private-sector demand, the project combines practical training with business coaching and work-based learning placements to support participants in securing decent employment or launching their own enterprises. With a strong focus on inclusion, the project ensures that refugees and other marginalised groups access equitable economic opportunities, ultimately improving livelihoods and reducing socio-economic vulnerability among urban youth.

The Children Feeding Initiative, implemented by Windle International Uganda and Convoy of Hope, supports 47,724 learners across 58 schools in Imvepi, Rhino Camp, Palabek, Kiryandongo, Palorinya refugee settlements, and Napak District in Karamoja. The project improves child nutrition and learning outcomes through daily fortified porridge, targeted rations for malnourished learners, deworming, vitamin supplementation, and routine nutritional assessments, alongside WASH interventions promoting hygiene and sanitation. Sustainability is built through school gardens, farmer field schools, and community farming, while capacity building equips volunteer cooks, parents, and school committees with skills in nutrition, food safety, and safeguarding. Together, these efforts boost learner attendance, well-being, and educational performance.

The Reading for All (RFA) Project, implemented by WIU from July 2025 to June 2026 in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, is strengthening foundational literacy and learning for refugee and host community children. The project supports 15 primary schools, 4 secondary schools, and 15 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres through the distribution of curriculum textbooks and storybooks sourced both locally and from UK donations, ensuring learners have access to age appropriate and diverse reading materials.

RFA enhances school library systems by establishing accession and lending registers, developing library timetables, and training focal staff to manage reading spaces effectively. It promotes a culture of reading through school based reading clubs, debates, and home reading opportunities. To address energy barriers affecting study time, the project provides and manages solar lamps for learners without electricity. Additionally, the project strengthens teacher capacity by improving access to standardised learning materials, contributing to better teaching practices and improved literacy outcomes.

The i-UPSHIFT Project, funded by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the PROSPECTS partnership and implemented by Windle International Uganda (WIU), empowers refugee and host-community youth aged 18–30 in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement with entrepreneurship, innovation, and problem-solving skills. With a budget of UGX 550 million, the project uses structured mentorship, design thinking, and prototype development to help youth build viable businesses, supported by seed capital, formal business registration, and linkages to banking and financial services. Prioritising inclusion, the project ensures equitable participation of refugees, women, and persons with disabilities, while promoting environmental sustainability through eco-friendly, youth-led innovations. By strengthening social cohesion between refugee and host communities and equipping young people with practical skills and networks, i-UPSHIFT fosters self-reliance and dignified economic participation.

The Student Refugee Program (SRP) implemented in Uganda by WIU in partnership with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), offers refugees youth with access to higher education and resettlement opportunities in Canada. Launched in Uganda in August 2019, the program has supported 117 students (49 female, 68 male) who have since been resettled and enrolled in Canadian post‑secondary institutions. The SRP uniquely combines resettlement with academic sponsorship, enabling refugee youth to pursue degrees while integrating into Canadian society. Evidence of the program’s long‑term impact shows high success rates, with 97% of sponsored students completing or progressing in their academic programs and 85% securing employment in their chosen fields, creating ripple effects of hope and empowerment within their families and communities.