Alex Niyonzima is an earnest guy. He’s the coach of the Lions Athletics Club in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. He’s utterly dedicated to his runners, their health and their growth as individuals. His commitment to his runners is where his idea got started. “I’ve been keeping track and I think I’ve noticed something,” he explains as he shows us a piece of paper with dates and his runners’ names listed. “These members, they’ve been sick a lot over the last six months. And I think it’s because of their diet. They don’t eat nutritious vegetables and fruits, and they don’t have enough to eat.” So, Alex told us his idea to plant a garden for the Lions Club, where the team would grow their own vegetables and fruits. He and the Lions ran in the World Refugee Day 5k in support of their idea. And - fast forward - a half dozen generous individuals from around the world donated to make the Lions’ dream a reality. The only problem was the team hadn’t raised vegetables and they didn’t … [Read more...] about An Apple A Day
Changemakers365
Coming Together Through Sport
On our last day at Kajaho Primary School, we wanted to help them with some of their play spaces and with sports equipment. Matthew is an English teacher at Kajaho, and he sees how sports and just playing around can bring the students together. Kajaho students include both Ugandan nationals and refugees, so creating those opportunities to play and build relationships through sport is really important. That’s why Matthew ran in the World Refugee Day 5k on June 20th – to make his idea of bringing sports equipment to Kajaho happen. So, on Day 178, with the 5k behind him and his idea fully funded by generous supporters around the world, we got to work helping Matthew make his idea real. We started with the play spaces. The netball court in particular. Netball is a popular sport in Uganda, particularly with women and girls. But Kajaho’s netball court was all out of whack. The baskets stood at very different heights, one basket way above regulation and far too high for these primary … [Read more...] about Coming Together Through Sport
Leaving an Impression
In case you missed it, eight days ago we organized a first-of-its-kind World Refugee Day 5k in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. More than 1200 people participated in celebration of refugees and with the ultimate goal to promote sporting and play opportunities for refugee youth in their community. Among our guests at the event were four members of the Refugee Olympic team that ran away with our hearts in Rio in 2016 - Pur Biel, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Gai Nyang Tap and Kadar Omar Abdallah. In fact, Rose and Omar were the women’s and men’s winners of the 5k. Sports and play have obviously been an important part of these refugee athletes’ stories growing up. So, before they left Uganda they wanted a chance to connect with the next generation. Kajaho Primary School – where Ugandan and refugee students learn side-by-side – hosted the Olympians and a small contingent of supporters for an inspirational afternoon of singing, dancing, playing and presentations by the … [Read more...] about Leaving an Impression
Especially For Them
We're back today at Kajaho Primary School in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. This time we're with Dorothy Atubasise - teacher in the school's special unit for Deaf students. The entire community is incredibly proud of the Deaf Unit. It's rare in Uganda. Dorothy and the specially-qualified teachers in the deaf unit have accomplished some amazing things with their students. The children are thriving because teachers like Dorothy are able to give them unique attention and use techniques and teaching tools geared specifically for their development. The students are active members of the larger school community, participating in singing, dance and other groups. But one thing that can be hard for the students is participating in sports. Dorothy wanted to find an alternative for her students. So, on June 20, she and her fellow deaf unit teachers ran in the World Refugee Day 5k in nearby Nakivale Refugee Settlement to raise money for indoor games for the Kajaho Deaf Unit. … [Read more...] about Especially For Them
Making Music
Dowrin is an English and Social Studies teacher at Kajaho Primary School in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement in Uganda. She's a musical person. When you walk around the school grounds, you always hear the most singing and clapping coming from the direction of Dowrin's classroom. But Dowrin wanted to take music at Kajaho to the next level, because she knows firsthand the amazing benefits music has helping her students build friendships and unlock their potential. So, on June 20, Dowrin and her fellow teachers ran in the World Refugee Day 5k in nearby Nakivale refugee settlement to raise money for musical instruments at Kajaho. "This is just what we needed," said Dowrin as we handed over a new xylophone, a set of traditional drums and an electronic keyboard complete with a solar battery. "These new instruments will help us get our students involved with music, and it will sharpen their minds." Dowrin is also a strong believer in music bringing people together. And that's … [Read more...] about Making Music
