Many communities in Uganda struggle with poverty and low education. Children drop out of school. Teenage girls face early pregnancy and marriage. Refugees and displaced persons lack legal aid and psychosocial support. That is where Raising Empowered Foundation (REF) steps in. This Ugandan nonprofit is also known as Charis for Sustainability.
The foundation started Its work in Kiryandongo district. This area was carved from Masindi district. It is home to migrants, marginalized groups, and internally displaced people. Many refugees from South Sudan live there. Others are victims of the LRA insurgency from Northern Uganda. Some fled landslides in Eastern Uganda. As a result, the region has low socio-economic levels. Literacy is poor. School dropouts are common. The foundation exists to change this reality.
Vision, Mission, and Core Values: For Knowledge and Empowerment
The organization’s vision is clear. It wants a vibrant, sustainable, and empowered generation. Its mission promotes sustainability, social justice, and socio-economic transformation. The motto is short but powerful: “For knowledge and empowerment.”
Five core values guide every activity. These are: Inform, Teach, Build, Reach out, and Empower. Transitioning from words to action, the foundation uses advocacy, networking, partnerships, and capacity building. It focuses on children and youth in Uganda. Every program aligns with these values. This consistency has helped the organization grow from a small initiative into a recognized movement.
Major Achievements: Thousands of Lives Transformed and Global Recognition
The foundation has transformed thousands of lives directly and indirectly. Children have returned to school. Teenage girls have received sanitary pads and scholastic materials. Young people have learned craft making, tailoring, and computer skills. Refugees have received legal aid and psychosocial support. In short, real change has happened on the ground.
International bodies have noticed this work. Raising Empowered Foundation was recognized in the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Award. This award honors people and organizations making a difference. Moreover, the foundation was nominated for the Africans Rising Award in the category of Movement of the Year 2023. These achievements prove that grassroots efforts can gain global attention. The organization continues to inspire other changemakers across Africa.
Program Areas: Education, Youth Empowerment, and Livelihood Skills
Improving Literacy and Fighting School Dropouts
The foundation runs a strong children’s development programme. It pays school fees for orphans and vulnerable children. It provides scholastic materials and sanitary pads. The goal is to keep children in school up to 18 years and beyond. Additionally, the organization runs book clubs, reading initiatives, and debates. Children discuss their problems and find solutions together.
Career guidance and mentorship are also provided. Young people learn life skills and leadership. They build literacy skills and improve their reading culture. Transitioning from passive learning to active engagement, children become problem solvers. This approach reduces early pregnancies and marriages. It also boosts mental health and general well-being in communities.
Socio-Economic Programme: Practical Skills for a Better Future
Education is not only about books. The foundation teaches practical skills. Young people learn craft shoe making, beading, and cake making. They also learn baking, hairdressing, tailoring, and liquid soap production. Bookmaking, poultry keeping, piggery, and computer office programs are also available. These skills create income and independence.
Consequently, many youth start their own small businesses. They no longer depend on casual labor. Girls who learned tailoring now sew uniforms for local schools. Boys who learned computer skills find office work. This socio-economic empowerment breaks the cycle of poverty. It also reduces vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.
Refugee and IDP Support: Legal Aid, Peaceful Coexistence, and Integration
Kiryandongo district hosts many South Sudanese refugees. It also has internally displaced persons (IDPs). These groups face unique challenges. They need education, legal protection, and psychosocial support. The foundation provides all of this through dedicated programmes.
Specifically, the organization offers human rights training and legal aid. It provides mediation and conflict resolution services. It also supports resettlement and integration. Financial literacy classes help refugees save and invest. Furthermore, the foundation promotes peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities. This reduces tension and builds mutual respect. For many displaced families, this support is a lifeline.
Climate Change and Governance: Youth Go Green Campaigns
Climate change affects farming families the most. Therefore, the foundation runs youth go-green campaigns. Young people plant trees in schools and communities. They participate in dialogues on climate action. They also learn about environmental conservation. This builds awareness from an early age.
In addition, the foundation promotes governance and democracy debates. Active citizens are created through discussion and participation. Young people learn to advocate for their rights. They also learn to hold leaders accountable. Transitioning from silence to action, these youth become agents of change. The dream is to construct over 1,000 libraries, resoburce centres, schools, hospitals, and care homes. This ambitious goal drives every campaign and outreach.
The Founder: Brian Kharis Okello – A Champion of Sustainability
Brian Kharis Okello is the team leader and vision bearer. A champion for social justice and sustainability. He started the foundation in 2016 after his undergraduate studies at Makerere University. He first worked in Kigumba Town Council Library. Later, he served as a librarian in a government aided secondary school for six years. These experiences showed him the deep need for literacy and mentorship.
Brian is also a United People Global fellow and Rotarian. He is a member of the African Union Youth Assembly and African Rising. He draws inspiration from leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Wangari Mathai. Through poetry, storytelling, and advocacy, he continues to champion quality education, mental health, child protection, and climate justice. His personal sacrifice and voluntary efforts built the foundation from nothing. Today, the organization has champions in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Join the Movement for a Better World
Raising Empowered Foundation is not a one-person effort. It is a movement built on sacrifice and commitment. Thousands of lives have been touched. International awards have been earned. Yet the work is not finished. The dream of 1,000 libraries and schools still needs partners and funding.
For inquiries, partnerships, or sponsorship, the foundation can be contacted directly. The email is refoundation35@gmail.com or briankharis2@gmail.com. The phone numbers are +256 702369100 and +256 770829059. Together, Africa and the world can become more sustainable, empowered, and just. That is the promise of Raising Empowered Foundation.
