When it comes to our Nakivale team in Uganda, there is no difficulty finding accomplishments to celebrate. But it's not very often that we get the opportunity to stop, reflect, and show our gratitude for the incredible things they've done together. After all, Nakivale Refugee Settlement is where 365 all began – we wanted to thank the team in a big way. So we asked our teammates in Nakivale what they'd like to do to celebrate. Their answer? PARTY! For our Nakivale staff, getting the chance to leave the refugee settlement and share a meal with coworkers outside of work is rare. Most of team live at the settlement and eat at the staff cantene there. So we called up our longtime partners at Igongo Culutural Center and hotel about an hour outside the settlement, and set up the perfect evening away to forget about work and enjoy one another’s company. The night was kicked off with a thank you message from our headquarters team in Minneapolis, followed by dinner, music, and … [Read more...] about A Night Off

One of the major things we do at Nakivale Refugee Settlement is help to look after those who have experienced trauma and violence. We help them process their experiences and get the support they need to move forward and stay protected. But we couldn't do it without one person – Dr. George. Dr. George works for Medical Teams International. They're our health partner in Nakivale, working alongside us in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence. They treat victims who need medical attention and make sure they get connected to our teams who can work with them to restore emotional health once they heal physically. But Dr. George is speical. "Whenever we refer cases to MTI," said Jimmy from the ARC team. "He makes sure that they get supported immediatley. He goes out of his way to treat the patients kindly and with respect. He makes our work easy." For Day 348, we wanted to do something to surprise Dr. George – a gift of gratitude, for all that he does for refugees … [Read more...] about The Doctor Is In

Everyone has that one friend who's always coming up with big ideas and big dreams. They have a passion for life - and making everyone’s life around them better, too. In Nakivale Refugee Settlement, that person is Paul Mushao. Paul is the president of the local Rotaract club in Nakivale. Rotaract is a community service club for youth that's part of the Rotary universe. And Paul's club is the first ever Rotaract club in a refugee camp - he led the effort to get it off the ground. He's known for his "make it happen" attitude and for having an unending list of dreams he wants to accomplish. We're all about doing the doable at ARC. So naturally, we were drawn to Paul - someone who lives his life to the fullest, and lifts other people up along the way. Paul's Rotaract club gives back to the Nakivale community by supporting refugees in their dreams. But it also does so much more. It gives club members a feeling of belonging, an identity, a purpose, and meaning, all while doing some … [Read more...] about Paul for President

Every refugee faces their own set of challenges. From getting enough food to eat to finding clean drinking water to keeping your family safe, being a refugee can be overwhelming. But imagine not having a partner to support you in facing those challenges - you have to do it on our own. That's what single mothers in Nakivale Refugee Settlement overcome each and every day. “In this community, one of the highest risk people we have are the single mothers,” said Sonia, an ARC Protection Officer at Nakivale. But these moms show up their children and communities, despite the risks they face. So for Day 346, we wanted to thank them. We asked our Nakivale field staff to identify some all-star single mothers in the community that needed to be thanked – and they had some great candidates for us! “We want to appreciate that despite all their struggles, despite tough situations, they're there for their children," said Sonia. "They provide school fees, food on the daily, even … [Read more...] about Mom Knows Best

This month, we're taking time to thank those who are out of the spotlight, but in the center of what we do. These are the unsung heroes of humanitarianism, people who go above and beyond not because they have to, but because they want to. But one of our most important partners in Nakivale Refugee Settlement has yet to be thanked – the police. The police at Nakivale play a protecting and monitoring role. They work with our teams to make sure anyone implicated in crimes – particularly sexual violence and abuse - are charged and that the victims are protected. They also look after the whole settlement and make sure everyone is safe. Their partnership is so important to ARC's success and refugee safety. And for that, we wanted to say thank you. On Day 345, we presented the Nakivale police with solar power lamps, solar electronics chargers, and new water bottles. The lamps will help make it safer to work at night, and the water bottles will help them stay hydrated as they … [Read more...] about Protecting Nakivale

