Elizabeth is a strong woman. Nearing 90 years old, her life in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement isn’t easy. She doesn’t have family to support her, instead relying on neighbors and organizations like ARC to lend a helping hand when she needs it. But, she manages quite a lot on her own, too. We first met Elizabeth on Day 58, when we gave her a solar-powered headlamp to help ease the difficulty of getting around at night. During our visit, we realized that she could use lots of other things, too. Things like warm clothes, a mattress, and blankets. Can you imagine your grandma sleeping mattress-less on a hard, dirt floor? We couldn’t either. So today, we’re returning to Elizabeth’s home again, this time with supplies that will make the chilly nights a little warmer – and much more comfortable. It rains quite a bit in the afternoons in Oruchinga, and the ground gets muddy and wet. Temperatures drop at night, and thin t-shirts don’t really do the trick. Plus, the dirt floor is tough … [Read more...] about A Soft Spot
Changemakers365
A Helping Hand
A few days ago, we met Francisco, a 90 year old Rwandan refugee living in Uganda. Francisco has spent the past 25 years in a refugee camp. He lives alone. And now that he’s gotten older, his needs are different – he has a hard time caring for himself and ensuring that he gets enough food and water. Despite his own challenges, Francisco has done something remarkable – he’s taken in someone else. A young boy who was also on his own. Instead of turning the other way, Francisco saw an opportunity to step in and shelter this boy in whatever way he could. When we visited Francisco on Day 58, we saw that he was missing a few basic things. So for today, we’re doing a return visit – and showing a little extra love to someone whose heart is so big! One of our ARC teammates, Jacques, has made a connection with Francisco when we first met him. Jacques is from Rwanda, and so is Francisco. They got to talking, and it turns out that Francisco knew Jacque’s grandparents and great … [Read more...] about A Helping Hand
Cool Shades
Last week, we met the incredible albino community in Nakivale. Both in their home countries and in the refugee settlement, they face discrimination and marginalization. But there’s strength in numbers. In Nakivale, they live in a neighborhood together, lifting each other up and banding together to form a supportive community. When we first met them on Day 54, we noticed something – many of them were having a hard time seeing in the bright sun. Some folks had sunglasses, but many didn’t. This was something we could do something about. So for Day 62, we’re getting this community some shades! We got 45 shades for the community – one for each albino person! Even people who already had sunglasses were excited to get some stylish new pairs. Albino people lack pigmentation in their eyes, so they’re particularly sensitive to the sun. These protective shades will make their eyes just a little more comfortable. There are a lot of needs in the albino community in Nakivale. We … [Read more...] about Cool Shades
Safety First
A few days ago, we met an incredible group of self-starting farmers who have banded together to make some change. The 20 members of their cooperative work collectively on their field, cultivating crops (mostly tomatoes at the moment!), splitting the money earned, and putting it toward things like school fees, medicines, and even more seeds. The first time we encountered this group, we noticed that they had just been able to purchase a new fertilizer machine – which is great! But there was just one problem…they didn’t have masks or gloves to protect themselves from the harsh chemicals. So, we thought – that’s a very doable fix! We got the farmers enough masks and gloves to ensure that they can work safely, without compromising their health. “This is so important,” said ARC teammate Jacques. “Now they’ll be properly safe.” This group of farmers is already working incredibly hard toward making change for themselves, their families, and their communities. This change was … [Read more...] about Safety First
Being Together
“When you work with youth, you need first to put yourself in their skin. We have a lot of work to do, but we’re doing it.” Cubaka is the President of the Youth Center in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. He’s stepped up to lead a group of young people in Oruchinga who are looking to make a change. “We have very many challenges here,” he says. “But our main challenge is finding ways to be together." Peaceful and productive things to bond over and work on isn’t always easy when there are 13 different nationalities living in one camp. But, says Cubaka, “we say that there is no Congolese, to Rwandese, no Burundians, and no nationals. We’re all the same at the youth center.” The center is a place to gather, to share ideas, to find purpose and meaning. And sometimes, the best time to get together is in the evening, providing something for young people to do at night. But there’s one problem – getting around in the dark. Since most of Oruchinga isn’t connected to a power grid, … [Read more...] about Being Together
Study Time
