For any teenager, getting out from under the watchful eye of their parents is the best part of the day. This is true of teenagers everywhere, and it’s true of youth in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, too. But it’s also important that they have something to do with their time – something positive, productive, and fun. Members of the Youth Center in Oruchinga knew just the thing – an activity they could use to spend quality time with friends, and to make a little extra money for their club. Their idea? A pool table! “A pool table has many uses,” said Cubaka, the president of the Youth Center. “We use it first to be together. But also we can pass positive messages to youth, things like HIV and preventing violence against women. Things that can be difficult to talk about, but that are said more easily while you’re playing a game like this.” We couldn’t resist the way these kids’ eyes lit up when talking about the benefits of having a pool table! So for Day 70, we surprised … [Read more...] about The Perfect Shot
Archives for March 2018
Flipping a Switch
If you're a student - and especially a good one! - evenings are often spent pouring over homework. Or, simply hanging out with friends, watching TV and playing games. But for a group of young people in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement in Uganda, that simply wasn't possible. The problem? Electricity. The Youth Center where they spend so much time after school wasn't hooked up to the power grid. So when we first met them on Day 60, we took an important first step to help them out. But they needed something more. The center offers a lot of incredible resources for young people in the community, like English-learning lessons, a small library, and a chance to spend time together in productive ways. But a lot of these things just weren't possible without light. “Some of our members are in school,” said Cubaka, the president of the group. “They come to the Youth Center in the evening. So when we’re in darkness it’s very difficult for us.” We knew that so many possibilities … [Read more...] about Flipping a Switch
Beat of the Drum
“For us, when you dance you have to feel that rhythm in your soul.” Jennifer from ARC is one of the biggest champions of a women’s cooperative in Uganda, ladies who have come together to make change. “This is a group with career objectives,” she said. “They want to be somewhere. If we can support them as women, they’ll advocate for other women.” One of the ways they're making a difference? Through dance! The women’s group has turned dancing into a business, performing at cultural events and special occasions. But there was a problem. They didn't have enough instruments. So today, we're stepping in to make sure their rhythm is strong. As Jennifer said, rhythm is so important to a powerful dance performance. And without robust drumming, their dancing just didn’t pack enough punch. “I remember one of the cultural events that we had,” said Jennifer, “they came with only one drum and one shaker. So it could not bring out that sound.” We got the group enough new drums … [Read more...] about Beat of the Drum
A Reason to Celebrate
Sometimes, an abundance of joy is best expressed not through words, but through movement, dance, and song. And nobody knows that better than this incredible group of movers and shakers – women who are taking change into their own hands. We first met this group on Day 65, when we recognized the initiative they’ve taken to create their own basket-weaving business. And today, especially in honor of International Women’s Day, we’re focusing on another one of their talents – dance! These women have made a good business out of their knowledge and love for traditional dance, performing at events and special occasions. It’s a money maker for them. But there was just one problem – they didn’t have costumes to show up in style. “Right now, they’re borrowing costumes,” said Jennifer from the ARC team at Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. “Having their own would make them more visible, seem more professional. They would get more business.” The solution was simple. We took two of these … [Read more...] about A Reason to Celebrate
One Woman’s Trash…
“Since we started working together, I knew there was something really unique about this group of women.” Jennifer from the ARC team works with a lot of people who need support. But there was something different about a collective of Ugandan women who came to her, seeing how they could work together to make change. “I knew that they would hold on to ideas like gold,” she said. They were organized, they had leadership, they knew what they wanted. “They all had the group’s best interests at heart.” We first met this incredible group of ladies yesterday, when we surprised them with new basket-making materials. And today, we’re building upon an activity they already have their sights set on – making low cost, reliable energy. The ARC team had already trained the group on how to make briquettes – a compressed, coal-like energy source made from trash and other raw materials – and clay stoves. “We don’t have a lot of tree cover here,” said Jennifer. “The beauty of the briquettes … [Read more...] about One Woman’s Trash…
