Bidi Bidi is the largest refugee settlement in Uganda. Because it's so close to the border with South Sudan, hundreds of thousands have sought refuge there. When refugees flee, their lives are put on hold. But that doesn't mean they don't want to get back to normalcy as soon as possible! And for young people, a big part of that normalcy is school. So for our first idea in the settlement, we're focusing on students - and helping them get back to their books. Our team in Bidi Bidi had the fantastic idea of supporting students at one school with scholastic materials. Every student needs things like pens, pencils, notebooks, and geometry kits - but not every student can afford them. So we gave these supplies to the school, so that everything they need is there right when they need it! It's amazing how a lack of something as simple as supplies can impact a young person's education. At this school at least, the students can get off to the strong start they … [Read more...] about Welcome to Bidi Bidi

Our team in Palabek is simply amazing. With refugees coming from South Sudan daily, there are always unexpected challenges, waiting around the corner. And it takes every last one of our teammates, working around the clock, to get the job done. How do you say thank you to such an incredible team? Nothing would ever be quite enough, but we decided to throw a big thank you bash as a way to start. It was a night filled with music, dancing, food, and fun, where the team could enjoy each other’s company an invite other colleagues to join in on the fun too. To add to the surprise, we brought a little care package from our friends at Atomic Data! It was filled with useful things in the field like pens, post-its, and hand sanitizer. Plus some candy - for a little energy boost when they need it most! Thank you, Palabek team, for all that you do for refugees - you make this work possible! This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about Hip, Hip, Hooray!

In an emergency situation like the one in Palabek, making sure that supplies don't run out is always a challenge. But when it comes to helping expectant mothers give birth, having enough clean materials for a safe delivery is absolutely crucial. "Mama Kits" are a one stop shop for all the supplies a doctor needs to deliver a healthy baby. But the maternity was running a bit low...so we stepped in to bridge the gap. We gave over 100 kits to the maternity in Palabek! And our doctors were so relieved. “The mama kits include everything for a safe delivery. We will be able to serve 100 mothers!” exclaimed Sharon, one of our partners. The staff at the maternity clinic work so hard, and have to do amazing things for moms with very little Providing a stop gap until they get more in stock was something very doable. But for those 100 mothers and their babies, it could make all the difference. This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about Mama Kits

The moments right after the birth of a baby are precious. Mom gets to hold her little one her in arms for the first time, filled with joy and relief. Families rejoice. The last thing that everyone should be thinking - during and after the birth - is having a bed. But at the maternity clinic in Palabek, there weren't enough to go around. Instead, during those precious moments, many moms and babies have to stay on the concrete floor. Mats on hard floors were clearly not good enough for these new mothers. So we returned to the maternity clinic, this time with new mattresses and blankets! “These beds are important because they increase mother’s comfort and keep people off the floors,” said Sharon, one of our partners at the Office of the Prime Minister. Keeping mothers off the floor is simply the right thing to do - plus, it will help to to reduce disease and infection. Now at this clinic, moms have one less thing to worry about, and one more thing to make the time spent … [Read more...] about Made for Moms

Right now in Palabek, refugees are settling into their new lives. And their Ugandan neighbors are getting used to their new neighbors, too. Yesterday, we helped one village of Ugandans living next to Palabek with some farming supplies. We want them to know that we're not forgetting about the challenges they face, too. There was something missing though, something that these farmers needed to really produce the best crops. Their idea? Ox plows! Tilling the field can be very time consuming and hard manual work. This village has many cows at their disposal that are up to the task, but not the tools to make the most of them. Our staff wanted to ease the work load of prepping the fields, so we returned with 2 plows and a whole lot of smiles from the community! Having plows will help to amplify the hard work the farmers are already doing. It's an extra tool to keep in their back pocket - and another way to say thank you for being the best kind of neighbors! This … [Read more...] about A Farmer’s Friend

In the areas around Palabek, farming is a way of life. Communities - including refugees - rely on their crops for food and an income. But because Palabek is the newest refugee settlement in Uganda, people need to start their farms from scratch. This is an adjustment for the host community - the Ugandans who were already living in the area - as well. They sometimes pitch in to support South Sudanese refugees as they get settled in. We thought this was pretty incredible. So we wanted to surprise one Ugandan village with some extra supplies to make sure they weren't stretched too thin. We bought watering cans, seeds, fertilizer, and pesticide sprayers for the whole community. Everyone cheered and sang out in their traditional greeting, feeling joyful and happy as we handed over the supplies! It was a wonderful moment, a time to show up for people who have show up for others. They've given their time and resources to helping their new neighbors - this was a day for us to … [Read more...] about Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Education is so important. A well-equipped classroom is not only a place to learn and be challenged, it’s a place to figure out your strengths and discover opportunities. This is true for classrooms everywhere, and especially in a refugee camp. But schools in refugee camps face different challenges, too. Getting access to the resources they need – including qualified teachers, books, and materials – isn't always easy. Most schools in Palabek Refugee Settlement can’t afford to buy all the kids school supplies, and their families can’t either. So we put our heads together and came up with a solution for one school in need... Instead of just a one time purchase of school supplies, we established a school supply library! Students can use the supplies while in the classroom (things like pencils, scissors, rulers, and more) and then return them for other students to use during the next class. The teachers were thrilled. “You are looking after these children,” said head … [Read more...] about It’s Scholastic

In an emergency situation like the one happening in Palabek, it takes a true team effort to make sure everyone’s needs are met. One of the biggest needs is making sure people are safe – and that’s where Palabek’s police force comes in. It’s so important to set the police up for success. And right now, they have one major problem. “When the generator goes out, we have no light to help survivors of violence,” said Vicky, the head of the police. “We need to be able to see what condition they’re in.” A generator isn’t always reliable - and it can be expensive to fix. So we decided to find them a fix that they can always depend on. Solar lights and chargers! It’s so easy...they just need put the solar panel out into the sun. Once charged, they can use the lights and night and also as an energy source to charge their phones. Now, wherever they are, they can communicate easily and support refugees who seek help at all hours, day or night. “We are very happy with … [Read more...] about Serving and Protecting

Welcome to Palabek, Uganda's most recently established refugee settlement and home to over 30,000 refugees. Located just across the border from South Sudan, the camp sprung up when crisis struck in the country, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. There's so much great need in the camp. But despite that need, the resiliency of everyday people is beginning to shine through. People are seeking a sense of normalcy, and even finding moments of joy. Sports are helping. A women's netball team has gathered, with coach Kavine heading the effort. She and her team play every single day! But they're playing with a makeshift netball and hoops - they don't have real equipment to fuel the game. You may have guessed what came next! With a little boost from the 365 team, Kavine's team scored new balls and hoops for their evening netball matches. “This is so exciting!” said Kavine, “my friends and I love to play netball to stay in shape. It is a great way to spend time with my … [Read more...] about Welcome to Palabek