Last year, we had a short but inspiring conversation with Ansiima Casinga Rolande. At the time, she spoke of her permaculture journey, and her big dream to attend the International Permaculture Convergence (IPC15) in Taiwan and share her story with the world. More details on this are available here. Rolande is an award-winning permaculture educator and community leader, with a deep commitment to improving the lives of refugees. She is the founder of FOLONA (For the Love of Nature), a community-based organisation in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. Their mission is to empower refugee communities through permaculture education, women empowerment, and sustainable solutions for the challenges we face, including climate change, food insecurity, and reproductive health. "At FOLONA, we believe in the power of nature, knowledge, and people to restore hope, rebuild lives, and create resilient communities". Rolande A lot has happened since our last conversation. Not only did Rolande make it to IPC15 but she stood confidently on the global permaculture stage and shared the powerful story of refugees in Uganda’s Nakivale Refugee Settlement planting gardens of resilience, of women passing on traditional knowledge, and of communities using permaculture to restore dignity, hope and self-reliance. Rolande speaks with clarity, courage, and heart, representing not only her community but thousands of displaced people working toward a regenerative future. "Permaculture has given me confidence to question systems and also to know we can change whatever is wrong with our world. When I joined permaculture I thought it was gardening but the more I learn, meet people, work, experience... I realise it is a movement of change in all aspects. It’s about rethinking cultures, education, systems, protecting the environment, speaking up for what is right, growing love, peace (from within and to others), wellbeing and community life.” Rolande Through conversations with community leaders across the world, we’ve heard time and time again how hard it is to access land - even more so for refugees, women, and especially if they’re young. Rolande is changing that. Right now, she and her community are building something truly lasting: a Permaculture community learning center. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has given the community land and with support from La Finca Aorita (FOLONA’s partner), the building is already taking shape. Rolande has made two short videos to show us the land and the work in progress here. The center will be a place for training, healing, learning and connecting. It will also be self-sustainable, using clean energy and water solutions. It will offer spaces for permaculture education - hands-on training, a community kitchen, a small library and learning space for children, a demonstration garden for permaculture designs, a permaculture market garden, a cultural hub where people from different backgrounds can share stories, traditions and support. Rolande’s vision is clear - a community space with a variety of workshops in the garden run by community members, laughter from the children’s space, women getting opportunities to be the teachers they are, inspiring conversations while sharing seeds and ideas - all to nurture a sense of community taking root in a space built from the ground up with care, love and purpose. To bring this vision fully to life, Rolande is looking for partners. The center is underway, but now comes the challenge of making it truly functional and sustainable. If you’re part of an NGO, an educator, a funder, or simply someone who believes in grassroots leadership and community-led solutions, you can be part of something powerful, and meaningful by providing: Solar panels, furniture, gardening tools, essential teaching and learning tools, books and games. Seed funding for a small team: a caretaker, cleaner and local permaculture trainers Training materials and help co-creating accessible practical programmes Resources to keep things running - like a small market garden, seeds and workshops - until they can sustain themselves. Rolande has already laid down strong roots: a dedicated team, a clear vision, and living proof that permaculture works even in the most challenging environments. Now, she’s looking for others to walk with her in this next step. Want to connect, support, or partner with Rolande and her team? Contact her at [email protected] or [email protected] FOLONA website https://folonahub.org/Whatsapp +256 788006229 Tags uganda refugees permaculture community community-led projects Copied to clipboard