HYT Uganda

Kyaka II refugee settlement in western Uganda is home to 121,000 refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 54% of whom are under 17 years old.

HYT, in partnership with Children on the Edge, is excited to be involved in a pioneering, community led, Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme with a focus on long term sustainability.

Using our tried and tested ‘train as you build’ methodology, HYT is leading the construction of four simple classroom blocks, while also training 12 young refugees in all aspects of construction. Each structure will be made using the sustainable Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block (ISSB) technology which requires no firewood in their production.

Once completed, Children on the Edge will carry out their cutting edge work from the centres. The work addresses shortfalls experienced by current education schemes in the refugee context, including increased access to education, quality teaching and teacher retention in the settlements.

Building on existing community led nurseries and ECD centres, HYT will replace existing temporary structures with safe, permanent buildings where young children can learn and play. 

Children on the Edge is receiving increasing national and international attention from governments and UN bodies for their important work. HYT is thrilled to be working with Children on the Edge and excited to see what the future will bring for this partnership.

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Winners of the Ashden International Award for Sustainable Buildings 2017.

Watch our exciting video, or check out our work at hytuganda.com

Uganda, like the rest of the world, ground to a halt in late March. Although most industries were forced to close their doors, construction and training was allowed to continue, with HYT ensuring our teams were able to live and work safely.

Despite all the uncertainty and fear early in the pandemic, HYT’s team at the Refuge for Aids Victims and Orphans (RAVO), a school in the rural south east of the country, decided they wished to stay on site through the lockdown and finish what they started.

The government banned all private and public transport. For the HYT team working in a rural area this presented some serious challenges. With good humour, creativity and resourcefulness the team found ways to keep working with the help of bicycles, motorbikes and lots of walking.

Although schools remain shut, we are proud that the children will return to a brand new classroom and water tank. This large construction project using HYT’s environmentally friendly Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block (ISSB) technology saved 32 tons of firewood – that’s equivalent to 50 tons of CO2. In addtion, the team planted 10 trees on the school’s rural campus.

Funded by HYT’s long term partner, Peter Bond, the team built an early childhood development centre and 20,000 litre rainwater harvesting tank. Through Peter Bond’s generosity, RAVO has been completely transformed. Nine structures have been added, the school capacity has shot up and the school recently received the right to hold national exams.