Benson Wereje, Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2008 we started a partnership with Benson Wereje. At that time he was living in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda with his wife and children. Knowing we would have his strong leadership and project management skills in 2009 we founded Peopleweaver as a US-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We continue to work closely with Benson, he has been the source of project selection, project management and project success.
A huge influx of refugees into Kyangwali has increased the population from 37,000 in 2017 to 109,000 in mid 2019.
Benson talks about conditions in Kyangwali (2020): https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-walrath-205436070/bensons-report
Claudine Migisha, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Claudine Migisha comes from the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her journey began when she became an orphan at the age of 6-years old. While growing up Claudine suffered hunger and sleepless nights because of civil wars and conflict in her village in the Eastern Part of Congo known as Rutshuru in North Kivu province.
Her passion is to see women and girls empowered and communities developed. She is the co-found of Nguvu Ya Africa (Power of Africa).
Claudine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Africa University in Zimbabwe.
Becky Baker, Uganda
I am a Ugandan born in the Kalangala Islands (Uganda), in a community plagued by the HIV/AIDS
virus at the time. I strived to get educated against all odds and eventually qualified as not only a
counselor in HIV/AIDs for my community but also acquired a business degree. This enabled me
to set up a crafts shop that finds a market for handmade crafts both internationally and locally
made by skilled widows and orphans affected by the scourge. I have managed in my small way
to make a difference in my community by empowering them to engage in these small income
generating activities to better their lives.
Dorcus Daisy, Kenya
I am a counseling psychologist and a community development specialist and have worked in organizations in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana. I have experience working with children in underprivileged communities and in emergencies. My biggest passion is to help people explore their potential and talents and to use these to live their lives to the fullest. I am the founder of “A Million Faces- Renaissance”, an organization that advocates for equal access to quality education for all children, especially the urban refugees. I am part of the founding team of Ongoza, a youth organization. We initiated Ongoza in 2008 with the aim of economically empowering youth to use their talents to come up with income-generating activities. My passion and advocacy is to reverse the case of 57 million out-of-school children all over the world. In April 2014 I was endorsed as a “Global Youth Ambassador” by “A World at School”. In this organization I advocate for quality education for out-of-school children.
Working with the “COBURWAS Youth Organization to Transform Africa” in Uganda, I helped organize and hold youth leadership and entrepreneurship development programs. These were held for high school students in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in western Uganda. I am also part of the “Network of Young Women Leaders” in Kenya, an association of women creating change in their different communities. I am passionate about change, not the whole world (that might be beyond me), but what I can change in society.
Joyce, DRC
"An effective teacher is the most important factor in a student’s learning."
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