Five countries - Seven projects

PROJECT 1

Cambodia - Countrywide

Cambodian Refugee-led Humanitarian Mission

Khemaras Center (Pictures by Hongly Khuy, leader)

In 1998-99, the Cambodian refugee community in Hawaii reached out to local organizations in Cambodia to assess needs. As a result, since 2000, in partnership with local Cambodian NGOs and churches, Cambodian refugees in Hawaii have empowered people in Cambodia, especially the homeless, poor, orphans, trauma survivors, elderly, prisoners, and others who struggle to survive daily. The Hawaii refugee community raises funds to support yearlong humanitarian work in Cambodia. And every year since 2000, a refugee-led volunteer team has traveled to Cambodia for a 2-week - Christmas in Cambodia - humanitarian mission. No one receives a salary or gets paid for their work.

Click here to see gallery ‘what we do’ by Hongly Khuy.

In 2002, the Khemaras Center was founded. It is a spiritual and social space for the Hawaii refugee community and others who are interested in supporting lasting peace in Cambodia. Khemaras Center members have partnered with community groups throughout the United States to work in Cambodia. In 2015, the Center led over 60 people to Cambodia on its 2 week Christmas humanitarian mission.

The efforts of the Khemaras Center and local Cambodian partners have resulted in lasting positive changes. Individuals have completed their education and are providing for their families. Over a dozen water wells have been built throughout rural Cambodia. Also, 2 community facilities, educational supplies, computers, bikes, medical supplies and services have been provided in the most remote communities of Cambodia.

If you or organization wants to join us, please email Hongly Khuy directly at honglykhuy@gmail.com or facoba@caluyafoundation.org.
cambodia
PROJECT 2

Rwanda - Countrywide

Rwanda

1994 Genocide Survivor Communities, Widows; AIDS & HIV survivors

Needs assessment was completed in 2016.

Caluya Foundation travelled again to Rwanda in 2018 and 2019, and worked with a local partner Samaritan Shoulders on the following ongoing projects:

• Genocide survivor community: Visited with widows and women infected with HIV/AIDS because of sexual assault during genocide, Kinyinya Community in Kigali.
• Mental health research gathered from 2 sites.
• Widows identified self-sustaining micro-economic ventures for stable income.

• Caluya Foundation provided funds to:
• Support Kinyinya pig farm for sustainable income.
• Give one-time gift to teachers of Gasabo Nursery School, Kinyinya.
• Purchase 3 sewing machines for women in Nyamata to produce uniforms for school children. Widows currently produce bags, kitchen linens, clothing, crafts and jewelry for sale.
• Genocide Memorial Group – Peace Curriculum. The Rwandan Dept of Education requires that Peace Education be included in elementary & high school curricula to prevent genocides & inter-group conflict. Healthier interpersonal skills among youth throughout the planet are needed.

PROJECT 3

Rwanda - Countrywide

Peer Support Training, Orphan Head-Of-Households

Peer Support Training began in January 2018, when Caluya Foundation provided a 2-day training on mental health skills and Posttraumatic Stress education for staff and orphaned children survivors of the 1994 genocide. Research data was gathered. Participants identified mental health skills training and micro-economic ventures as the prevailing needs.

In January 2019, Caluya led a Peer Support team (6 from USA, 3 local Rwandans) to Kigali and Western Rwanda, and trained several groups in trauma-informed peer support skills and capacity building. See details in our Events page.

PROJECT 4

Uganda - Mount Elgon, Sebei

Psychosocial Peer Support training and Mobile Mental Health teams, Mount Elgon, Uganda

Our work on Mt. Elgon started in 2016.

Psychosocial skills through peer support and mobile mental health teams (assess with short term interventions) benefit traumatized Sabiny women and girls who have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). Caluya Foundation is partnering with NGOs, local professionals and para-professionals to provide culturally appropriate mental health services to help individuals and communities heal from FGM-related trauma.

January, 2018 trip to Mount Elgon, Sebei.

• 2 town meetings to discuss culturally-relevant strategies to provide mental health services to FGM survivors and their families.
• Research data gathered for needs-assessment from 3 sites and approximately 130 respondents.

• Dr. Cristina Sanchez, M.D., Caluya Foundation Medical Consultant, met with local medical personnel to develop local volunteer mobile mental health teams, and virtual training for Ugandan medical & para-mental health providers. Trainings to start in 2021.
• Team provided training for mental health professionals and para-professionals.
• Partnered with local humanitarian organization in Kampala; and provided funds to purchase healthcare necessities for young women, support HIV/AIDS prevention education, and financially support girls to complete their education.

Watch our video report from Sebei, Uganda: Betty Cherop FGM Experience
PROJECT 5

Uganda - Kampala

Uganda

Empower at-risk young women and families in Kampala slums

• Support HIV/AIDS prevention education in Kampala slums.

• Keep young women in school by mentoring and funding school fees that impoverished families cannot afford.


• Help fund necessary hygiene products to reduce exploitation of young women..

• During COVID-19, provide funds to support urgent need for food & toiletries for children and families.
PROJECT 6

Kenya - South Sudanese Refugees

A church has intentionally located in a Nairobi slum to serve marginalized and traumatized communities. Caluya Foundation met with over 50 adult South Sudanese refugees who are members of this local church and live in the slums. At present, there are over 3 million refugees from South Sudan in Kenya. With the help of 6 translators, research data was gathered. Participants identified human rights, basic life necessities, and micro-economic support as primary needs.

Initial support has been provided. Help Caluya Foundation fund basic life necessities and urgent needs.

PROJECT 7

United States - Idaho Falls (IF), Idaho

Untitled design-2

Umuganda IF Community Groups

Umuganda IF Community Groups obtained its name from our Rwandan partners who introduced this cultural practice to the 2019 Peers Support team from the United States (US). Traditionally, Umuganda means coming together as a community to achieve a difficult task. While in Rwanda, the US team partnered with local Rwandan peers to build a house for a single mother and her children. See pictures of the build and the finished home.

Umuganda IF Community Groups began in August 2020 and continue weekly. They are facilitated by peer-leaders who engage group members in various activities such as music, art, poetry, games, and theater! These groups utilize the Peers-Empowering-Peers model to foster posttraumatic growth, self-empowerment, community, and leadership.

Peers-Empowering-Peers Model:

- Activate and sustain healthy behaviors, especially healthy emotional boundaries
- Resilience and strength directed, utilizing 24 Values in Action (VIA)
- “Activate what is strong in us, not what is wrong.” (VIA Institute, Martin Seligman, Neal Mayerson)
- Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) lifestyle

Posttraumatic Growth features sustained emotional stability to:
- Appreciate and desire to live one’s life
- Engage in new opportunities for growth
- Establish and maintain safe significant relationships
- Practice personal-strengths
- Make meaning of difficult events
Umuganda IF Community Groups convene at:

Pearl Health Clinic
2705 East 17th St.
Ammon, Idaho, USA 83406

Please contact Katie Parks, Coordinator of Umuganda IF Community Groups
kparks@caluyafoundation.org