International Conference on Refugee & Newcomer Well-Being – June 2026, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
At the International Conference on Refugee & Newcomer Well-Being, organized by Let’s Help International (LHI), delegates heard a powerful and deeply personal presentation from Festo Nduwayezu, Founder and Executive Director of Let’s Help International (LHI).
Speaking on the theme of advancing localization and strengthening refugee-led and community-based organizations, Festo shared how lived experience, community leadership, and education can transform the lives of displaced children and families.
In 2020, he founded Let’s Help International (LHI) with a vision to empower vulnerable refugee children and families through education, community development, and hope.
During his presentation, Festo reflected on his own educational journey. Raised in a humble family and supported by generous individuals who believed in his potential, he was able to complete his education, earn a university degree, and later pursue a Master’s Degree in International Relations.
“People supported me when they did not have to,” he explained. “That support changed my life, and today I want to help create that same opportunity for others.”
The Education Crisis Facing Refugee Children
The presentation highlighted the harsh realities facing refugee children in Uganda’s Kyaka II Refugee Settlement.
Many children have fled conflict, violence, and persecution. Some have never attended school. Others struggle to remain in school because of poverty, hunger, lack of school supplies, and the lasting effects of trauma.
LHI estimates that thousands of refugee children remain out of school, leaving them vulnerable to child labour, exploitation, early marriage, and long-term poverty.
According to Festo, education is not simply about attending classes—it is about restoring dignity, building resilience, and creating opportunities for a better future.
The LHI Education Support Program
Through its initiative, LHI currently children in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement.
The program provides:
- School enrollment assistance
- School fees support
- Uniforms and shoes
- School supplies and learning materials
- Food assistance
- Psychosocial support and counselling
- Community-based support for vulnerable families
By addressing both educational and emotional needs, the program helps children remain in school and pursue their dreams despite difficult circumstances.
Why Localization Matters
A key message of Festo’s presentation was the importance of localization, ensuring that refugee-led organizations and local communities are trusted, resourced, and empowered to lead solutions.
Organizations such as LHI understand the realities facing refugee communities because their leaders have lived those experiences themselves.
Rather than relying solely on external interventions, localization places decision-making power closer to affected communities, enabling more responsive, sustainable, and culturally appropriate solutions.
Festo emphasized that refugee communities possess valuable knowledge, resilience, and leadership capacity. When properly supported, they become active agents of change rather than passive recipients of assistance.
Sponsorship: Creating Meaningful Connections
One of the unique aspects of LHI’s Education Support Program is its child sponsorship model.
Sponsors are connected with individual children and receive updates on their educational progress and well-being. Through letters, virtual meetings, and ongoing communication, sponsors can witness firsthand the impact of their support.
Even small monthly contributions can make a significant difference:
- $5 per month helps provide school supplies and learning materials.
- $10 per month supports school supplies, uniforms, and shoes.
- $20 per month contributes toward education costs and food assistance.
These contributions help remove barriers that prevent children from accessing education and achieving their full potential.
Building Sustainable Solutions
While supporting individual children remains a priority, LHI is also focused on empowering families through sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Future initiatives include supporting refugee families through activities such as farming, tailoring, and other income-generating projects that can help parents provide for their children independently.
This approach recognizes that lasting change requires strengthening entire households and communities.
A Call to Action
As he concluded his presentation, Festo challenged conference participants to recognize the transformative power of education and collective action.
“By helping one child access education, you are not only changing one life, you are impacting families, communities, and future generations.”
LHI is currently raising funds to expand educational support for refugee children in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement and ensure they have the resources needed to return to school fully equipped for the upcoming academic year.
The message resonated strongly throughout the conference: meaningful localization begins when communities are empowered to lead, and education remains one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting change.
