Alexander Harvey

Since Equipping Hope International launched its first training programs in the Nyarugusu refugee camp nearly four years ago, our mission has remained consistent: equip displaced people with skills and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity.  Three years in, we are humbled by how much has been accomplished and more convinced than ever that sustained investment in education and vocational training changes lives.

This blog post is the first of a two-part update based on our 2022 field report, highlighting the outcomes of our English and tailoring programs to date. In this post, we focus on the Teaching Hope English initiative and its long-term impact in a camp where barriers to education are steep and opportunities are rare.

Teaching Hope: English Training in a Multilingual Camp

Nyarugusu is home to over 150,000 refugees, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.  Most speak French, Swahili, or Kirundi as their primary language.  In contrast, Tanzania operates primarily in English, particularly in education, government, and business.

Refugees in the camp maintain the school systems of their countries of origin, meaning few are taught English at the primary or secondary level.  As a result, many young adults are locked out of tertiary education opportunities within Tanzania and struggle to prepare for resettlement in English-speaking countries.

Equipping Hope began addressing this gap in 2018 with the launch of its English Training Center.  Since then, the results have been both measurable and meaningful.

By the Numbers: English Program Participation

        • 2019 Cohort: 372 students enrolled, 293 completed training. 49 advanced students received certificates of completion.

        • 2020 Cohort: 360 students enrolled, 226 completed training. 23 advanced students received certificates.

        • 2021 Cohort: 304 students enrolled, 268 completed training. 93 advanced students received certificates.

These numbers reflect strong student commitment despite the challenges of daily life in the camp, including food insecurity, household responsibilities, and limited access to supplies.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” — Psalm 119:130

Every completed lesson, every practiced sentence, is a step toward greater understanding and opportunity.  

Higher Education Pathways: Our Students Reach University

One of the most tangible impacts of this program is its connection to higher education. In the academic year 2020–2021, 14 of the 21 students selected for the DAFI scholarship program (UNHCR’s university scholarship for refugees) in Nyarugusu were graduates of our English program.

These students are now studying at universities across Tanzania — a milestone that speaks to the power of language to unlock doors.

This is more than academic success. It is hope taking root. It is the fulfillment of the Equipping Hope vision: equipping not just minds, but lives.

Preparing for Resettlement and Integration

While some refugees are able to access higher education, others are resettled in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Without English, the transition can be disorienting. But those who have participated in our English program report a smoother, more confident adjustment process.

They are better equipped to:

        • Communicate with caseworkers and host families

        • Enroll in school or vocational programs

        • Build relationships in new communities

        • Find meaningful employment

These are the building blocks of integration — and English is the foundation.

What Comes Next

The success of the Teaching Hope program has affirmed what we believed from the beginning: language is a lifeline. Our long-term goal for the program is to construct a permanent English Training Center within the camp.  This will provide stability, increase capacity, and allow us to reach more students for years to come as well as facilitate further discipleship and revival through events throughout the year.

Thank you to every donor, prayer partner, and volunteer who has made this possible.  In our next blog post, we’ll share the outcomes of our tailoring program and how it’s changing lives — one stitch at a time.

With gratitude,
The Equipping Hope Team