The reception Center in Nakivale Refugee Settlement is the first point of entry for people who have just arrived. Many have walked distances far and wide after fleeing a situation of crisis.
People carry with them few belongings. They don’t have much if anything to support them during their stay at the reception center, alongside hundreds of others waiting to be assigned land and other resources.
The team who oversee the reception center told us that there’s a huge need for a simple thing – soap.
So, we thought, there was something we could do for these new arrivals.
We went into town and got a whole truckload of soap for under $500! We were able to ensure that every family in the reception center received a bar for every member of their family.
There was smiling and laughter all around. One of the most moving moments was as the soap was handed out, the community brought forward a woman who was deaf and mute. They told us that they wanted her to be the first to have the soap, so she didn’t miss when her name came up.
These moments are everything. They show that no matter the circumstance, people are abundant and giving.
