Nu Intentions empowers displaced women living in a refugee camp in Eastern Uganda through employment opportunities of jewelry creation, savings and budgeting training, entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, and discussions of women’s social issues. We aim to promote global unity through fashionable innovations and to inspire other businesses and entrepreneurs to become socially aware, both internationally and in their own communities. The young women in the group are all school dropouts, including widows and orphans due to AIDS, rebel armies, and witchcraft. The profits from their jewelry go towards their trainings, peace initiatives across conflicting borders, and overall development of the group. The more we empower this group of young women, the more they empower their own community.
This internally displaced persons (IDP) camp is called Kapelebyong. It is the oldest IDP camp in the nation and is located in the poorest sub-county of the poorest county in all of Uganda. This camp was created due to the insurgencies of the rebel tribes of the Karimojong, who are tribal cattle rustlers, and the guerilla Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). For over 60 years, the people in this camp have suffered attack after attack, stripping the land of its fertility and hope, and robbing the people of their families.
Nu Intentions was formed specifically to help these most vulnerable women, who are neglected by the world, as well as their own country. So the young women in this group put their hope for a better life in one thing… making jewelry.
We are here to share their stories and bring the voices of Kapelebyong to the rest of the world.
