Each year, World Refugee Day reminds us that behind the statistics are people — people who are building, adapting and leading, even after being forced from their homes.
Too often, the stories of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are told through a lens of loss. Make it Happen invites us to see something more: possibility, power, and quiet determination.
This campaign celebrates the resilience and creativity of displaced people across Africa. They are not waiting for change. They are making it happen.
Understanding Displacement: The Bigger Picture
Displacement is not always about crossing borders. It is about being uprooted from home, often with little warning and no choice.
- Refugees are individuals who flee their countries due to conflict, violence or persecution and seek safety across international borders.
- Internally displaced persons (IDPs) face similar threats but remain within their own countries.
In Sudan, conflict since April 2023 has created one of the largest displacement crises globally. Over 8.1 million people are internally displaced, and more than 3.1 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
In Rwanda, over 134,000 refugees and asylum seekers are hosted, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Despite its size, Rwanda continues to model inclusive support for displaced people — through access to services, education and opportunities to rebuild.
Practical Action works in both contexts, helping displaced people build livelihoods, adapt with dignity and lead change in their communities.
Meet the People Behind the Campaign
From Sudan to Rwanda, these are the faces of resilience
David Baraka Wema
He never went to tailoring school. He didn’t need to.
David taught himself by watching others, stitch by stitch—until his hands knew the craft by heart.
Today, he runs a thriving tailoring business, creating custom clothes, selling garments, and supplying materials.
What began with curiosity has become his livelihood.
And he’s just getting started.
Hawa Abdalsalam
Hawa came to Wad Alhilou with nothing. No income, no place to stay, three children to care for.
She joined a dairy training, learned how to make yogurt, cheese, and mish.
Then she started making things from her kitchen: cakes, cookies, whatever she could.
Now she sells what she makes. Uses it at home too, especially to help her anaemic child eat better.
Valentine Nyirabwiza
Valentine’s shop is more than a place to buy snacks or drinks, it’s a steady presence in the flow of daily life in Kiziba.
She opened her business a year ago, knowing there would be ups and downs. But every day she shows up, adapting, pushing forward, and serving her community. Quiet strength defines her path.
She’s making it happen, one sale at a time.
Nzarubara Fidele
Ten years ago, Fidele started repairing electronics with barely any tools.
Now, he’s the go-to tech expert in Kiziba refugee camp, fixing everything from cracked screens to software issues. Every repaired device is a symbol of how far he’s come.
His dream is to grow beyond the camp and meet the future head-on.
Shiraz Emad
Back in Khartoum, Shiraz worked at an insurance company. Life was steady. Then everything changed.
When the war broke out, she lost her job, her home…everything.
She ended up in Wad Alhilou with her family, trying to figure out what came next.
After receiving training in entrepreneurship and agriculture, she rented five feddans of land and began cultivating sesame.
Shiraz is rebuilding her life with grit and purpose.
Tuyisenge Francista
Francista transforms how people feel about themselves.
At her salon in Kiziba, she braids, styles, and sells wigs and hair products with an energy that draws people in.
Less than a year since opening, her business is already a vibrant hub of beauty and confidence.
Francista’s hands bring joy, and her passion is undeniable.
Niyonzima’s Story
Niyonzima is a mother, wife and entrepreneur living in Kiziba Refugee Camp, Rwanda.
In this short video, she shares what it means to rebuild a sense of purpose and identity while living in displacement.
What We Hope You Take With You
Displaced people are not defined by what they’ve lost. They are defined by what they continue to build.
At Practical Action Africa, we are committed to walking alongside them — not to speak for them, but to amplify their voices, their work and their right to be seen differently.
This campaign is a reminder: the future is being shaped right now, even in the most unlikely places.
They are not waiting for change. They are making it happen.