by C. Charles Bley Uganda-based and growing, centered on self-awareness, community, and social entrepreneurship, offering unemployed and underemployed young adults an immersive hybrid of livelihood intervention and business training; A 2023 study investigating the influence of SINA (Social Innovation Academy)’s first decade on the ground suggests graduates of the program reliably generated a 5x–and in […]
From Marginalized Youth to Social Entrepreneurs
A cost-effective and self-governed community approach provides a pathway, tools and the mindset for marginalized youth and refugees to shape a vision for their future and create new solutions in form of social enterprises with benefit to society and the environment.
Number of SINA Communities
Social Enterprises created at SINA
Jobs created through SINA Social Enterprises
Empowering Change with Every Purchase of SINA Products on Amazon in Europe
Today, we spotlight three innovative SINA products available on Amazon in Germany and Europe that are not just purchases but investments into SINA scholars and social enterprises. Ouroots Natural Drinking Straws They are designed by nature over millions of years. Say goodbye to plastic straws and hello to Ouroots Natural Drinking Straws, a sustainable choice […]
Podcast: Etienne Salborn and Tonny Wamboga on SINA, self-organisation and ‘freesponsibility’
Leadermorphosis is a podcast exploring the emerging world of self-managing teams and progressive organisations hosted by Lisa Gill. In her latest episode released today, she had an in depth conversation and one of her “favorites of all time” with SINA Founder Etienne Salborn and the Operation Lead of the first and main SINA Community called “Jangu international“. […]
Agency In Focus: The Concept, and the Social Innovation Academy (SINA)
Delve into the critical role of agency in overcoming deprivation and achieving empowerment. SINA’s unique approach, transcending traditional vocational training through the SINA Empowerment Framework, is revolutionizing education for youth in refugee camps and beyond. by C. Charles Bley, MFA, as adapted from the research of Carina Schenk It is no obscure notion that economic […]
Matching Funding Campaign to Sponsor a SINA Scholar
Enable disadvantaged youths to be the change they want to see in the world.The life you change might be your own! Matchfunding from a friend and SINA supporter from the USA will mean that the next 20 sponsored scholars will be matched $ for $, creating double impact and taking us even closer to our […]
Kankobe Children's Home
Etienne Salborn volunteers in the Kankobe Children’s Home in Uganda and creates an educational sponsorship program for orphans after leaving the orphanage.
Formation of Jangu
The sponsorship program reaches 30 students and "Jangu e.V." is founded to manage them professionally.
Collective Idea for SINA
The 1st generation of sponsored youth completes High School but drowns in youth unemployment. In an Open Space the idea for a space where youth create their own jobs is born.
Jangu International
The 1st SINA is created by collectively building the model, culture and the space in Mpigi with 15 Ugandan facilitators, international experts and Jangu e.V. graduates.
Proof of Concept
The 1st SINA Community grows to 50 members and proves that marginalized youth can unleash their potentials and become social entrepreneurs through self-organized and freesponsible education.
Proving Scalability
Three refugees find SINA, join and 9 months later make "SINA" their social enterprise by replicating the model into the Nakivale Refugee Settlement.
UNHCR Innovation Award
SINA is replicated by and for refugees in the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement and wins the UNHCR Innovation Award. A partnership starts to replicate SINA in Zimbabwe with UNHCR.
SINA Global
SINA Global is established to serve a growing network of SINA Communities, hundreds of social enterprises born at SINAs and support further replications across Africa.
Exponential Impact
With 12 SINAs in 5 African countries and strategic partnerships, a freesponsible and regenerative movement for exponential scale and impact is emerging.
Partners & Supporters
"I'm living my dreams and not dreaming my life!"
Joseph Bwinika
Founder of Tucheke Movies Production, Nakivale Refugee Sttlement
"Before I joined SINA I didn’t know what to do with my life, I was scared that I was going to be a failure because I had no hopes of continuing with studies but after joining SINA and through a lot of empowerment and coaching, I realized my passions and regained hope for success and created a change in my life."
Joan Nalubega
Founder of Uganics
"I am now strong emotionally and no longer put blame on anyone for the challenges that I met in life and I uphold challenges to give me solutions. I was able to find my passion and create a social benefit to the society out of it."
Angella Marjorie
Founder of the Gejja Women Foundation
"Before SINA, I was not able to express myself and give my view about challenges that affect me and my community, after SINA am able to pursue my passion and dreams of fashion and supporting persons with disabilities with the help of life coaches and mentors. SINA has changed my life through discovering myself, identifying and developing my passions and it has kept me thinking and creative all the time. I am an empowered leader now and have been able to create an enterprise. "
Juliet Namujju
Founder of Kimuli Fashionability
"SINA has impacted me in many ways. It is the place and environment where I discovered myself deeply. I learned how to find solutions towards problems and pains I had."
Turatsinze Victor
Co-Founder of OPPORTUNIGEE and SINA Unleashed in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement
"SINA is a life transforming environment which is giving hope and meaning to life of youth. I was hopeless and I didn’t know what I was going to do but since I joined SINA I am now developing my professional skills and my personal growth. It is helping me to become an entrepreneur."
Sylvain Himbana
Co-Founder of SINA Loketa in Bidibidi Refugee Camp
"SINA has created a new me. It changed me into an inspirational story and helped me touch the lives of communities. Through SINA I have created my own job and I learnt to live with others and to support others. I am able to lead, speak openly and have a clear vision for my life. SINA is what Uganda needs to change the 83% youth unemployment rate."
Elizabeth Nalugemwa
Founder of Kyaffe Farmers Coffee