When it comes to being there for people who've suffered violence, just a private space can go a long way. But if that space can feel safe and welcoming, that makes a huge difference in the way the person seeking help might feel. That's why we're back at the counseling kiosk in Oruchinga settlement today, Day 132. The space needed a few small changes. We were able to get a rug so there's something soft under foot. There's also lots of toys and stuffed animals for younger visitors, and plants to give the space a calming feeling. Inside the cabinet are some of the essentials we need for a counseling space - tissues, pamphlets, and information about other services available. Soon the walls will be painted, and then cushions for the benches will be the final touch. Dan Banjera, an RN at the health clinic the counseling kiosk is attached to, was glad to see we'd thought of these softer touches. "There are lots of cases of violence, but people don't want to report them. All of this … [Read more...] about Privacy + Comfort

One place where survivors of violence often open up or seek help is at the doctor’s office. On Day 131, we’re helping the clinic in Oruchinga refugee settlement receive these patients in a more sensitive and appropriate way. When people who have suffered violence arrive at the clinic they are upset. “We counsel and comfort them,” said Dan Banjera, an RN at the clinic. “But we don’t have a dedicated space. We try to improvise private spaces in exam rooms or offices.” We wanted to give the clinic and survivors a private space. So we got another local contractor busy building and the ARC and clinic teams got together to decide where the counseling kiosk would go. The teams chose a spot in the clinic yard, away from the main buildings and the waiting area. The counseling kiosk was completed a few days later and then delivered to the spot the team had chosen. When the health team saw the new kiosk they were thrilled! “This will boost the way we are doing our services,” said … [Read more...] about A Simple, Private Space

The youth center in Oruchinga refugee settlement is looking good. There’s paint on the walls, and tables and chairs sit on the new concrete floors. But there’s one more thing that the youth group asked us for help with. One of the groups’ goals is to learn and practice English. They’re hoping to bring a teacher in to help. But they also wanted a few books so that they could practice on their own. Well, we were able to do them one better. It just so happened we had several boxes of books in the ARC office, shipped to Uganda by Books for Africa. The books were on an assortment of topics and included a lot of fiction. But there were so many that they would definitely need a bookshelf to keep them all. So, Jen – ARC’s team lead in Oruchinga – commissioned a carpenter to build and paint a large book shelf (canary yellow to match the youth center walls). When the bookshelf and books were delivered, the youth group was over-the-moon. They went through the books right away and … [Read more...] about A Little Library

With the inside cleared out and cleaned up, the youth center in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement is looking good. But empty. Issa Cubaka and his friends have some ideas for how they’d like to fill the space. “We’re missing tables and chairs,” said Issa. “At first we’ll have them for our use. We can use them for English lessons or people can just take a book and sit in the chairs and read.” Without a place to sit, relax and chat, it wouldn’t be much of a youth center. So, on Day 129 our team headed to the store to find the plastic chairs and tables that the group requested. When we arrived to deliver them, Issa let us know about another idea they’d had for the plastic furniture. “We have a futbol team, but we can’t afford balls, shoes or jerseys,” he said. “So, we can rent the chairs and tables to people in the community if they have some event. With the rent money, we can buy the things we need for our team.” The youth group even has the idea to someday open a restaurant … [Read more...] about A Table and Chairs

Oruchinga Refugee Settlement doesn’t have a youth center. There’s not a public space especially for young people to be together, socialize or build community. Issa Cubaka and his friends wanted to do something about that. They had a partially completed structure that was their’s to use, but it needed some serious work. When they came to us for help, we were happy to get them the support and supplies they needed to be able to transform the space themselves. It was no small job. They started by removing the huge piles of rubble that filled the space. Then, they spread out a layer of cement over the dirt to make a smooth, clean floor. And once the cement had set, they completed a wall to separate the space into a large room and a smaller room in the back (we’ll tell you what that room’s for tomorrow). The finishing touch? A couple of coats of canary yellow paint on the interior walls. This time, doing the doable took Issa and his friends about four days. But it was all worth … [Read more...] about A Place to Hang Out

We've been spending the past week in Oruchinga. It's a refugee settlement unlike any other –small and interspersed with national villages in Uganda, it's been in existence for nearly six decades. "It's a peaceful, quiet existence between refugees and nationals," Jennifer, our Case Management Officer, tells us. Living side by side, refugees and nationals go to the same markets, grow food on neighboring plots and attend the same schools. Today, we are visiting one of these schools – Rwamurunga Community Secondary School. We had some art supplies that needed to be put to use and our team suggested taking a short walk across the road to Rwamurunga Secondary where we met the Head Teacher, James. "These were the very supplies we were going to purchase," exclaimed James as we shared the art supplies with him. "Hands-on learning is really important. We have fine arts class and these supplies can even be used in geography. They will be used across many classes!" Though it was … [Read more...] about The Tools To Create

Today, we are continuing to make change in Oruchinga, a small refugee community in Uganda. With less than $500, we are adding a little color, too! We are working with Albert and Charles, two young artists, to create a mural wall that will tell a powerful message. "We believe that people learn by seeing, pictures communicate more to someone," says Jennifer, ARC's Case Management Officer in Oruchinga. We wanted the mural to convey messages that we use every day in counseling because, as Jennifer explains, "the root cause of gender-based violence is embedded in power. Everyone has power and how they are using it affects the community." The mural shows ways the community can work together, to use their power, their voice in the world for good – kids that choose not to bully, an imam and pastor promoting peace, families committing to non-violence. "When the community sees the painting it rings a bell and people realize this can be in their community," says Jennifer. … [Read more...] about Pictures Communicate More

Our team in Oruchinga refugee settlement works hard to provide support to the community. When you come to the office, you'll often find it empty because our team is out and about meeting with community members face to face. Here in Oruchinga, providing counseling is what we do best and having a safe and confidential environment is an important aspect of this work. So, today we are setting out to makeover an office space into a counseling space complete with décor and objects to make children feel welcome too. "Initially, this was just an office. It didn’t' tell anyone this is a safe space for counseling," explains Helen, one of our Protection Counselors in Oruchinga. We started by moving everything out and painting the walls with positive messages and characters and scenes that would make a child feel comfortable. Adding simple touches such as colorful walls and toys was important and Helen explained why they were so key to being able to provide counseling. "When … [Read more...] about A Welcoming Space for Kids

Yesterday, we got to be a part of the excitement of putting in a playground at an Early Child Development center in Oruchinga refugee settlement. We talked to Jennifer - whose idea it was to help the center - about the importance of play in encouraging learning. "If we have things that will stimulate learning and create interest, the children will maintain their habit of going to school. If there's nothing interesting there, why will they keep coming back?" So, Jennifer set to work on another idea. She knew that with little resources, we could get a supply of fun, educational materials. We searched the shops in Mbarara town for just the right items. When we brought the number and ABC charts, coloring books, reading books and building blocks to the classroom, one mother exclaimed "Oh, we thank you very much. With these things, knowledge will be added on." Doing the doable means that there is nothing too small, nothing too insignificant. Every small thing can make a big … [Read more...] about Fresh Learning Supplies