Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation - CECI

Transforming harmful social norms isn't just about policy; it’s about the Role Model Men and Women Mentors on the ground.

The problem of harmful social norms and gender inequality remains a barrier to progress in our communities. CECI Uganda, in collaboration with CARE International, is tackling this through the SUSTAINED project. Our solution is to bring together Role Model Men (RMM) and Women Mentors (WM) to drive mindset change, promote respectful relationships, and support social cohesion.

The opportunity lies in our recent reflection meeting, where these leaders analyzed progress in clean cooking adoption and household responsibility sharing. Our uniqueness is the focus on building community structures that last. The urgency to strengthen these structures is high. Our vision is a community where social cohesion and inclusion are the standards, not the exceptions.

We are proud of our community leaders. Follow our journey as we work to transform social norms in Bidibidi.

In Lobule and Midia, business doesn't see "refugee" or "host", it only sees the hard work of women striving for a better life.

The problem of social division in refugee-hosting districts is often bridged by shared economic interests. This is why our crisis prevention strategy involves integrating both refugee and host community women into the same SOYEE training cohorts.

The opportunity for donors is to invest in a project that serves 21 refugees and 99 host community members, fostering peace through shared prosperity. What makes us unique is our commitment to total equity; our training reaches everyone who needs it. The urgency to sustain these integrated groups is vital for regional stability. Our vision is an economy in Koboko District that is truly inclusive and community-led.

Looking to fund peace-building and economic development simultaneously? Our SOYEE project is the answer. Join our donor network.

Staging the Change: Using Drama to Break Barriers.

Resistance to new technology often stems from tradition. During our recent dialogues, role model mentors used drama to showcase common household struggles, highlighting how resistance to clean cooking can create tension, while joint adoption brings harmony.

Seeing their own lives reflected on stage allows community members to visualize the benefits of clean energy, leading to a measurable increase in product interest and adoption.