From Trash to Abundance: Restoring Dignity Through Biochar in Nakivale

In the heart of southwest Uganda, in the sprawling Nakivale Refugee Settlement—one of the

oldest and largest in Africa—over 170,000 people live each day seeking not just safety, but

purpose, health, and the ability to grow something of their own.

Here, the soil is tired. Years of overuse, erosion, and lack of organic matter have left it depleted.

But just beneath the surface, a quiet force of renewal is taking root: biochar.

Made from agricultural waste like maize stalks or bean husks, biochar is more than

charcoal—it is a lifeline. When crushed and applied to the earth, this black, porous substance does what synthetic fertilizers cannot: it heals. It holds water like a sponge during dry spells, feeds microbes that make nutrients available, and locks carbon in the soil for hundreds of years.

At Nakivale, our program empowers refugee households—especially women and youth—to

transform farm waste into biochar and compost, revitalizing their gardens and creating new

pathways to income and food security. It’s a simple, low-cost, yet profound solution that turns what was once discarded into a vessel of hope.

Biochar in Nakivale is not just about better harvests. It is about restoring dignity, building

resilience, and allowing displaced families to become earth healers and climate champions.

Through hands-on training, storytelling, and local leadership, this initiative gives refugees the tools to regenerate both their soils and their sense of agency. Every handful of biochar is a step toward cleaner water, healthier food, and a more hopeful tomorrow.

As we face a global climate crisis, Nakivale reminds us that regeneration can start anywhere,

even in the most fragile places. Sometimes, it begins with ashes.

-Dee Doheny, President & Trustee of Ampli5E