Social Innovation Academy

SINA tackles failing education and resulting unemployment in Africa through creating self-organized and freesponsible learning spaces, where disadvantaged youth unleash their potential for positive change as social entrepreneurs.

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From Marginalized Youth to Social Entrepreneurs

About us

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.

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Number of SINA Communities

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Formal Social Enterprises born at SINA and still existing

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Jobs created (cumulative formal and informal)

News

See what happens at Sina

Two new SINA Communities have started in Nigeria and Nepal

Published on May 23, 2025

We are excited to have seen the official start with the pioneer scholars in two new SINA Communities:– Dikko Innovation Academy in Katsina, Nigeria– Hope Innovation Academy in Kathmandu, NepalIt is remarkable to see these two SINA Communities in two new geographies: The first SINA Community in mainland West Africa and the first community beyond […]

SINA Featured in International Book on Refugee Education: Acknowledged for Transformative Empowerment Model

Published on May 9, 2025

SINA (Social Innovation Academy) is honored to be featured in the book A Modern Guide to Refugee Education – Comparative Perspectives and Innovative Practices by Elgar Modern Guides. Chapter 19. is titled: “The Social Innovation Academy: A Freesponsible Approach to Refugee Empowerment“ The book explores international opportunities and challenges in refugee education, presenting transformative approaches […]

Joan Nalubega and Etienne Salborn in a Conversation in “The Founders Atlas”

Published on April 18, 2025

We’re thrilled to share that the Episode 2 of The Founders Atlas is featuring Joan Nalubega, the founder of Uganics and Etienne Salborn the founder of SINA. The podcast goes deep into the relationship of the two, which started 18 years ago in the Kankobe Orphanage and how Joan started Uganics, its impact as well as […]

How SINA Turns the “Hopeless” into Changemakers – A Visit from the ChanceMaker Foundation

Published on April 15, 2025

During his visit to Uganda, Patrick Knodel from the ChanceMaker Foundation had the chance to immerse himself in the world of SINA – from visiting the SINA Community in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement to powerful stories of transformation. His reflections beautifully capture how young people who once faced seemingly impossible odds are now building social […]

2024 Impact Report

Published on April 2, 2025

2024 marks ten years of SINA communities transforming challenges into opportunities. What began in Uganda has become a growing movement across Africa: youth-led, self-organized communities where those from marginalized backgrounds—often refugees—become social entrepreneurs and changemaker-makers. In our 2024 report, you’ll see how the lives of our beneficiaries (scholars) are deeply transformed and how their over […]

2007

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.

2009

Formation of Jangu

The sponsorship program reaches 30 students and "Jangu e.V." is founded to manage them professionally.

2013

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.

2014

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.

2015

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.

2016

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.

2018

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.

2019

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.

2023

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 Collections

"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 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