Today, we are returning to Juru Primary School in Nakivale. With nearly 2,000 students, the 26 teachers here have their hands full! To make good use of their energy, they encourage the students to be active through sports. "The chance to play and be active helps them to break their boredom during the school day and pay better attention to their subjects," says Edith, a teacher here at Juru. That's why Edith had the idea to get more sports equipment for their students. "Our students like to play futbol, volleyball and netball. But, we need more balls and nets for all of the sports." Thanks to the ARC community, we were able to get Juru lots of new sports equipment – volleyballs, netballs, a first aid kit, netball jerseys and shoes for the girls netball team! "We encourage all the students in being active – even the young girls. But, the girls netball team had especially old equipment. We are so happy to have some newer equipment for them," said Edith. It's a small gesture … [Read more...] about Netball Anyone?
Campaigns
The Sound of Music
Medard is an English teacher at Juru Primary School in Nakivale. He's been teaching for the last 9 years, but English isn't the only subject he teaches. Medard doubles as the school's music teacher and he's passionate about the benefits of learning music. "When children are singing, their minds open. Making music helps them excel at all of their other school subjects," he says. He has been yearning to have the students of Juru participate in regional music competitions. "When they excel in music, they feel like yes, I can do many things," he explains. So, Medard and his fellow teachers participated in the World Refugee Day 5k to support their idea of getting more instruments to expand their music program. Now, Juru Primary has a new collection of instruments – including traditional drums, thumb pianos, ankle rattles and adungus, a stringed instrument. "We use the traditional instruments to teach about our culture and to give a foundation from which students can move on to … [Read more...] about The Sound of Music
Making History
On Day 181, a small group of young people made history in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. These 25 youth – from Congo, Burundi, Eritrea – came together to form the very first Rotary Club in a refugee camp. After 112 years and about 31,000 clubs established, the Nakivale Rotaractors (youth Rotarians) will now go down in history as the first all-refugee club ever. To mark the formation of any new club, Rotarians customarily complete a service project. The Nakivale Rotaractors chose to reach out to some of the more vulnerable in their community – elderly refugees. Pooling their own modest funds, the club purchased soap and sugar to distribute to the refugee seniors. We decided to do the doable and purchase extra sugar and soap and hand it over to the Rotaractors, so they could reach even more vulnerable members of their community. Many of the refugee seniors were moved to tears. People in Nakivale look out for one another, but they’d never seen such a generous gesture as … [Read more...] about Making History
Pump You Up
Samuel is a man of many talents. He grows trees and hopes to one day reforest Nakivale Refugee Settlement where he lives. He’s a caretaker for ill family members. And he’s a contributing member of society, joining his peers to do community service and help the elderly in their community. But when he’s with his friends, he likes to lift weights. “We do what we can,” said Samuel. “We made our own barbells, but they break. And we don’t really know how much they weigh.” For Samuel and his friends, weightlifting is about being healthy, making their bodies stronger and learning from each other. There’s no gym in Nakivale – no place for people to work out, lift weights and build their strength. So, Samuel and his friends had an idea to open their own gym. And they ran in the World Refugee Day 5k on June 20th to try to make it happen. “Our idea is to make a place where anyone can come to lift weights, try yoga and learn from each other about taking care of ourselves,” said … [Read more...] about Pump You Up
An Apple A Day
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
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