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 form of a workshop to teach refugees how to make, install, and eventually train others in the creation of bottle skylights for their homes.
This initiative was born from a simple yet powerful idea: a used plastic bottle, when properly filled with water and a little bleach and embedded in a roof, can refract sunlight and illuminate an otherwise dim living space. For families living in Nakivale, where electricity is scarce and homes are often shrouded in darkness during the day, these skylights are more than just a source of light—they are a symbol of ingenuity and hope.
The Workshop
We started with a question: How can we create a lasting impact, one that equips people with not just resources but skills? The answer lay in empowering refugees to take ownership of the bottle skylight solution. Over the course of the workshop, taking place at Shelter Depot, our hardware store inside the settlement, participants learned how to cut and prepare the bottles, create secure and watertight installations, and teach these techniques to others.
Six refugees emerged as pioneers in the program, earning certificates that represented more than just completing the workshop. These certificates symbolized their new role as leaders within the community, equipped to light up their neighbors’ homes and share the knowledge that could extend this impact exponentially.
The Ripple Effect
What makes this project extraordinary isn’t just the innovation of bottle skylights—it’s the community transformation happening because of it. These six graduates are no longer simply participants in a program; they are catalysts for change.
Since completing the workshop, they can now install skylights in dozens of homes, bringing light into spaces that were previously dark and difficult to navigate. Beyond this, they can step into the role of trainers, teaching others how to create and install the skylights themselves. They will now assist in running workshops, ensuring that this solution spreads far beyond the first group of participants.
The ripple effect is evident. After seeing the difference a skylight made in their neighbor’s home, one woman eagerly joined a workshop at Shelter Depot. Another participant described their pride in teaching someone else, realizing they weren’t just solving their own challenges but contributing to the resilience and resourcefulness of their entire community.
A Model for Empowerment
This project isn’t just about light—it’s about empowerment. It’s about refugees seeing themselves not just as recipients of aid but as agents of change in their own lives. The bottle skylight initiative is a testament to the power of investing in people, giving them tools and trust, and then stepping back to watch what they build.
The first six certificates awarded are milestones, yes, but they are also seeds planted in fertile ground. Each graduate represents the potential for countless others to learn, teach, and transform their community. The future is bright!
