The Alight office at Nakivale Refugee Settlement is at the center of the settlement – and a lot of the action. Sandwiched between the Office of the Prime Minister and a number of other NGOs, the office experiences a lot of foot traffic, as well as some people waiting for appointments at nearby facilities.
One reason people wait outside our office is to register newborn babies. Moms with young babies can often be found waiting in the shade outside, sitting patiently for their turn.
Even though they’re not always seeking our services, we felt we wanted to do something to help – it can be a long wait in the heat.
We purchased large benches that could hold dozens of people. Now, both people waiting for something at the Alight office, or at a nearby office, will be able to sit comfortably in the shade.
As soon as we put the benches out, they instantly filled up with people! It was a bit of instant gratification for us — seeing that we could meet a need in such a short time.
One of the mothers who sat down on the bench as soon as we had dragged it out quickly said “asante sana,” meaning “thank you very much” in Swahili. There’s no doubt this small change was needed – and so appreciated.