Weaving Together
Oruchinga is a small refugee settlement, nestled within towns where native Ugandans live. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the refugee settlement apart from local communities. But the ability of refugees to live safely in Uganda depends so much on these host communities – in many ways, they make opportunity and peace possible. We found out about one incredible group of Ugandan women who live near Oruchinga. They’ve banded together, joining forces to kickstart some entrepreneurial projects. We sat down with these women, and they told us about their dreams – and the things they needed to achieve them. So for the next few days, we’re helping them reach their dreams just a little bit faster. And we’re starting with baskets. “Most of these women depend on farming – that’s where they get their livelihood,” said Jennifer from the ARC team. But to make sure their families get the things they need, like education and nutritious food, they need something to supplement that … [Read more...] about Weaving Together
A Soft Spot
Elizabeth is a strong woman. Nearing 90 years old, her life in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement isn’t easy. She doesn’t have family to support her, instead relying on neighbors and organizations like ARC to lend a helping hand when she needs it. But, she manages quite a lot on her own, too. We first met Elizabeth on Day 58, when we gave her a solar-powered headlamp to help ease the difficulty of getting around at night. During our visit, we realized that she could use lots of other things, too. Things like warm clothes, a mattress, and blankets. Can you imagine your grandma sleeping mattress-less on a hard, dirt floor? We couldn’t either. So today, we’re returning to Elizabeth’s home again, this time with supplies that will make the chilly nights a little warmer – and much more comfortable. It rains quite a bit in the afternoons in Oruchinga, and the ground gets muddy and wet. Temperatures drop at night, and thin t-shirts don’t really do the trick. Plus, the dirt floor is tough … [Read more...] about A Soft Spot
A Helping Hand
A few days ago, we met Francisco, a 90 year old Rwandan refugee living in Uganda. Francisco has spent the past 25 years in a refugee camp. He lives alone. And now that he’s gotten older, his needs are different – he has a hard time caring for himself and ensuring that he gets enough food and water. Despite his own challenges, Francisco has done something remarkable – he’s taken in someone else. A young boy who was also on his own. Instead of turning the other way, Francisco saw an opportunity to step in and shelter this boy in whatever way he could. When we visited Francisco on Day 58, we saw that he was missing a few basic things. So for today, we’re doing a return visit – and showing a little extra love to someone whose heart is so big! One of our ARC teammates, Jacques, has made a connection with Francisco when we first met him. Jacques is from Rwanda, and so is Francisco. They got to talking, and it turns out that Francisco knew Jacque’s grandparents and great … [Read more...] about A Helping Hand
Cool Shades
Last week, we met the incredible albino community in Nakivale. Both in their home countries and in the refugee settlement, they face discrimination and marginalization. But there’s strength in numbers. In Nakivale, they live in a neighborhood together, lifting each other up and banding together to form a supportive community. When we first met them on Day 54, we noticed something – many of them were having a hard time seeing in the bright sun. Some folks had sunglasses, but many didn’t. This was something we could do something about. So for Day 62, we’re getting this community some shades! We got 45 shades for the community – one for each albino person! Even people who already had sunglasses were excited to get some stylish new pairs. Albino people lack pigmentation in their eyes, so they’re particularly sensitive to the sun. These protective shades will make their eyes just a little more comfortable. There are a lot of needs in the albino community in Nakivale. We … [Read more...] about Cool Shades
Safety First
A few days ago, we met an incredible group of self-starting farmers who have banded together to make some change. The 20 members of their cooperative work collectively on their field, cultivating crops (mostly tomatoes at the moment!), splitting the money earned, and putting it toward things like school fees, medicines, and even more seeds. The first time we encountered this group, we noticed that they had just been able to purchase a new fertilizer machine – which is great! But there was just one problem…they didn’t have masks or gloves to protect themselves from the harsh chemicals. So, we thought – that’s a very doable fix! We got the farmers enough masks and gloves to ensure that they can work safely, without compromising their health. “This is so important,” said ARC teammate Jacques. “Now they’ll be properly safe.” This group of farmers is already working incredibly hard toward making change for themselves, their families, and their communities. This change was … [Read more...] about Safety First