Refugee Resilience Hubs

Empowering Trauma Healing Through AI and VR in Uganda's Refugee Camps Kampala, Uganda – October 2025 Join the Iraji Foundation as we unveil the Refugee Resilience Hubs, a groundbreaking refugee-led initiative blending faith-inspired compassion with cutting-edge technology. Launching in mid-October 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed) in Nakivale, Bidibidi, and Rhino Camps, this pilot project will transform mental health support for thousands of displaced individuals through AI-powered digital storytelling and virtual reality (VR) therapy.

As Uganda's largest refugee-hosting nation, home to over 1.8 million people fleeing conflicts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia, our communities face staggering mental health challenges—31% depression rates, 45% mental distress, and 190 suicide attempts in 2024 alone. The Refugee Resilience Hubs address this crisis head-on, creating safe, innovative spaces for healing, skill-building, and unity.

Event Details
• Tentative Date: Dates to be confirmed soon – stay tuned for updates
• Locations: Nakivale Settlement (Isingiro District), Bidibidi Settlement (Yumbe District), and Rhino Camp (Arua District)
• Time: daily, subject to final schedule
• Format: In-person participatory workshops with live demos, followed by ongoing hub sessions
• Target Audience: Refugees (especially youth and women), community leaders, NGO partners, and funders

RSVP: Email info@iraji.org or call ‪+256 771 950000‬ / ‪+256 744 440009‬ for participation details and updates

• Partners: Refugee-led Innovation Fund.
What to Expect This launch event kicks off a 12-month pilot serving 1,500–3,000 refugees, prioritizing those hit hardest by trauma.

Attendees will:
• Co-Design the Future: Dive into interactive workshops (Months 1–2) to shape culturally sensitive AI tools and VR experiences, incorporating multilingual prompts in Swahili, Arabic, and Luganda.
• Experience Tech in Action: Witness live sessions featuring AI digital storytelling—where participants craft hope-filled narratives—and VR therapy for immersive relaxation and emotional release, framed as stigma-free "story-sharing circles" with interfaith reflections.
• Build Skills and Connections: Gain hands-on training in digital literacy, empowering 300+ refugees to launch micro-enterprises in content creation. Network with innovators, refugee facilitators, and faith leaders to foster peace and collaboration.
• Celebrate Resilience: End each day with community storytelling and prayers, embodying our pillar Nerve to Serve.

Powered by solar-charged hubs equipped with affordable VR headsets and tablets, this initiative draws from proven global digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) that cut PTSD symptoms by 20–30%. It's fully refugee-led, with 45 trained facilitators (15 per camp) ensuring sustainability.

Why It Matters In camps like Nakivale (150,000+ residents) and Bidibidi (220,000+), traditional support falls short amid stigma and resource gaps. Our hubs align with SDGs 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), promoting interfaith unity and policy advocacy through anonymized impact stories. With a lean USD 50,000 budget (90% fundable via UNHCR), we're proving that compassion + tech = hope. Expected outcomes include 20–30% resilience gains, empowered youth livelihoods, and a scalable model for Uganda's 13 camps.

About Iraji Foundation Founded in 2022 and registered with the Uganda National NGO Bureau, the Iraji Foundation is a faith-based powerhouse driven by Islamic values of justice and service. We empower vulnerable populations through education, charity, and SDG-aligned innovation, uniting diverse communities for peace and environmental stewardship. Learn more at irajifoundation.org.
Together, let's heal, innovate, and serve.

For media inquiries or partnership opportunities, contact: info@iraji.org | ‪+256 771 950000‬ | ‪+256 744 440009‬ | Follow us @IrajiFoundation on X and Instagram.