CIYOTA was established by a group of young refugees in December 2005 who had arrived in the Kyangwali refugee settlement, South Western Uganda. Our founders arrived in Kyangwali from Congo (DRC), Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Sudan along with thousands of refugees fleeing violence and conflict and hardship in their home countries. What began as an inclusive youth-led club set to protect and improve the lives of the most vulnerable in their midst, CIYOTA has now become a source and model of educational excellence, not just for conflict-affected African refugees and internally displaced persons, but also for host communities. CIYOTA recognizes the power of education as a pathway out of poverty, as well as a means to heal conflict, create social cohesion, and spur economic growth.
