FORGE Results & Achievements

RESULTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

The following is a summary of FORGE's major victories in its first four years of operation

LIBRARIES: FORGE has built and updated libraries in four refugee camps.  The Meheba Friendly Library in Meheba Refugee Settlement, Zambia has over 20,000 books and is considered the largest refugee camp library in the world.  The United Nations' refugee agency called it "A miracle in the middle of the bush." Our libraries serve 70,000+ people and receive thousands of visitors yearly.

COMPUTER TRAINING CENTERS: FORGE has built, equipped, and operates computer training centers in four refugee camps. The Laboratoire Informatique Safari in Mwange Refugee Camp, Zambia is perhaps the best-equipped computer center in any camp in the world, and our computer centers have trained over 700 people.

MICROCREDIT: Our microcredit programs, such as Meheba Entrepreneurs Society & Institute (MESI) and Mwange Women's Income Generating Collaborative provide 50 refugees with the ability to generate sustainable income.  Our loan repayment rate is 94%.

PROJECT FOR AFRICAN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (PACE):  PACE selects refugee leaders from different parts of the community who then identify community needs and target specific solutions.  PACE offers training and assistance in grant writing, leadership, and identification of problems and solutions.

PRESCHOOL FACILITIES:  FORGE operates a pre-school and kindergarten that serves over 100 refugee children. Our Kunachi Kindergarten and community farm provides vital educational services and feeds over 200 "vulnerable" community members who are not able to support themselves due to physical and mental limitations.

HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICES: FORGE health education focuses on proactive approaches to health care and improving the accessibility of existing health services.  Examples include The House of Health and Human Rights (HHH) in Meheba Refugee Settlement that serves the entire refugee population of 15,000, and the Health Outreach Program in Kala Refugee Camp, Zambia, which increases access to and knowledge of the camp's existing health services.

WOMEN'S HEALTH & SAFETY: Among our initiatives is the creation of four Friendly Corners facilities in Kala Refugee Camp which provide shelter to women fleeing domestic abuse and are community centers for educational campaigns surrounding HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence.

HIV/AIDS EDUCATION: We've reached more than 20,000 people with programs that spread the message about HIV/AIDS and how not to contract the disease.

ARTS & MUSIC PROGRAMS: The Meheba Creative Arts Center (MCAC) serves the children of the refugee community through its arts-based Playspace program and photographic Explorations program. The facility serves 60 children per month. Our Music Education Programs provide training in guitar, keyboard, piano, recorder, and musical theory, and we have trained over 100 refugees.

SPORTS & RECREATION: FORGE has constructed and/or restored twelve new soccer fields and three full-court basketball courts, and established two fully-operational Community Sports Leagues involving over 700 out-of-school youth in constructive and educational activities.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN DETAIL

Mission: FORGE's mission is to educate, empower, and enrich the lives of refugees living in refugee camps and to advocate for solutions to problems faced by refugees worldwide.

Age: FORGE is entering its fourth full year in operation.

Legal Status: FORGE is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in the state of California.  All donations to FORGE are tax deductible.

Partners:  FORGE is an official Operating Partner of the United Nations' Refugee Agency (UNHCR).  UNHCR provides legal sanction, project consultation, and logistical support for FORGE to operate in UN refugee camps, while FORGE provides all funding and personnel. Other FORGE partners include the International organization for Migration (IOM), Red Cross, World Vision, GrassrootSoccer, Right to Play, FACE AIDS, and the ONE Campaign.

Funding Sources:  To date, FORGE has been funded solely through private-sector donations - mostly individuals with no government or grant funding. Over 2300 individuals have financially contributed to the FORGE cause.

Budget Information:  FORGE operated on a budget of $77,000 in 2004, a budget of $182,000 in 2005, and a budget of $280,000 in 2006.

Libraries & Technology Centers:  FORGE has constructed, equipped, and/or updated libraries in four separate refugee camps. One of the libraries that FORGE built and runs in Meheba Refugee Settlement, Zambia, is considered the largest library in any refugee camp in the world.  With five full-time employees and over 20,000 books, the Meheba Friendly Library serves 18,000 members of the refugee community in addition to the local Zambian population, including secondary school students. It has been hailed by the United Nations' refugee agency as "A miracle in the middle of the bush." In total, FORGE libraries serve more than 70,000 people