Finally Recognized
Coach Skye coaches three basketball teams in Nakivale Refugee Settlement - a men's team, women's team and a kids' team. One of the most difficult things he has to tell them is when they can't play in tournaments or games against other teams outside the settlement because they don't have the equipment needed. "You need to have matching jerseys and shorts," said Skye. "Or other teams don't want to play against you." Coach Skye and his men's team would like to eventually host teams on a completed basketball court in Nakivale. But until then they'll settle for just being allowed to compete. So, on June 20, the men's basketball team ran alongside other youth in the World Refugee Day 5k to raise money for matching jerseys and equipment. On Day 174, with their goal reached, we were able to deliver Coach Skye and his team some new basketballs and the matching white jerseys they'd been waiting for. They plan to play in their brand-new uniforms for the first time on June 30, when they … [Read more...] about Finally Recognized
Staying in Balance
The Nakivale Acrobats are one of the more unexpected groups you find in Nakivale Refugee Settlement - a group of young men walking on tight rope, tumbling, juggling and contorting to the Oohs and Ahhs of visitors and settlement residents alike. On June 20, the Acrobats were one of those 41 teams of Nakivale youth who turned out to run in the World Refugee Day 5k to raise money to make their dreams happen. Their dream? To have more professional materials and be able to teach youngsters the skills they know. And they'd even like to travel to Europe or the U.S. someday to show people what they can do. With the equipment they had that wouldn't be possible. They needed mats so beginners had a soft place to land. Their tightrope was a few segments of hardware store rope pieced together and strung between two trees. And they didn't have any of the juggling equipment that others who practice their craft have access to. But when they reached their goal we were able to deliver … [Read more...] about Staying in Balance
What Makes A Team
Young people in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda are getting active and doing some amazing things. We wanted to support them and help them make their dreams to create sports and play opportunities in Nakivale a reality. We’ve heard from so many refugees who say they feel more alive when they’re with friends and playing soccer, basketball, or running – that it provides some escape from how challenging their lives can be. So we created a platform and organized a World Refugee Day 5k on June 20, 2017 in Nakivale to help them each raise $600 to make their dreams happen. Naki Football Academy is one of those teams. Coach Songa Bahati was inspired to found Naki Foot by his own experience as a kid. He remembers returning home one day with a plan to join a football training program and quit school. “My mother refused categorically,” Songa told us. “She said ‘You have to stay in school, Songa!’ And she was right." So, when he came to Nakivale as a refugee from Congo in 2014 and … [Read more...] about What Makes A Team
A Bright Idea
After spending the last week with our amazing Thailand team, we knew one thing to be true – they have some really great ideas. Lots of them. Ideas for how to make the people they serve feel more joyful and powerful. Ideas for how to improve their own work. Ideas to make the world just a little better place to be. So on our last day in Thailand (for now!) we’re making sure that our Thailand team – our oldest ARC program – has their experience and their brilliant ideas captured. And we chose to do that over a family meal – breaking bread as we shared stories, swapped ideas, and celebrated a week of great work together. Many on the team have been with us for years, sometimes over a decade. They’ve seen a lot, both wonderful and sad, meaningful and challenging. Over the years, they’ve gained invaluable insights into the communities they work in - and often live in. So as we ate, laughed, and spent time over dinner, we also wrote down as many ideas as we could think of that … [Read more...] about A Bright Idea
The Road Ahead
The refugees living at Umpiem Mai camp have a challenge ahead. Very soon, they need to leave the home they’ve known as refugees for the past few decades and return to Myanmar, where they'll begin again. This will be a tough transition – even successful businesspeople at the camp will need to start from scratch. What they need now is all the support they can get to make that transition just a little easier. The HAUS Salon team visiting from Minneapolis plays a very important role in all this – for refugees who own their own hair salons at Umpiem Mai, having a stronger skill set will make them all the more likely to succeed once they go back home. The HAUS team and their students worked really hard over the past few days to teach these folks the tools of the trade. And now, it’s time to give the stylists official recognition of their efforts, something that they can hang proudly in their salons. And something they can use to boost their business. Certificates! Charlie, … [Read more...] about The Road Ahead