Empowering refugees through English language training
At Angles Refugee Support Foundation (ARSF), we recognize that language is a powerful tool for dignity, access, and transformation. Many refugees in Uganda come from countries where English is not spoken, making it difficult to access essential services and rebuild their lives. Without the ability to communicate, even basic needs like healthcare become out of reach.
To address this, ARSF has launched an English language training program for refugees and host communities in Kampala and Nakivale Refugee Settlement. With nearly 100 learners already enrolled, we’re helping individuals gain the skills they need to access services, find employment, and reintegrate into society.
This initiative not only promotes resilience and self-reliance but also prepares refugees for future resettlement in English-speaking countries. With your continued support, we can expand our program and empower even more people to reclaim their voices and rebuild their lives.
Join us in making this possible because no one should be silenced by language barriers.
Amplifying Voices of refugees in Uganda
Uganda is home to a growing population of forced migrants fleeing conflict, climate disasters, and violent extremism. With 1,858,060 refugees and 38,013 asylum seekers (figure as of 31 March 2025), Uganda is fifth country with the highest number of refugees in the world (after Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey, Colombia, and Germany). Many of these forced migrants languish in protracted displacements.
Majority of these refugees often come from countries where English is not spoken, and in many cases, from regions with hundreds of distinct ethnic languages. As they seek safety and rebuild their lives in Uganda, they are met with an overwhelming language barrier that threatens their ability to access essential services and integrate into their new communities.
Language is more than a communication tool—it’s a gateway to dignity, independence, and opportunity. For many refugees, not being able to express themselves in English, Uganda’s official language, adds another layer of trauma to their already difficult circumstances. Seeking medical attention, legal help, or educational support becomes nearly impossible without someone to interpret their needs. Some must rely on their children or friends to translate sensitive information, which often leads to miscommunication, embarrassment, or complete exclusion from services.
At Angles Refugee Support Foundation (ARSF), we understand that language is key to breaking the cycle of disempowerment. That’s why, with the generous support of our donors and partners, we have launched a transformative English Language Training Program tailored for refugees and host communities alike. Currently, nearly 100 learners are enrolled in our programs based in Kampala and Nakivale Refugee Settlement in western Uganda.
Our goal is not only to help refugees speak English but to empower them to navigate daily life with confidence, seek employment, and reclaim their professional identities. Many of our learners were skilled workers, teachers, or healthcare professionals in their countries of origin. By equipping them with English language skills, we open doors for them to return to their professions, contribute to their communities, and regain a sense of purpose.
The benefits of our programme are far-reaching. It fosters stronger connections between refugees and host communities, reduces dependency, and promotes long-term resilience. In cases where refugees are eventually resettled in third countries, English proficiency becomes a vital tool for starting a new life and integrating more easily in their new environment.
Through language education, we are not only rebuilding individual lives but empowering entire communities to become more self-sufficient, inclusive, and united. However, the demand for our services far exceeds our current capacity. We know that with more support, we can reach hundreds more who are eager to learn and grow.
At ARSF, we believe in the potential of every person we serve. We believe that learning English can be the turning point that helps a refugee move from surviving to thriving. But we cannot do this alone.
Towards a whole-of-society approach of peaceful co-existence
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