Robert Hakiza

Last updated
Robert Hakiza
Citizenship Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Education Catholic University of Bukavu, Oxford University
Alma materDegree in Agriculture
AwardsTED Fellow, Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow 2017, Obama Foundation emerging African Leader 2019
Website https://www.yarid.org/

Robert Hakiza is a Congolese researcher and founder of Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) a community-based organization established by refugees in Uganda, operates a myriad of programs aimed at offering informal language instruction, facilitating Internet access, and providing vocational training to urban Kampala's refugee population. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Hakiza was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but has been living in Uganda since 2008. He holds a degree in Agriculture from the Catholic University of Bukavu. a certificate in forced migration from the International Summer School of Forced Migration of Oxford University. [5]

Career

In 2007, Hakiza founded Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) in Uganda and is currently its Executive Director. [6] [7] The organization aims to offer refugees, orphans, and other displaced persons educational programs, accessible healthcare facilities, and skills training opportunities. Hakiza is also a founding member of the Refugee-Led Organizations Network and a founding and steering committee member of the Global Refugee Network (GRN) representing Sub-Saharan Africa. [5] [8] [9] [10]

YARID operates in three field offices located in Kampala, Kyaka II, and Palabek refugee settlements. Throughout 2022, the organization directly catered to over 8,000 refugees across these three field offices, focusing on improving access to education, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring refugee protection. They are consistently devoted to advocating for their rights and creating opportunities for refugees. [11] [12]

Awards

He is a TED Fellow, Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow 2017, and The Obama Foundation emerging African Leader 2019. [2] [3]

On 23 February 2016, YARID became the first recipient of the Ockenden International Prize, an esteemed international prize that recognizes and supports projects that promote the self-reliance of refugees and displaced individuals. The prize, amounting to US$100,000 was awarded to the ‘Women’s Empowerment Project’ by Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) from Kampala, Uganda. [3]

Publications

(Loan) cycles of innovation: researching refugee-run micro-finance. Authored by Robert Hakiza and Evan Easton-Calabria published in 2016. [13]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy Corps</span> American humanitarian aid NGO founded 1979

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Lakes refugee crisis</span> 1990s refugee crisis in Central Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghan refugees</span> Nationals of Afghanistan who left their country as a result of major wars or persecution

Afghan refugees are citizens of Afghanistan who were forced to flee from their country as a result the continuous wars that the country has suffered since the Afghan-Soviet war, the Afghan civil war, the Afghanistan war (2001–2021) or either political or religious persecution. The 1978 Saur Revolution, followed by the 1979 Soviet invasion, marked the first major wave of internal displacement and international migration to neighboring Iran and Pakistan; smaller numbers also went to India or to countries of the former Soviet Union. Between 1979 and 1992, more than 20% of Afghanistan's population fled the country as refugees. Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, many returned to Afghanistan, however many Afghans were again forced to flee during the civil war in the 90s. Over 6 million Afghan refugees were residing in Iran and Pakistan by 2000. Most refugees returned to Afghanistan following the 2001 United States invasion and overthrow of the Taliban regime. Between 2002 and 2012, 5.7 million refugees returned to Afghanistan, increasing the country's population by 25%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medair</span> Natural disaster aid organization

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young African Refugees for Integral Development</span>

Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) is a community-based organization formed by refugees in Uganda that operates a number of programs that provide informal language instruction, Internet access, and vocational training to refugees in urban Kampala. The organization was founded in 2007 by Robert Hakiza a Congolese refugee living in Uganda.

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References

  1. ↑ "NGOs eye local donors for funding". Monitor. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  2. 1 2 Hakiza, Robert. "Robert Hakiza | Speaker | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  3. 1 2 3 "Robert Hakiza • Aspen Global Innovators". www.aspenglobalinnovators.org. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  4. ↑ "The Ted Talk Questionnaire: Robert Hakiza on Using His Story to Empower Refugees - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  5. 1 2 "ORCID". orcid.org. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  6. ↑ "The New Humanitarian | Refugee groups fill gaps in COVID-19 response, and they need support". www.thenewhumanitarian.org. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  7. ↑ "Effects of school closure in refugee communities". Monitor. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  8. ↑ "Entrepreneurship and innovation by refugees in Uganda | Forced Migration Review". www.fmreview.org. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  9. ↑ "Protection, inclusion of refugee rights in Uganda | MORNING AT NTV". NTV Uganda. 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  10. ↑ "Uganda stands out in refugees hospitality". Africa Renewal. 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  11. ↑ Wanume, Elvis (2023-06-21). "YARID: The Ladder to Learning Initiative -" . Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  12. ↑ "Our Story". YARID Uganda. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  13. ↑ "(Loan) cycles of innovation: researching refugee-run micro-finance". Humanitarian Practice Network. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
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