Design School

Every Shelter

Context

Internship with the INGO “Every Shelter”: Teaching, Prototyping

Location

Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Year

2025

Materials

During an internship with Every Shelter, a US-based NGO, the pilot program Design School was implemented in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. The initiative aimed to empower young refugees to apply Human-Centred Design methodologies to address challenges within their own community. As a first professional experience in the humanitarian field, it provided deep insight into participatory design, international NGO operations, and refugee-led innovation. The internship involved co-developing and facilitating a nine-week curriculum for 17 Congolese students aged 18–29, combining theory with hands-on design practice. Tasks included designing and delivering lessons on research, ideation, prototyping, and testing; guiding students in surveys, interviews, and data collection; coaching communication and facilitation skills; and bridging language barriers between English, French, and Congolese Swahili. Together, the group identified key challenges—such as housing durability, malaria protection, water access, and GBV alert systems—and developed prototypes addressing these issues. The experience strengthened skills in workshop facilitation, participatory research, and cross-cultural collaboration, while demonstrating the need to balance empathy and professionalism in complex humanitarian contexts. Working under resource constraints and shifting timelines also enhanced adaptability and resilience. By the end of the program, participants had developed five fully conceptualised prototypes and gained confidence in using design as a tool for community-led change. Supporting this process as both mentor and designer reinforced the value of participatory design and humanitarian architecture, bridging academic theory with real-world, human-centred impact.