In Kismayo, Somalia, we met a remarkable woman. Her name is Sacdiyo, and she runs a center where she teaches young women in Kismayo to tailor and tie dye. Many of them are returned refugees, coming home after decades away. She knows the power of a useful skill and trade, and she’s sharing that power with her neighbors. ARC and Sacdiyo have worked together before – to build a training center called Wadajir – which means ‘togetherness.’ The women she trains offer services to the community - the demand for tailoring services is high. But Sacdiyo didn’t have enough equipment to keep up with the demand. So our team had an idea – let’s get them the tools they need to do their jobs. With a new sewing machine, Sacdyio and the women who work with her are able to produce more, earn more, and save more. They might even save enough to buy more machines, bring more women on. Sacdiyo is a woman who blazes her own trail. Who takes people with her and raises them up, too. It’s a … [Read more...] about A Way Forward

Yesterday, we met Fatuma. She’s adopted a group of 35 families in Kismayo who have traveled there in search of water and food – their town in northern Somalia has been heavily hit by drought. These families have lost everything. And while they now have access to clean drinking water – thanks to Fatuma – they lack containers to store the water. They’ve been making multiple trips a day, sometimes spending the majority of their time fetching this precious resource. Mohamuud, an ARC team member in Kismayo, had a simple idea. What if we could provide each family with jerry cans, something they don’t currently have? Then they would be able to get large amounts of water at a time, making their difficult days a little easier. “We say that water is life. If we can do this for these families it will be super,” said Mohamud. With a few calls, we soon had a truck bed full of yellow jerry cans. The families gathered, eager to have this simple tool that can save hours of walking … [Read more...] about Making Things Easier

Yesterday, we met a group of people who were forced from their land in northern Somalia, and who are now finding refuge in the coastal city of Kismayo. Since their arrival, they’ve been met with kindness and generosity by their neighbors. One woman even offered them her own land on which to build their homes. And today, another neighbor is stepping in to do even more. Fatuma lives nearby. She’s been helping these families, giving them access to her water tap. Before she was providing water to these families, her monthly water bill was $30. But now it’s increased to over $100 in some months. An ARC teammate, Mohamuud, had an idea to ease the burden a bit for Fatuma – by helping her pay her water bill for the next few months. “She’s just doing this out of the kindness of her heart. Providing clean water to 35 households…wow.” Helping Fatuma means continued access to clean drinking water for nearly 200 people. And, it means supporting someone who – out of simple generosity … [Read more...] about Water to Drink

In the heart of Kismayo, Somalia, one plot of land has become a new home for 35 families. They’ve fled the terrible drought that’s impacted much of the country. They’ve lost everything. They faced hunger and insecurity. But, they’ve stuck together. And after walking for two days, searching for a place to rest, they were met with a neighborly gesture. Liin Abdullah looks after a plot of land her family owns in Kismayo. It was sitting empty. So, in a great act of kindness, she offered it to this community. And since they have arrived, the families have set up makeshift homes. But, they still lack basic necessities like latrines and water. Living in such close conditions, hygiene is extremely important to prevent the spread of sickness and disease. So on Day 116, we worked with Liin our team to set about constructing two latrines on the plot. “When I went there, I had nothing to offer,” said Mohamoud, ARC team member in Kismayo. “But now, I am more than even happy,” He was … [Read more...] about A Generous Spirit

This is a story of how, even in the toughest of circumstances, doing the doable can brighten someone’s day. Can remind people facing tough times that someone cares, that someone is looking out for them. On Day 115 our security guards - who we first met yesterday - showed us what that really means. Everyone on the ARC team in Kismayo works incredibly hard. But without our guards, we simply wouldn’t be able to do our work. These guys protect us in extreme conditions, to keep all our teams safe. Right now in Kismayo, there’s a drought. So our teams are reaching as many communities they can with clean water distribution. And our guards are right beside them, making sure everything is done safely. One day, the guards noticed something extra they could do for someone else – and they seized the opportunity. They saw some little ones who were malnourished, their families struggling to support them during this severe drought and hunger crisis. So our guards took action. … [Read more...] about An Act of Kindness

For the next week, we’ll be doing the doable inside Somalia - a country that's seen decades of conflict and instability. But in many places, the tide is shifting. People are returning, going back to a place they once knew as home. We’re working with former refugees and displaced people throughout Somalia – including in the coastal port town of Kismayo. It’s a resilient city that’s slowly redeveloping and growing. There are a lot of people who keep our work running safely and smoothly in Kismayo. And chief among them, our security team. These men have a big job - and even bigger hearts. So for Day 114, we wanted to find a way to say thank you. Without our security guards, we simply couldn’t do the work we do. They stand guard around the clock, making sure the rest of the team is safe. Their eyes and ears on the ground give us the confidence to reach out to as many communities as possible, reaching people in need. And, their job means they are always on the move, … [Read more...] about Saying Thanks