When we asked our teams in Nakivale Refugee Settlement who they’d like to thank this month, one person really stood out – Juliet. Juliet works for UNHCR, the UN’s Refugee Agency. They coordinate all the service providers at Nakivale. They play an important role as an agency, but what makes them really stand out are the incredible individuals who have become our colleagues and friends. One of those friends in Juliet. “Juliet is one of those special people who have been so supportive of ARC the whole time we’ve been here,” said Sonia, one of ARC’s protection officers in Nakivale. "She’s taken time to mentor each and every one of us. We can’t work alone. She helps us understand that we all need each other.” We wanted to give a big thank you to Juliet for being the great mentor that she’s been to so many. So we surprised her with a gift that shows how much we appreciate her friendship and support. Juliet spends a lot of time on the phone – she’s constantly coordinating and … [Read more...] about You’ve Got a Friend

At Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, we work with a multitude of partners to make sure people’s needs are covered. From healthcare to water systems to community services, it takes a deep level of collaboration to run what is essentially a town of 120,000 people. One of those partners is OPM – the Office of the Prime Minister. They help to coordinate all activities in the camp, making sure that things run smoothly. Their office on what you might consider to be Nakivale’s “main street,” an area with shops, small restaurants, and where both ARC’s and OPM’s offices are located. They get many visitors coming in and out of their office, including lots of ARC staff. And offering a cup of tea or coffee to visitors is a big part of Ugandan culture. But there was one problem – they didn’t have any coffee supplies! For Day 343, as part of our month of gratitude, we’re thanking OPM for everything they do for and with us – by creating a new, coffee-inspired space for their office. … [Read more...] about A Cup of Thanks

Today, we're turning our attention to a woman who makes sure the most vulnerable refugee voices are heard – Maria Nyiraneza, our court interpreter. Maria's worked as an interpreter for seven years, and she speaks all the major languages in the settlement – like French, Swahili, and Kin Rwandan. And she plays a big role in helping victims of crimes, violence, and exploitation get access to justice in court. "The language in court of law is English," said Sonia, one ARC teammate who works closely with Maria. "Interpreters are key to helping refugees who don't speak English communicate in court and be represented in the clearest way possible." So for day 342, we thanked Maria for her outstanding service by giving her a tool to boost her work – a laptop. "I need a computer to keep my data on from court," said Maria as we handed over the laptop and a backpack to go with it. "With this I can improve my work and write reports quickly!" "Maria's the best we've got," … [Read more...] about A Voice for the Voiceless

Prince is unlike anyone we’ve ever met before. He's a 10-foot man in a 5-foot frame. He speaks quickly but is eloquent, and he exudes heaps of positive energy. A refugee from Congo, he now has family in Kampala, Uganda's capital. But he choses to stay in Nakivale Refugee Settlement because of his project - the Wisdom Center. The Wisdom Center’s goal is to keep children’s education going. He focuses on teaching kids English, leadership skills, and simply giving them a place to belong. Running the Wisdom Center is hard work. And it can be exhausting, even for someone as energetic as Prince. When you’re working hard, sleep is the key to staying energized - but it’s hard to sleep when you don’t have a bed. When we learned that Prince didn't have a mattress, we were shocked! Prince is an inspiring guy. So for Day 341, we wanted to thank him for the amazing work he's doing - by getting him a comfy place to rest after a long day of hard work. "I do this because I … [Read more...] about Wisdom Beyond His Years

ARC is responsible for making sure every single refugee in Nakivale has water. And for a responsibility of this size, we look to some amazing people to get the job done. Introducing Akilimali. Akilimali has been working as the Lead Water Operator of Nakivale for an incredible 20 years. He is passionate about his job. He makes sure the water reservoir - which sits at the highest point in Nakivale - is safe, each and every day. The views of Nakivale from that highest point are pretty lovely. But, it’s probably one of the most isolated spots in the settlement. Yet Akilimali lives alone at the reservoir, making sure that nothing happens to the water. So for Day 340, we wanted to make his day a little less isolated. Since water points need to be fixed and the flow of water changed throughout the day, communication is so important for Akilimali and his team. But it’s also a challenge. “We don’t have great ways to get in touch with each other,” he told us. So we … [Read more...] about View from the Top