“I like all the subjects, but science and math are my favorites.” Meet Vincent, a student at Kajaho Primary in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. He’s a hard worker, spending most of his free time studying and reading. Especially recently – his final exams are coming up. But, he’s ready. “I’m prepared to take my final exam!” he says. We wanted to do something to make Vincent’s and the rest of his classmate’s study time a little easier. The answer? Headlamps! Most households in Oruchinga don’t have access to electricity. So at night, it’s dark. Really dark. And unless families have solar or paraffin-fueled lamps, when the sun goes down forget about reading, studying, or doing much of anything. That can be a huge challenge for students who are looking to excel. Solar-powered headlamps are an amazing solution for just this type of scenario. And luckily for Vincent and his friends, the team at The Shine on Project helped us give a Watts of Love headlamp to every student in … [Read more...] about Study Time
Resilient and Strong
The average length of stay in a refugee camp is 17 years. But for Francisco and Elizabeth, it’s been closer to 25. “They came to Uganda from Rwanda in 1994,” said Mercy from the ARC team. “They’ve been here a long time.” Now both nearing 90 years old, Francisco and Elizabeth don’t have any family to support them. They get by with the help of neighbors and organizations like ARC. But life is tough. “They face so many challenges,” said Mercy. One of those challenges is access to electricity. For the past few days, we’ve explored the power of light – and how even just a small increase in access can change lives. And for Day 58, we’re bringing that change to these two. Solar-powered energy is often the best option for many people living in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. Unlike the power grid that is inconsistent – and not to mention expensive! – the sun’s power is free, reliable, and almost always there when you need it. Especially in Uganda! So we had just the thing for … [Read more...] about Resilient and Strong
Night Lights
If you’ve raised a child or have been close to someone who has, you know that taking care of a baby is a 24/7 job. Day or night, little ones need to be fed, their diapers changed, or simply soothed back to sleep. But imagine that on top of sleepless nights, you have to juggle everything in total darkness. That’s the reality for many parents in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. “The majority of people don’t have power in their houses,” says Doreck, an ARC counselor in Nakivale. “At night, when women go to breastfeed their babies, and sometimes they need to clean their babies, they can’t see them.” There’s one group of women in particular who could really use some extra support – single, breastfeeding mothers who have faced trauma. This is a group that ARC works with in Nakivale, helping them get back on their feet. So, we wanted to solve at least one problem for them – giving them light at night. “These women have been deserted, and have gone through very difficult situations,” … [Read more...] about Night Lights
The Break of Dawn
In Nakivale, many people’s livelihood is farming. And just like farming anywhere else, they sometimes have to start early – really early. “People get to their fields even at 4:15am,” said Andrew from the ARC Uganda team. “It’s very dark at that time.” But there’s a problem. In the refugee settlement, there’s not a lot of reliable access to electricity. People sometimes use flashlights to get around during the darkest hours, but batteries run out. There’s one group of self-starters who’ve formed a farming cooperative – and are kicking butt in the process. Their crops are thriving, they’re working together well. So, we thought, with just a little bit of light early in the morning – how much further could they go? One farmer named Mwindo joined the group because he wanted to be a part of change. “We want to improve our lives,” he said, standing in front of their field filled with small green tomatoes. “Together, we harvest what we have here, sell it, and then put that money … [Read more...] about The Break of Dawn
The Doctor Is In
For the next few days, we’re thinking about the power of light. Especially in a place like Nakivale Refugee Settlement, which is cloaked in darkness when the sun goes down. What can access to even just a small amount of light do for someone in Nakivale? How could it change their lives? In refugee camps, access to reliable light can also mean access to better healthcare. And the clinic team at Medical Teams International know that all too well. “We struggle with power here,” said Kate, the nurse in charge at the MTI clinic. “If the generator is down, then you’re in a fix. We also use the power grid. But it’s not reliable. This is very difficult at night, when needs are so high. There’s nothing you can do. Sometimes we have no choice but to keep working in the dark.” Luckily, thanks to The Shine on Project, there was something we could do to help. We gathered the MTI teams together for a little surprise – HEADLAMPS! And not just any headlamps. Solar-powered lamps from Watts … [Read more...] about The Doctor Is In