Our Refugee-Led, Expert-Supported Design School Has Begun
This week marks the launch of something we’ve been dreaming about for a long time: Every Shelter’s first-ever Design School, an intensive, hands-on course that puts creativity, ownership, and problem-solving directly into the hands of refugees. In Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda—one of the oldest and largest in Africa—refugees are doing far more than surviving. […]
When Refugees Lead, Shelter Solutions Grow: Brick Mold Lending Program Update
From water access to community-led innovation, this program is growing fast. When we launched our Brick Mold Lending Program in Uganda’s Nakivale Refugee Settlement, our goal was simple: to provide newly arrived families with the tools to build a real home, without the crushing cost of brick mold rentals. However, what has happened in the […]
The Hidden Cost of Home—and the Tool That Changes Everything
In the vast, open fields of Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, rows of white tarps stretch to the horizon. Each one holds a story of loss and hope. Thousands of refugees, most recently fleeing renewed violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are arriving with almost nothing. These families face more than just displacement. They’re […]
Restoring Shelter, Restoring Dignity
Imagine waking up in a home not in your ancestral homeland, where the roof leaks when it rains, the walls are cracked, and termites silently eat away at what little structure is left. This is the daily reality for many in households in displacement communities, where “home” means living in constant discomfort, danger, and despair. […]
Building Stronger Homes, Building Brighter Futures: Introducing Tukul 2.0 – Phase Two
In early 2024, Every Shelter unveiled Tukul 2.0, a prototype home built with sustainable materials like Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB), bamboo, and palm fronds. This innovative design demonstrated how alternative building materials can tackle common housing challenges, from termite infestations to costly maintenance—all while addressing environmental concerns like deforestation and climate change. But this […]
Responding to the DRC Refugee Crisis: How Every Shelter is Scaling Up
The violent conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated into a regional crisis, displacing millions and pushing thousands across the border into Uganda. Refugees are flooding into transit centers that are operating far beyond capacity—one at 184%, another at 224%. Since January 1, over 230,000 people have been displaced, creating a […]
Spreading Light: Empowering Refugees Through Bottle Skylight Workshops
In Nakivale Refugee Settlement, a new kind of light is illuminating homes and lives—not just from above, but within the people themselves. At Every Shelter, we believe that meaningful change happens when individuals are equipped with the tools and knowledge to solve problems in their own communities. This belief recently came to life in the […]
Bringing Light to Lives: The Impact of Plastic Bottle Skylights
In refugee settlements like Bidibidi and Nakivale in Uganda, the inside of homes are dark and unlit. Without access to electricity, daily life is a constant challenge. Refugees rely on hazardous lighting sources such as kerosene lamps and candles, risking fire and health issues, while plastic waste piles up in their environment. These conditions limit […]
An update and a milestone: we bought an ugly building.
The short update: We bought a building! When we’re done with it, we’ll save 27% of our overhead costs every year. The long update: Every Shelter has had five official addresses for our office headquarters in the last five years. As we’ve grown both as staff and in our mission, each new office move has added complexity to […]
Shelter Depot Nakivale Open for Business
After the Bidi Bidi Shelter Depot proved successful, we, alongside our partner Alight, launched a new flagship store in Nakivale, a large refugee settlement in south Uganda. Nakivale is one of the oldest refugee settlements and the 8th largest in the world. It is home to 171,387 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, […]
