Send refugee and poor children to school in Uganda

Dear friends and supporters,

As the CIYOTA calendar year of activities enters into its first quarter, we at the COBURWAS Hostels have commenced the first academic term for 2014. Humbly share with us this brief journey thus far.

With a humble start in 2008, the CIYOTA hostel had 18 girls and 10 boys sharing one house; caring for themselves. Over the years, the hostels have seen many of its students from needy communities including; the homeless, orphans and refugees finish primary, secondary into tertiary institutions in and outside Africa.           

This year has seen us move into bigger and spacious hostels with an increased number of students to 70 girls and 90 boys selected from different refugee camps of Kyangwali, Kyaka and Rwamwanja. By providing accommodation, medication and food to students from surrounding areas that would otherwise attend inadequate schools, we remove geographic barriers to education. Students who stay at the hostels benefit from a strong sense of community and mutual support.

We structured programs and all scheduled activities reflecting our focus on functional education, social entrepreneurship and socially responsible leadership. We hold trainings and have had competitions in formal debating, soccer and netball. We have guest presentations on life skills and social entrepreneurship and our students have showcased three projects including paper file making, bed sheet designing and modern small scale horticulture, though we are yet to reach out to the market with the current and other products as an income source. All our students participate in our entertainment sessions involving showcasing songs, dances, and poems reflecting their cultural backgrounds.

It is in our plans to better our feeding, have a fully equipped and manned sick-bay, and install fully stocked and furnished reading spaces and we plan to have our students go for educative trips and participate in more community works.

May you be strengthened and abundantly enriched as we partake in this great social transformation mission.

The primary need addressed by the hostel-lack of access to quality education-is prevalent. We envision one day spreading our hostel model to other communities throughout the world. For us to continue supporting youth, we need YOU, your friends, your family, your co-workers, church members, and neighbors to help us raise $10,000 by June 30th, 2014! This will not happen without you! Please tell your friends, family, co-workers, church members and neighbors. Ask them to invite 10 friends to give and tell them why you gave. Post the link on your Facebook page, tweeting or emailing or anything else you can think of!

Thank you again for allowing CIYOTA transform communities in Africa by preparing, developing, and empowering a unified group of young leaders to tackle the greatest challenges facing our communities.

Sincerely,

COBURWAS Team

Dear our friends and supporters,

In this month of Thanksgiving, We say, special Thank you for supporting COBURWAS to provide education, leadership and entrepreneurship to refugees and underprivileged youth in Uganda.

Since 1997 the refugees in Kyangwali settlement did not have an opportunity to access high school education.  In more than 10 NGO’s operating in Kyangwali settlement only COBURWAS has been able to send a big number of girls and boys in higher institution of learning. We believe in education and we put if first in all that we do. By standing on your shoulders my friends and I (the COBURWAS leadership team) are providing education to the growing passionate leaders who will change communities in Africa. 

All students in CIYOTA are trained and inspired to run initiatives, which address the needs of youth in their communities. This gives students the skills and experience to serve as agents of positive change at local and international levels.

Moreover, our students continue to thrive whether on the pitch – CIYOTA can boast award-winning girls’ and boys’ football/soccer teams – or in the classroom – CIYOTA graduates have been admitted to top schools on the continent including Cornerstone Leadership Academy and the African Leadership Academy and 10 students will be enrolled in University, including 4 students who have been selected to attend American Universities under the MasterCard Scholarship program.

Students have won local and international awards like Anzisha prize which is a given to 3 young innovative entrepreneurs in Africa. The organization’s Co-founder, Joseph Munyamabanza, was also selected to be one of 15 youth leaders on the Global Education First Initiative Youth Advocacy group and through this position has a keen knowledge and close tied to the global policy community – including participating in the April 2013 Learning for All Ministerial meeting for the DR Congo and hosting a Malala Day event for 300 youth in Eastern Goma in conjunction with the global event which took place on July 12^th at the United Nations.

Any step we make in providing to a refugee girl or boy, it brings exponential changes to a larger community. At first we were called, “the refugees” but today we are becoming leaders, entrepreneurs and the agents of positive change. We now have hope and every day we are dreaming for a better Africa we build together because we are growing stronger because of your support.

It is very hard and impossible to precisely express how grateful for your big support. We pray with hope that God will continue to bless you.

For us to continue supporting youth, we need YOU, your friends, your family, your co-workers, church members, and neighbors to help us raise the required funds. This will not happen without you! Please tell your friends, family, co-workers, church members and neighbors. Ask them to invite 10 friends to give and tell them why you gave. Post the link on your facebook page, tweeting or emailing or anything else you can think of! Thank you again for allowing CIYOTA transform communities in Africa by preparing, developing, and empowering a unified group of young leaders to tackle the greatest challenges facing our communities. 

Merry Christmas and Prosperous year 2014,

Joseph Munyambanza, Benson Wereje, Daniel Muhwezi, Bahati Marcel, Nziyonvira Ntakamaze and the whole COBURWAS family

• ThankyouCOBURWAS_International_Youth_Organization_to_Transform_Africa.docx (DOCX)