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Est. 2020 · Kyaka II, Uganda

Empowering Africa's Youth
to Rise, Lead
& Thrive

YESRA is a community-based organisation transforming lives through early childhood education, caregiver training, and holistic family support, one child, one community at a time.

Discover Our Work Support a Child
1,523+ Lives Changed
96 Caregivers Trained
4 ECD Centers
0
Students Reached Since 2020
0
Community Caregivers Trained
0
ECD Centres Operational
0+
Children to Reach by 2030
YESRA teacher leading an outdoor learning session with children in Kyaka II, Uganda
2020
Founded
Who We Are

A Community-Rooted Movement for Lasting Change

YESRA (Youth Empowerment For Self Resilience in Africa) is a registered Community-Based Organisation working in the heart of Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Kyegegwa District, Uganda. Since 2020, we have been turning the tide on childhood poverty and illiteracy, one family at a time.

We believe that sustainable change must come from within the community. That's why we train local women as certified ECD educators, run our own learning centres, and walk alongside families to ensure every child gets the early start they deserve.

Our Mission

To empower children, caregivers, and families in refugee and underserved communities by delivering quality early childhood education, skills training, and holistic family support, breaking the cycle of poverty and exclusion one child at a time.

Our Vision

A world where every child in Africa's most vulnerable communities has access to quality education, every caregiver is equipped to nurture their child's full potential, and every family has the resilience and support to build a dignified, self-reliant future.

Our Core Values

Children First Sense of Possibility Teamwork Humility & Respect
What We Do

Programs Designed for Real Impact

Four carefully designed initiatives that work together to build resilient children, empowered caregivers, and thriving families.

Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Our 4 fully operational ECD centres provide nurturing, play-based education for children aged 0–8 in Kyaka II. We use a bilingual, culturally relevant curriculum that builds foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills.

What we do: Daily structured learning sessions, story-based literacy activities, number games, and creative play. Each centre is staffed by certified local women caregivers who deliver lessons in both English and children's mother tongues, so no child is left behind due to language barriers. We also conduct regular developmental assessments to track each child's growth milestones.

500 pupils taught
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Community Caregiver Training

We recruit and train women from within the refugee community through a 3-month intensive certification programme plus ongoing mentorship, transforming them into qualified ECD educators and community leaders.

What we do: Trainees receive intensive modules in child psychology, age-appropriate pedagogy, classroom management, hygiene and nutrition awareness, and child safeguarding. After certification, caregivers are placed at our ECD centres and receive a monthly stipend and ongoing peer-support circles. This model creates local employment while ensuring our centres are run by people who truly understand the community they serve.

96 caregivers certified
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Nutrition & Family Support

No child learns on an empty stomach. We provide daily hot meals at our ECD centres, distribute scholastic materials, and run community awareness sessions to reinforce healthy development at home.

What we do: Each enrolled child receives a hot, balanced meal during their centre day. We distribute exercise books, pencils, and learning kits at the start of every term. Our family engagement sessions train parents and guardians on positive parenting, early stimulation at home, and child nutrition best practices. We also work alongside health workers to monitor growth and identify children at risk of malnutrition for targeted support.

89 families supported
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Want to support a specific programme? We'd love to talk.

Partner With Our Programs
Our Impact

Six Years of Measurable Change

Built in the heart of one of Uganda's largest refugee settlements, our results prove that community-led education works.

Kyegegwa District, Uganda

Serving Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, home to over 120,000 displaced people from DRC, South Sudan, and beyond.

10 School Leaders Trained

Empowering school leadership to drive quality education across underserved schools in the district.

6+ Strategic Partnerships

Collaborating with government bodies, UN agencies, and community organisations to extend our reach across Kyaka II and Kyegegwa District.

OPM Office of the Prime Minister
DLG Kyegegwa District LG
UNHCR UNHCR
CBO Kyaka II CBOs

Only $114 Per Child / Year

World-class early education at a fraction of the cost. Every dollar you invest goes further with YESRA.

50,000
Children we aim to reach by 2030
across Uganda's refugee settlements
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
"Every $1 invested in early childhood education yields $6–$17 in long-term economic returns for society."
Heckman Institute for Economics of Human Development
Learners in Action

See Our Learners at Work

Watch our young learners engage in Literacy and Numeracy lessons, the foundation of every child's bright future.

Literacy

Literacy Lesson

Learners building reading and writing skills through engaging, play-based classroom activities.

Numeracy

Numeracy Lesson

Young learners exploring numbers and counting through hands-on, interactive learning.

Stories of Change

Voices from Our Community

The most powerful testament to our work comes from the people we serve.

"Before YESRA, my children had nowhere to go during the day, and I had no income. Now I am a certified educator teaching 30 children, earning money, and I have become a respected leader in my community. YESRA did not just give me a job. They gave me a purpose."

M
★★★★★

Mary A.

Community Caregiver, Kyaka II ECD Centre

"My son could not count to 10 when he started at the YESRA centre. Within one school term, he was reading simple words and singing songs in both English and his mother tongue. The caregivers are so patient and loving. It feels like a family, not just a school."

R
★★★★★

Rose K.

Parent of an ECD Learner, Kyaka II Settlement

"Partnering with YESRA has been one of the most impactful collaborations of our year. Their community-first model is exceptional: every dollar is accounted for, every child's progress is tracked, and the caregiver training programme is genuinely innovative. I recommend YESRA to every donor I know."

J
★★★★★

James O.

Programme Officer, Partner NGO

Get Involved

Three Ways to Change a Life

Whether you give, volunteer, or partner, your contribution creates lasting change for children in Kyaka II.

Donate

Your gift directly funds early childhood education, caregiver salaries, hot meals, and learning materials for children who have nothing. Every dollar goes further here.

Donate Now

$114 sponsors one child for a full year.

Volunteer

Have skills in education, M&E, communications, design, or healthcare? Join us for a week, a month, or a year. We welcome both in-person and remote volunteers.

  • Education & Curriculum
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Communications & Fundraising
  • Health & Nutrition

Partner

We actively seek institutional funders, corporate CSR partners, and fellow NGOs who share our values. Join us to co-design, co-fund, or scale our proven model.

  • Grant Funding
  • Corporate CSR
  • Technical Assistance
  • Research & Advocacy
Get In Touch

Let's Build the Future Together

Whether you're a donor, a partner, a volunteer, or simply someone who cares, we'd love to hear from you. Our team responds within 48 hours.

Our Address

Kyaka II Refugee Settlement
Kyegegwa District, Uganda

Email Us

yesr.africa@gmail.com

Call Us

+256 793 260 362

WhatsApp

+256 773 540 706

Send Us a Message

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