Jjumba Martin Photography

10/06/2026

Photography by yours truly

We’ve got big news to share! Groundbreaking new evidence released today shows that DREAMS significantly reduces extreme poverty among refugees and host communities in East Africa.

Two high quality studies found that DREAMS—which combines Village Enterprise’s poverty graduation model with Mercy Corps’ expertise in market development—significantly increased consumption, savings, and assets among refugees and host communities in Uganda and Ethiopia.

The two randomized controlled trials, conducted by independent evaluator IDinsight, found that compared to a control group, DREAMS participants increased:

💵 Monthly consumption by 17% in Uganda and 9% in Ethiopia, meaning families spent more money on food, medicine, and other essentials like soap, firewood, and school supplies

💰 Savings by over 90% in both countries, strengthening household safety nets and resilience to economic and climate shocks

🏠 Household assets by 20-24%, as entrepreneurs bought livestock, built homes, and bought solar panels, tools, furniture, and more

At a time of unprecedented cuts to humanitarian aid, these findings offer powerful evidence that refugees and host communities can move beyond aid dependence when they have access to entrepreneurship, stronger markets, and economic opportunity.

Recognizing the program’s success, we are thrilled to announce continued support for DREAMS:

🇪🇹 In Ethiopia, the IKEA Foundation is funding the program's continued implementation and growth as DREAMS further embeds in local government systems

🇺🇬 In Uganda, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is funding the next stage of DREAMS, as well as an evaluation of how DREAMS can embed into existing early childhood development programs across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique

We're incredibly grateful to all of the funders who have supported DREAMS to date and made this impact possible: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Gates Foundation, ICONIQ Impact, IKEA Foundation, LeverforChange, and the generosity of anonymous donors.

Read our press release to learn more about these life-changing results: https://villageenterprise.org/blog/dreams-rcts/

30/05/2026

Produced for Village Enterprise

17/02/2026

Produced for Village Enterprise

26/11/2025

This Girl Child Day, we celebrate equal opportunity! Our tablets use adaptive learning software that helps girls learn at their own pace and achieve the same positive results as boys. Empowering girls for a brighter tomorrow starts with literacy, numeracy, and the right to learn.

(Photo: Jjumba Martin Photography)

26/11/2025

22/05/2025

Old work, photographed in Rwanda, on assignment for dental Health without borders

Dentists Without Borders: Toothbrushing Added to the School Curriculum

"For 20 years, Dental Health Without Borders has been working to improve dental health for vulnerable children around the world. The organization’s primary focus has shifted from emergency missions to preventive efforts – and starting this year, Colombia and Bolivia have also been added to the world map."

The latest issue of *Tandlægebladet* is out now, where you can read much more about our work.

https://www.tandlaegebladet.dk/nyheder/2025/tb5/baggrund-tandlaeger-uden-graenser-tandboerstning-er-kommet-paa-skoleskemaet/