Creative Learning Haven: libraries in Uganda's refugee camps
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"We don't want this generation of South Sudanese, Congolese, or Ugandans to miss the opportunity of education" - Peter Hardrock (CLH Imvepi Team Lead)
With your support, Creative Learning Haven (CLH) started 2 libraries in January 2025: 1 in Uganda's Imvepi refugee settlement, 1 in Uganda's Rhino refugee settlement. These are the only community libraries with free book borrowing and creative activities for over 200,000 refugees.
We have reached >500 people at our main locations and >100 readers with our mobile libraries, transported >1500 books, trained 8 library staff, and currently run 7 weekly activities.
These libraries are 100% crowdfunded. Please help us support this essential project -- any contribution goes a long way.
- $6: Buys new paint for students who visit 2+ times/week to paint
- $8: Puts one more Ugandan curriculum book (the most requested book) on our shelves
- $10 / month: Provides weekly literacy classes for kids
- $36 / month: Provides Wifi to one library
- $80 / month: Funds mobile libraries for 4 remote locations and 2 primary schools.
100% of your donations support:
- Books, equipment, furniture
- Staff + facilitator stipends -- all are local refugees or Ugandans
- 7 weekly activities + 4 mobile libraries
Why are libraries essential for refugees in Imvepi and Rhino?
- Schools are struggling: Some have 300 students : 1 teacher. Most don't have enough space for students to read even if they have books. Schools have turned to our libraries for support, and we have a close relationship.
- Limited access to internet + books: many people don't have smartphones or data, and there are no book stores in the camps.
- Education disrupted by war and poverty: "Our children are lacking knowledge, especially the South Sudanese who came from the war place." 95% of CLH visitors are from South Sudan, a country with major internal conflicts since 2013. Many people's education was paused for 2+ years, also leading to high drop-out rates
Our goals:
- Guarantee that learning continues despite challenges with formal education, displacement, and poverty.
- Expand access to books and creative activities with a physical library space and mobile activities
- Provide an additional educational space to existing schools and NGO/non-profit programs.
- Shape new futures for refugees and Ugandan nationals by creating a culture of independent learning, literacy, and creative exploration
"When you now have the knowledge to read and write, it's better for you to teach yourself ... It can build you faster than waiting for teachers." - Enock, our friend and carpenter who constructed our shelf (Imvepi).
Knowledge is power, and knowledge is peace. We hope to build the futures of Uganda, South Sudan, and refugees in Rhino & Imvepi camps.
Read our May Update Report for more!
[email redacted]
Even during school break, students showed up in the early morning at the library to read. Manase, Meta, Lemi, Mambo, and more come after school to create beautiful paintings. Imvepi Secondary School and multiple primary schools in the area have donated books to Imvepi CLH because of the support we are providing to their learners.
CLH is implemented by Hope Rising South Sudan (HoRiSS), Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT) Uganda, and Luyao (Lulu) Tian, with the support of Hope Foundation Uganda and UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency).
More Background:
For all South Sudanese (~97% of the refugees in Imvepi and Rhino) who have been fleeing major conflicts since 2013, education has been disrupted and often impossible after a certain point due to costly fees and family responsibilities.
Primary and secondary schools in the settlements have libraries, but many youths are not in school. In 2017, there were over 45,000 youths age 6-17 in Imvepi and over 50,000 in Rhino. Around 80% of youths in Imvepi were out of school. In Rhino, 67% were out of school (Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda). Residents in Imvepi and Rhino settlements have fled conflicts in countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo especially within the past 11 years.
My name is Lulu Tian, and I am a documentary filmmaker who started Creative Learning Haven with YSAT and HoRiSS. I first spent time in Uganda's Rhino and Imvepi Refugee settlements working with MIT D-Lab to film different projects. While in the settlements, I heard a clear need for books from community members, and our collaboration started from there.
MIT D-Lab, with whom I have been working as a documentarian, has been working with Uganda's Rhino and Imvepi Refugee Settlements for several years now with a focus on empowerment through engineering, design, and business skills ("Creative Capacity Building").
CLH is also looking to partner with schools, youth groups, educational initiatives, or any interested individuals/groups who would like to volunteer, fundraise, or participate in a cultural exchange. We are building bridges between Uganda, America, South Sudan -- we believe in an interconnected world.
We are beyond grateful for your support and attention to this project! Thank you so so much! Iyete aduma (thank you in Kakua)! Shukran (thank you in Arabic)!
Organizer
Lulu Tian
Organizer
Winchester, MA