Help Refugee Youth in Uganda Find A Future

Life can be hard for refugee youth with few resources and inadequate schooling. Vesta is a young girl, 15 years old, who left her struggling family to look for a job in Kampala, Uganda. But without any secondary education, she couldn’t find work in the city. She turned to life on the street, where finding food and a place to sleep was all she hoped for. She said she and other street kids were often caned by the police. “Life just got heavier. I joined a bad crowd and started using cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana . . . and life continued on.” Through the organization Save Street Children Uganda, Vesta eventually got needed support and found a community of other kids in her situation. Some new friends told her about dance classes they were taking, and she discovered MindLeaps. As Vesta tells the story, “When I started, everyone was laughing at me because I didn’t understand anything. But I came again and I tried to do a little more. And again and again – I kept coming and trying. Now I can count my muscles!” Her success at MindLeaps showed Vesta that she was capable of facing a challenge and learning new skills. Even more important, she learned to believe in herself, and with her renewed sense of confidence is eager to start school again.

MindLeaps’ ability to touch the lives of young people like Vesta depends very much on its dedicated staff. In addition to its teachers, MindLeaps relies on its highly qualified and committed administrative staff for the smooth and effective operation of the program. MindLeaps has recently welcomed its new Country Director in Uganda, Martha Bua Peace. Her extensive background and experience working in refugee settings make her a valuable addition to the team.

Martha is a social worker and NGO administrator. She was field coordinator of Uganda Youth Empowerment. She has worked at Refuge and Hope International as a social worker in a shelter for female survivors of sexual and gender based violence. She was also the Psychosocial Program Manager at the refugee organization Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Martha worked as a consultant for Playing to Live on the Care for Caregivers program aimed at addressing psychological wellness needs for front-line staff working in refugee settlements in the West Nile Region of Uganda. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Gender Studies at Makerere University with a special interest in Gender and Forced Migration.

With your generous support, Martha and all of MindLeaps’ dedicated staff continue to carry forward the work of helping vulnerable children make positive changes in their lives and their communities.