Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But sometimes, we could do a little something to help that beauty along.
In Nakviale Refugee Settlement, there aren’t a lot of places with bright, vibrant colors. Yet the few pinks, purples, blues, and greens that are splashed on homes or churches draw your eye. They add a little spark of joy in an otherwise brown and dusty landscape.
Those little sparks are the inspiration behind today’s idea – a colorful, encouraging mural right in the heart of the settlement.
The mural’s design and painting was led by Ben, one of Nakivale’s resident artists. His brother taught him to paint, and now, he’s teaching others. “Being an artist is my identity,” he said. “I don’t have a diploma or papers. This is who I am.”
His idea for the mural was to spread messages of love, peace, and the importance of education. “We can respect and empower young people through this art,” he said.
Together with a team of art enthusiasts, we set to work painting the mural in a neighborhood in Nakivale that needed some love – and color.
Polinari, one of this neighborhood’s community members, volunteered to have his house come alive with color. “I’m so excited to have my home beautified,” he said. “It reminds me of my home in Rwanda.”
We hope that this painting will serve not only to put a smile on Polinari’s face, but to inspire everyone living nearby. “This will be a great example for everyone,” he said. “Maybe other people will want this too.”
