SINA (Social Innovation Academy)
Framework, coaching, and funds for scholar places and running costs.
Why we exist
Potential, not a burden.
Uganda hosts over 1.5 million refugees, mainly from Burundi, DR Congo, Somalia, Eritrea and South Sudan.
Their drive to build a dignified life is enormous. Yet they are often treated as a burden and pushed to the margins.
We start from the opposite belief: that the word "refugee" is not a limit, and that young people can drive their own future.
Mission
We nurture job creators who turn challenges into solutions and earn a living from what they love.
Vision
Imagine a world where young refugees are self-sustainable and fully contribute to their communities.
What we work towards
- Enterprises that solve local problems, created by refugees themselves.
- A new way of seeing the word "refugee".
- Self-esteem and full participation in society.
- Refugee voices in development conversations.
- Jobs for refugee and Ugandan youth.
Our story
From Lazima Nipate to Lazima Innovation Hub.
- 2019 Lazima Nipate Academy opens in Nsambya in October, SINA's first community in a city.
- 2020 The first scholars arrive in January. When Covid hits, we move online and give scholars free internet time.
- 2023 At year end, the team grows into two. One of them becomes Lazima Innovation Hub.
- 2024 We have to move. Scholars lead the relocation and design the new space.
Governance
Power is shared.
We use Holacracy. Authority sits in roles, not job titles, and the people who hold them are accountable to each other.
Scholars take part in decisions, and we prefer cooperation to competition.
Integration Circle
Governance, people, fair pay, safeguarding and social agreements.
Operations Circle
Stages, selection, community, finance, fundraising and marketing.
Some roles and their purpose
- Community Rep Lazima well synchronized with its community
- Safeguarding Steward A safe environment where harm, exploitation and abuse are prevented
- Social Agreement Steward A community with clear values and identity
- Payment Advisor Fair and suitable payment for all partners
- Monitoring and Evaluation Lazima impact is captured and measured
- Social Media and Marketing Lazima is well known globally
Who we are
Led by former scholars.
Refugees and Ugandans run Lazima, many of whom went through the journey themselves.
Registered in Uganda as Lazima Innovation Hub LTD. Reg. no. 80020000512786.
Our network
One of 24 SINA Communities.
Each community is locally registered and run, in 10 countries, and all follow the same freesponsible framework.
Our teams join bootcamps hosted by sister communities such as OPPORTUNIGEE and Patapia, growing one community at a time.
Who backs us
Our partners.
Jangu e.V.
Rent and equipment for our learning space.
Crossing Borders
Funding for scholars and projects.
SPOUTS of Water
Works with UBUCHANGE on water filters.
Labdoo
Donated laptops and IT equipment.
Herstart initiative
Co-ran our 2021 women's program.
Wezesha Impact
Delivered finance training, 2022.
Makerere University RIF project
Trained young refugees in our space, 2022.