Similar Ground is a youth-led organization in Northern Uganda, founded by young people who wanted to make a difference. Our journey began in 2017 when two groups one of South Sudanese refugees and the other of Ugandan host community youth came together for a program called VoiceMore, run by War Child UK. For two years, we worked together to research and raise awareness about the challenges faced by separated and orphaned children in our community, aiming to improve their protection.

When the program ended, we decided to create our own organization, led by young people for young people. In 2020, we officially founded Similar Ground and started organizing our own community-based programs focused on protection, education, and livelihoods. Today, Similar Ground is made up of 5 permanent members and 10 volunteers. We are a registered charity in Uganda and work closely with local authorities and other organizations in our area.

Patrick Kumi, one of our founders, plays a key role in supporting our international advocacy. In 2016, he moved to Uganda due to the South Sudan conflict, and his family settled in Bidibidi, one of the largest refugee settlements in the world. Patrick started volunteering with various international NGOs in Bidibidi and later worked with VoiceMore. In 2019, he was chosen to represent his team at a global mental health conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Patrick continues to advocate internationally for children living in conflict zones and even spoke to the UN Security Council in 2022 about these issues.

Along with Patrick, Louis, Cosmas, Annet, and Jackline became active members, continuing to contribute to the mission. The group initially operated as Time for Change Initiative before growing into what is now Similar Ground.