By Fortunate Kagumaho, PACRE Knowledge Management and Communications Lead.

In Uganda’s oil city, Hoima, a ripple of transformation began. Over forty dedicated change agents, drawn from organizations implementing the Bridge Project in refugee-hosting communities, converged with more than just notebooks and questions. They arrived with the weight of lived experience, the fire of personal purpose, and an undeniable hunger to forge a better future. What unfolded over five intensive days was no mere training; it was a profound metamorphosis.

1. The Unstoppable Current of Change

This was no passive gathering. The room pulsed with the energy of individuals who carry the expectations of their communities, the mandates of donors, and the deeply personal drive to make a difference. Many of these participants serve on the frontlines, in bustling settlements, vital health centers, dynamic youth hubs, and nurturing schools. They weren’t there to simply tick boxes. They craved actionable tools, robust structures, and strategic pathways to propel their work forward.

As one participant powerfully articulated, “This isn’t just about learning how to write proposals. It’s about writing a future our communities can truly believe in.“

2. Evaluation: From Concept to Catalyst

We delved into powerful tools for reflection: product evaluation, insightful risk assessments, and meaningful monitoring frameworks. For many, these weren’t just technical terms; they became tangible bridges to self-awareness and exponential program growth.

Organizations departed with a renewed resolve: to critically examine what’s thriving, boldly question what isn’t, and act with unwavering purpose. This pivotal shift from mere activity to profound intentionality is precisely where genuine, lasting impact takes root.

3. The Bridge Project: Forging Connections, Fueling Ambition

More than just connecting partners, the Bridge Project is brilliantly connecting ambition to tangible action.

This groundbreaking initiative, which uniquely unites actors serving both refugees and host communities, has masterfully cultivated a rare collaborative space across lines that all too often divide. We witnessed eager young program officers and seasoned managers learning side-by-side, openly sharing their struggles and brilliantly co-creating strategies. Their shared conviction? That systems must unequivocally serve people, not the other way around.

“When we talk about refugee response,” a participant passionately shared, “we must also talk about dignity—for both the hosts and the hosted.“

4. The Transformative Power of the Pause

Several organizations candidly admitted a crucial truth: “We’ve been running, but not always reflecting.” The workshop meticulously carved out that critical pause. And within that stillness, something truly beautiful emerged: raw honesty, profound vulnerability, and a powerful rediscovery of purpose.

We heard partners echo sentiments like:

• “We’ve had policies for years. But we’re finally talking about how to implement them.“
• “We’ve written proposals before. But now we truly understand what they’re supposed to achieve.“

5. Where Commitment Meets Structure: The Genesis of Change

Everyone departed with clear, actionable commitments:

• Drafting robust resource mobilization strategies.
• Instituting dedicated innovation hours.
• Strengthening internal evaluations for greater accountability.
• Reviving dormant gender and risk management policies with fresh vigor.

This wasn’t abstract theory; it was practical, precisely tailored, and deeply rooted in real, pressing organizational needs. And it was all made possible by the visionary support of War Child Canada, whose invaluable investment in locally led change created this transformative space.

What’s Next? The Unfolding Journey

We return to our offices, our dedicated teams, and our vibrant communities. But we are not the same. We now carry new lenses, sharper tools, and a profound, shared understanding: that the monumental work ahead is unequivocally collective, and that PACRE will steadfastly continue to walk alongside those driving this essential change.

Because when we empower and strengthen organizations, we fundamentally strengthen the very futures of the communities they diligently serve.