KYEGEGWA– Da Vision Youth Group was founded in March 2017 by passionate youth activists dedicated to addressing challenges faced by women and young refugees.
The group operates in Sweswe Zone, Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, and is officially registered with Kyegegwa District Local Government, having obtained its certificate on January 14, 2020. The organization is women-led, comprising 35 permanent members, 80% of whom are female, while only five members are nationals.
The group has a robust leadership structure consisting of nine positions, including a Team Lead, Chairperson, Program Coordinator, and other specialized roles aimed at fostering effective operations and impactful programming.
Da Vision Youth Group adopts a holistic approach to programming, emphasizing livelihood interventions to empower young refugees. It runs an entrepreneurship and skills training center that equips vulnerable groups such as women, girls at risk, individuals with disabilities, and school dropouts with practical skills for self-sustainability.
Training programs include tailoring (fashion design, African bags, and clothing), hairdressing, liquid soap making, adult literacy, and life skills like public speaking.
These initiatives primarily target child mothers, girls who have dropped out of school, and women at risk, helping to enhance their self-esteem and create opportunities for income generation.
Additionally, the group conducts awareness campaigns on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and facilitates referrals, playing a vital role in mobilizing children and youth for targeted programs.
Over the years, Da Vision Youth Group has partnered with organizations like Alight, Kabarole Research Center (KRC), and YARID, implementing projects that train women and girls out of school in tailoring and hairdressing.
These organizations have been able to partner and collaborate with Da vision youth group by finding for them opportunities and linking them to train women at risk. YARID sponsored 40 trainees, KRC sponsored 13 trainees, and Alight sponsored 60 trainees to acquire life skills training from Da vision youth group who trained and equipped all the trainees with skills in hair dressing and tailoring for their empowerment as part of GBV prevention.
Da vision also partnered with UNHCR in 2023 and implement a CERF project amounting to 4000 USD in the areas of GBV prevention. These efforts have successfully empowered over 113 trainees to start their own Income-generating projects, contributing significantly to combating GBV and promoting women’s empowerment in Kyaka II.
The group also produces high-quality products, including laptop bags, safari bags, and African wear, marketed to NGOs and the general public. By setting a standard for quality and innovation, Da Vision Youth Group has become a model for other refugee-led organizations, further solidifying its role as a beacon of hope and empowerment in the community.
The Da vision youth group is now self sustaining and development in the entire Kyaka II refugee settlement.
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