Cultivating hope: Amin’s journey from refugee to farming expert in Uganda

Sustainable Livelihoods
Article
Co-financing
East Africa
Climate Action

This is the story of Amin Francis, a refugee in Uganda, who partnered with the NGO PALM Corps to transform his livelihood through climate-resilient agriculture and become a role model for sustainable farming practices.

01

THE ISSUE

War and displacement

October 2016: Amin Francis, then 25 years old, was among the refugees who walked from Yei in South Sudan to seek asylum in Uganda due to ongoing war and violence in his country.

The refugees were received at the border at Oraba by UNHCR and assigned to different refugee settlements. Since then, Amin has been living in the Rhino Refugee Camp in West Nile, Uganda.

02

AMIN’S STORY

“PALM Corps has supported me a lot. Without it, I would have had to go back. Now there is hope again.”

Amin’s journey toward self-reliance began in 2017 when he first encountered PALM Corps, an NGO committed to improving the quality of life for vulnerable communities. Recognising his potential, they promptly enrolled Amin in the Secure Livelihoods for Refugees and Host Communities project.

03

THE PROJECT

“I came back inspired”

With training in climate-resilient agriculture and farming as a business, along with support in the form of vegetable seeds, farming tools, and water tanks for irrigation, Amin began transforming his livelihood. What started as rain-fed farming to supplement food rations soon grew into a small business.

Amin quickly became one of the project’s standout success stories.

04

THE SHARING EVENT

An unexpected turning point

In 2019, Amin’s story took centre stage at a Sharing Event in Arua, organised by PALM Corps, AFARD, and horizont3000. The event, which celebrated the achievements of beneficiaries, gave Amin the opportunity to showcase his progress in horticulture.

For him, the event was more than just recognition—it was a turning point. Inspired by new ideas he heard at the Sharing Event, he adopted shade net technology and expanded his farming by renting an additional 0.5 acre for vegetable production, reaping the benefits of economies of scale.

05

personal exchange

Learning & Sharing

“A Sharing Event brings together people from diverse backgrounds to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and learn from one another, emphasising the value of personal connections for the effective transfer and management of knowledge.”

– Annika Witte, advisor at horizont3000, who helped organise the Sharing Event

06

THE RESULTS

Today…

Amin’s expertise has made him a sought-after resource person, training farmers in vegetable growing and poultry keeping through organisations like Youth Camp Africa, Scripture Union, and Adraa Agricultural College.

His hard work has paid off, with his monthly income soaring from UGX 136,000 (34 EUR) to UGX 700,000 (175 EUR). Amin’s story is a testament to resilience, learning, and growth.

07

AMIN'S MESSAGE

"I no longer see myself as a refugee”

“As a refugee, I could not dream to reach such places; but indeed, vegetable production took me there. I talked and ate with people of high positions, including ministers. I came back inspired and I became popular. I no longer see myself as a refugee.”

There’s a lot more where this came from. Curious?

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