Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement sprang up practically overnight. And along with it, many drastic changes to the countryside. When thousands of people arrived, bulldozers were called in to clear vegetation, trees were uprooted.
Part of starting a new life means making the space around you come to life again, too. It means planting, revitalizing, and nurturing the earth. So for Day 87, we’re planting some trees.
We started around our community center. Each new tree was dedicated to someone who works there – guards, cleaners, volunteers, and staff. The team chose mango trees to plant because of their wide reach and thick trunks – they’re good for food, and for the cool shade they provide.
“Each person who cuts one tree should plant one hundred of them,” said Festo, an ARC volunteer. “The place was so bare, without any trees. But in a few years to come, you’ll find that we’ll be sitting here, enjoying the shade and the fruit of the mango trees.”
One by one, these new trees will flourish and grow, adding beauty and calm to an otherwise harsh landscape. “When you have a little, you provide a little,” said Paul. “We cannot do it all. But from 0 to 1 is something, you know? This is real hope.”
