When we first met the young Changemakers at Oruchinga’s Youth Center, we knew this was a special group of people. But someone stood out to us as going above and beyond in working to achieve his dreams, despite the obstacles – and that was Devins. Devins is a guitarist, artist, and all around amazing person. He’s also wheelchair bound. But he doesn’t let his physical limitations stop him from growing as a musician – or from being a part of making change in his community. We noticed that while Devins created beautiful artwork, he was missing some supplies – he has so many ideas, but limited tools to see them through. So for Day 74, we’re doing something about it. We scouted a local art store, and got Devins all the things he needed to keep a steady flow of art supplies - things like colored pencils, paper, watercolor paint, portfolios to hold his art, and more. We gathered some of his closest friends from the Youth Center, and surprised Devins at home. As we handed over … [Read more...] about Creativity is Key

It’s no secret that sports have the power to bring people together. From international events like the Olympics to pickup football games in the backyard, sports help people find common ground - and sometimes meaning and purpose. This is especially true for young people in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. “It’s a way for us to be together with nationals and refugees,” said Cubaka, the president of the Youth Center. “Sometimes you can form friendships.” Young refugees at the Youth Center organize a lot of sports activities – soccer, netball, volleyball and more. But they’re constantly coming up against one problem – the demand for sports is higher than they have the resources to support. For Day 73, we’re doing something about it. We went to a local sports shop in Mbarara, the closest big town, and practically bought out the place. Soccer balls, volleyballs, netball equipment, badminton, soccer goals, jump ropes, you name it! Now, the Youth Center won’t only have more of … [Read more...] about Off the Bench

“What can we do to fight poverty?” For Christian, treasurer of the Youth Center at Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, this is a question he and the other young people he works with contemplate and act on all the time. And, he says, the answer isn’t straightforward. “Poverty isn’t just about money. It’s a big part, but it’s also about lack of peace and community.” One of the ideas Christian and his friends at the Youth Center have to build peace is neighborhood volunteer days – where members of the group come together to do community works projects once a month. They do things like fix potholes in the road, plant trees and flowers – anything the community needs. They’ve already gotten started, repairing a nearby road that was in terrible condition. But they want to do more, to expand to all of Oruchinga. “But the biggest challenge for us is the material,” said Cubaka, President of the center. “With more tools, we could do more." For Day 72, the idea was simple – get these … [Read more...] about Community Works

For many refugees in Uganda, farming is their main source of income. When done well, harvesting and selling crops can be a great way to earn some income. The young folks at Oruchinga’s Youth Center knew that having their own farm could help support their activities, could help them grow. The group, led by their President Cubaka, had a small garden but they were running out of supplies – things like good seeds, fertilizer, hoes, boots, watering cans, and trowels. So, we thought, there was something we could do about that! For Day 71, we got the Youth Center all the things they need to get their community garden in great working order. “We teach our members how to farm in the best way,” said Christian, the treasurer of the group. “So the members will not only have access to the profits generated by our garden, but also will be better farmers themselves.” “What we can’t plant right now we’ll put in our store,” said Cubaka. “And we’ll share with everyone. Some of the … [Read more...] about Growing Up

For any teenager, getting out from under the watchful eye of their parents is the best part of the day. This is true of teenagers everywhere, and it’s true of youth in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, too. But it’s also important that they have something to do with their time – something positive, productive, and fun. Members of the Youth Center in Oruchinga knew just the thing – an activity they could use to spend quality time with friends, and to make a little extra money for their club. Their idea? A pool table! “A pool table has many uses,” said Cubaka, the president of the Youth Center. “We use it first to be together. But also we can pass positive messages to youth, things like HIV and preventing violence against women. Things that can be difficult to talk about, but that are said more easily while you’re playing a game like this.” We couldn’t resist the way these kids’ eyes lit up when talking about the benefits of having a pool table! So for Day 70, we surprised … [Read more...] about The Perfect Shot

If you're a student - and especially a good one! - evenings are often spent pouring over homework. Or, simply hanging out with friends, watching TV and playing games. But for a group of young people in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement in Uganda, that simply wasn't possible. The problem? Electricity. The Youth Center where they spend so much time after school wasn't hooked up to the power grid. So when we first met them on Day 60, we took an important first step to help them out. But they needed something more. The center offers a lot of incredible resources for young people in the community, like English-learning lessons, a small library, and a chance to spend time together in productive ways. But a lot of these things just weren't possible without light. “Some of our members are in school,” said Cubaka, the president of the group. “They come to the Youth Center in the evening. So when we’re in darkness it’s very difficult for us.” We knew that so many possibilities … [Read more...] about Flipping a Switch

“For us, when you dance you have to feel that rhythm in your soul.” Jennifer from ARC is one of the biggest champions of a women’s cooperative in Uganda, ladies who have come together to make change. “This is a group with career objectives,” she said. “They want to be somewhere. If we can support them as women, they’ll advocate for other women.” One of the ways they're making a difference? Through dance! The women’s group has turned dancing into a business, performing at cultural events and special occasions. But there was a problem. They didn't have enough instruments. So today, we're stepping in to make sure their rhythm is strong. As Jennifer said, rhythm is so important to a powerful dance performance. And without robust drumming, their dancing just didn’t pack enough punch. “I remember one of the cultural events that we had,” said Jennifer, “they came with only one drum and one shaker. So it could not bring out that sound.” We got the group enough new drums … [Read more...] about Beat of the Drum

Sometimes, an abundance of joy is best expressed not through words, but through movement, dance, and song. And nobody knows that better than this incredible group of movers and shakers – women who are taking change into their own hands. We first met this group on Day 65, when we recognized the initiative they’ve taken to create their own basket-weaving business. And today, especially in honor of International Women’s Day, we’re focusing on another one of their talents – dance! These women have made a good business out of their knowledge and love for traditional dance, performing at events and special occasions. It’s a money maker for them. But there was just one problem – they didn’t have costumes to show up in style. “Right now, they’re borrowing costumes,” said Jennifer from the ARC team at Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. “Having their own would make them more visible, seem more professional. They would get more business.” The solution was simple. We took two of these … [Read more...] about A Reason to Celebrate

“Since we started working together, I knew there was something really unique about this group of women.” Jennifer from the ARC team works with a lot of people who need support. But there was something different about a collective of Ugandan women who came to her, seeing how they could work together to make change. “I knew that they would hold on to ideas like gold,” she said. They were organized, they had leadership, they knew what they wanted. “They all had the group’s best interests at heart.” We first met this incredible group of ladies yesterday, when we surprised them with new basket-making materials. And today, we’re building upon an activity they already have their sights set on – making low cost, reliable energy. The ARC team had already trained the group on how to make briquettes – a compressed, coal-like energy source made from trash and other raw materials – and clay stoves. “We don’t have a lot of tree cover here,” said Jennifer. “The beauty of the briquettes … [Read more...] about One Woman’s Trash…

Oruchinga is a small refugee settlement, nestled within towns where native Ugandans live. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the refugee settlement apart from local communities. But the ability of refugees to live safely in Uganda depends so much on these host communities – in many ways, they make opportunity and peace possible. We found out about one incredible group of Ugandan women who live near Oruchinga. They’ve banded together, joining forces to kickstart some entrepreneurial projects. We sat down with these women, and they told us about their dreams – and the things they needed to achieve them. So for the next few days, we’re helping them reach their dreams just a little bit faster. And we’re starting with baskets. “Most of these women depend on farming – that’s where they get their livelihood,” said Jennifer from the ARC team. But to make sure their families get the things they need, like education and nutritious food, they need something to supplement that … [Read more...] about Weaving Together