Shuhei Nishiyama (left) UN Volunteer Associate Protection Officer with UNHCR at Nakivale refugee settlement supported young people in activities on Youth Talent Day.
Shuhei Nishiyama (left) UN Volunteer Associate Protection Officer with UNHCR at Nakivale refugee settlement supported young people in activities on Youth Talent Day.

Using sport as a means to include young refugees in Uganda

Shuhei Nishiyama, UN Volunteer Associate Protection Officer was based in Nakivale, a refugee settlement, in Uganda between 2023 and 2024. He was with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and was responsible for monitoring youth projects in communities. His volunteer assignment was fully funded by the Government of Japan under the Japan-funded Global Human Resource Development Programme for Peacebuilding and Development (HRD). 

A friendship match bringing together young refugees into the fold of opportunities—was one of the highlights of Shuhei's assignment. Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in sub-Saharan Africa, with 80 percent of the refugees across 13 districts. Coming up with creative ways to have young refugees meet different groups of people while feeling included and part of society—was what Shuhei thought would be a positive means to an end.