Repair Lens Project Empowers Rhino Camp Community During International Repair Day 2025

In October 2025, Community Creativity for Development (CC4D) brought sustainable technology practices to life in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, Uganda, through the innovative Repair Lens Project ; a series of workshops and events marking International Repair Day Week.

The Challenge

Refugees and host community members in Rhino Camp face a dual challenge: limited access to functional technology and the growing problem of electronic waste. With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, many community members found themselves with computers that couldn't run newer operating systems, threatening to turn perfectly usable devices into e-waste.

The Solution

From October 17-18, 2025, the Repair Lens Project offered a comprehensive approach combining education, hands-on training, and community repair services:

Day 1 – Building Capacity: Fifteen participants, including staff from refugee-led organizations, freelancers, local repairers, and entrepreneurs, attended an intensive workshop covering electronic repairs, maintenance basics, and practical training on installing Ubuntu (Linux) ; a free operating system alternative that breathes new life into older computers.

Day 2 – Hands-On Learning: Participants gained practical experience installing Linux on computers that can no longer support Windows 11, transforming devices destined for the scrap heap into functional tools for education and livelihoods.

International Repair Day Celebration: The initiative culminated in a vibrant Repair Café at the UNHCR Multipurpose Community Centre in Odobu Zone, where the community came together to take action.

The Impact

The results exceeded expectations:

1. 93 participants engaged in the Repair Café event
2. 100 devices brought in for repair
3. 65 items successfully repaired, including:
4. 28 mobile phones
5. 23 solar lamps
6. 8 radios
7. 4 laptops
8. 2 solar panels

Each repaired item represents more than just a fixed device ; it's restored communication, renewed access to information, continued education opportunities, and extended livelihoods for families who depend on these tools daily.

Building for the Future

The Repair Lens Project demonstrates how combining technical training with community-centered events creates lasting change. By equipping local repairers and entrepreneurs with skills in both hardware repair and alternative software solutions, the project is building local capacity to sustain repair culture long-term.

The workshops revealed that many broken devices remain in households across the settlement ; highlighting both the ongoing need and the tremendous opportunity for expanded repair services. The project team is actively seeking additional support and partnerships to scale their impact and help restore even more devices across the community.

A Model for Sustainability

Through the #ASKnet program, supported by r0g Agency and funded by BMZ, with venue support from UNHCR, the Repair Lens Project showcases how collaborative partnerships can deliver practical solutions to complex challenges. By promoting repair over replacement, the initiative simultaneously addresses environmental sustainability, digital inclusion, and economic empowerment.

This is more than fixing broken devices — it's about building resilient communities, one repair at a time. ♻️🔧