This oral presentation was presented at the Bold Ideas for Brighter Futures Conference on child and adolescent mental health held in Cape Town, South Africa in May 2026.

A lesson on savings and financial management has grown into a thriving cooperative changing lives in Meheba Refugee Settlement. Refugee families in Meheba faced daily survival with no structured savings, financial planning, or path to sustainable income. Many sold goods informally, with no permanent trading space and no access to affordable credit.

Alice, a refugee and single mother of four living in Nyabiheke Refugee Camp, initially depended on monthly cash assistance to survive but struggled with ongoing financial insecurity. Seeking a better future, she took a bold step into small-scale trading after repeatedly requesting an advance on her cash transfer, eventually starting with RWF 8,000 to sell basic food items. Her efforts grew stronger after joining World Vision’s Dukore Twigire program, where she received training in business skills, savings, and mindset change, helping her build confidence and financial discipline. Through saving, accessing a small loan, and reinvesting support capital, she expanded her business from a roadside stall to a full shop selling diverse household goods. Her monthly profit grew from about RWF 5,000 to at least RWF 50,000, enabling her to better support her family and shift from survival to long-term planning and self-reliance.

Uganda marked World Environment Day 2026 under the theme “Climate Action Begins with You: Act Now.” While global discussions often center on emissions and international commitments, in Uganda’s refugee-hosting districts climate change is already a lived reality.

In Pagirinya Refugee Settlement, refugees are shifting from passive recipients of aid to active leaders of community development.

Explore World Vision’s latest policy brief on families returning to Ukraine and Syria. Discover the complex trade-offs between safety, reunification, and child wellbeing.

New WV policy brief reveals that long after displacement ends, many children continue to face insecurity, hunger, disrupted education and psychological distress.

Highlights rising risks for refugees, especially children, including limited services, disrupted learning and protection concerns, urging urgent coordinated action.

In Cox's Bazar, 12-year-old Win navigates displacement, fear, and funding cuts and still shows up for school every morning. This is her story.

World Vision MEER's latest policy brief sends a clear message: returning home does not automatically mean children are safe, supported or able to thrive.