The Peer 2 Peer Project is a partnership between WIU (Windle International Uganda) and UNHCR, to expand access to education and employment for refugees across all settlements in Uganda. Recognizing that barriers to education and employment can isolate refugees and limit their prospects, the project adopts a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) approach, enabling refugee youth to support each other in developing vocational skills, learning English, and finding pathways to work and self-sufficiency. Through this collaborative effort, WIU and UNHCR aim to provide refugees with the tools to build livelihoods and integrate more fully into their communities.
Why Peer-to-Peer?
The P2P approach leverages the strengths within refugee communities, where individuals can share their knowledge and experiences, fostering a supportive learning environment. This method has proven highly effective, as participants learn directly from their peers who understand their challenges and share similar backgrounds. By engaging peer advisors, the project builds trust and empowers participants to become both learners and leaders in their communities.
Objectives
- Enhance Access to Education: Provide English language and foundational literacy courses, led by peer advisors, to equip refugees with essential communication skills.
- Promote Vocational Training: Offer practical training in skills such as tailoring, carpentry, and food processing, using peer-led search to align with local job market needs.
- Increase Employment Opportunities: Facilitate connections between refugees and local employers and support small business ventures, enabling participants to secure livelihoods within and outside their communities.
Through the P2P, trained Refugee Solution Advisors will provide a tiered range of services to refugee students. Following a full training package and access to a learning management system (LMS), with the support of professional international admissions, pairs of solutions advisors will work in specific refugee-hosting countries to deliver targeted outreach to refugee youth at secondary and post-secondary level consisting of:
- Large group outreach and information sessions in refugee communities and secondary schools on relevant resources and opportunities.
- Large group online information sessions for those unable to access in-person sessions.
- Small group in-person one-on-one or online sessions to provide more detail to those interested and eligible individuals.
- Access to targeted sessions to develop skills in topics such as CV writing, drafting motivation letters, personal statement, compiling academic records, and interview skills.
- One on one support to specific candidates preparing university admissions applications
Project Justification
The project is premised on the common response by scholarship candidates when asked how they heard about the opportunity (ies) – they commonly respond – through a friend, family and/or support group. A formative needs assessment has been done to determine high-demand skills across settlements, ensuring training aligns with local needs. Peer advisors have been selected from within the refugee communities.
Expected Outcomes
WIU with funding support from UNHCR aim to empower refugees with the education and skills needed to pursue employment, building a foundation for greater independence and social integration. By leveraging the strengths of the P2P model, this project addresses educational and employment barriers while fostering community resilience and growth across Uganda’s refugee settlements.