I sat down with the team in Thailand to brainstorm how we might help generate income for migrant communities at the border, the communities they serve every day. They had SO many ideas. But their favorite idea was fishing poles! That was a new one to me, but it made sense. Many migrants will use nets to catch fish out in a boat but if the conditions are bad, this means no fishing and no food or income. Fishing poles would remedy the situation, allowing fishermen to fish from land - no matter the conditions. Enter Jaroon, a local fisherman who was the first to receive a fishing pole. Talking with Jaroon and being able to provide this pole to him was such a joy! “Normally I use a boat and net, but if the conditions do not allow, now I can go catch fish and squid from the dock!" said Jaroon as he cast his new pole into the sea. “Next time you come, you eat for free!” Jaroon smiled, pointing at a pile of muscles he caught that morning. Meet … [Read more...] about Fishing for More
Campaigns
Help in a Box
After being with the Thailand team for a couple days, I feel like I need to give the Thailand team a shout out - they're amazing. They travel long distances, work tirelessly, and are so dedicated to our mission of treating and preventing the spread of really destructive diseases, like tuberculosis and malaria. Their work is so important. But sometimes it can lead to a couple of scrapes and bruises. When you’re on the go, you need something that travels with you in case minor accidents happen. And the last thing you need is to run into someone who needs medical attention and not be able to support it. That's why this team wanted first aid kits! We thought that was a fantastic idea. Wai Tun, our friend from yesterday, was delighted! “If I go to the field and someone is getting hurt or needs treatment, then I can help. This is also good for my family and neighbors!" These first aid kids not only help our team stay safe and well taken care of, they're going the … [Read more...] about Help in a Box
Boots Made for Walking
Today I want to introduce you to one amazing member of the Alight family. His name is Wai Tun. Wai might be responsible for Thailand's slogan - the Land of Smiles. Just look at that smile! It can brighten anyone's day. Wai is a man on the move. To reach the patients he treats for tuberculosis and malaria on the Thai-Myanmar border, he travels across all types of environments, going wherever they are. Because of all the difficult terrain he encounters, the sandals he’s rocking just don’t always cut it. We had an idea, and a surprise for Wai...new rubber boots for him and his crew! “When I go to the field on a muddy road, this is very useful!" said Wai. "Especially in this area since we have so much high grass, this protects me from the snake bites. And when I cross the river, this saves my feet from sharp stones.” Wai smiled one of his famous smiles as he slipped his feet into his new, safe kicks. Meet Jon! Hello hello! My name is Jon Atwell and I'm … [Read more...] about Boots Made for Walking
When It Rains it Pours
I’m back! Did you miss me? Today we will be jumping right back into our 365 at the Thai-Myanmar border! Yesterday, I mentioned that the rain in Thailand is for real. The combination of the long travel distances and the rainy season can make for extremely unpleasant conditions for the staff. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, many travel by motorcycle, which makes the rain extremely uncomfortable! Our staff knew what they needed...rain coats! “I go to community sites and plantations and I will wear the rain coat," said Myo Kyaw Kyaw, one of our Alight teammates. "It is good for the motorcycle to keep me dry.” Dry motorcycle rides are the way of the future for our team here now! Meet Jon! Hello hello! My name is Jon Atwell and I'm the Roving Correspondent at Alight. So much of what I do involves going to program sites and spending time with my colleagues around the world, and the people we serve. I get to capture photos, create video, and share … [Read more...] about When It Rains it Pours
Under My Umbrella
Hello and Sawasdee Khrap to Thailand! My name is Jon Atwell and I’ll be hosting you as we bring Changemakers 365 to the Thailand. Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles, and I think as you meet these wonderful people you'll find it to be true. A lot of our work here takes place at the Thailand-Myanmar border. Thousands of migrant workers cross back and forth to go to their jobs every day, and malaria and tuberculosis are easily spread as people travel from one country to another. The Alight teams are on the ground working closely to monitor and stop the spread of these diseases, which means cross-border work is the name of the game. Our first stop? A river border crossing. And the idea? Umbrellas! The team on the ground here is traveling great distances to meet some of the tuberculosis patients. When the sun is out the sun is OUT (as my sweaty shirt could attest) and these umbrellas will help to give shade and a more comfortable journey. The second reason these … [Read more...] about Under My Umbrella
A Softer Space
One of the things we're most proud of is our work in protection - protecting vulnerable people against violence of all kinds. And our colleagues all over the world do so much for so many to make it happen. These people are there for individuals who might have gone through something that few of us can begin to imagine, and they do so with limited resources and with a full heart. So to show how grateful we are for them, and to make a protection space a little more warm and welcoming, we decided to revamp one of our counseling rooms in Nakivale Refugee Settlement! To soften the room a bit, we added a new coat of paint, some new flowy curtains, and a soft light fixture. We then added some pillows, a blanket, stress balls, tissues, and lavender to help the patients feel more welcome and comfortable. And finally, as many of the clients have young children they bring, we set up a children’s corner with toys, books with short stories, coloring books, something that might distract … [Read more...] about A Softer Space
Rest While You Wait
The Alight office at Nakivale Refugee Settlement is at the center of the settlement - and a lot of the action. Sandwiched between the Office of the Prime Minister and a number of other NGOs, the office experiences a lot of foot traffic, as well as some people waiting for appointments at nearby facilities. One reason people wait outside our office is to register newborn babies. Moms with young babies can often be found waiting in the shade outside, sitting patiently for their turn. Even though they're not always seeking our services, we felt we wanted to do something to help - it can be a long wait in the heat. We purchased large benches that could hold dozens of people. Now, both people waiting for something at the Alight office, or at a nearby office, will be able to sit comfortably in the shade. As soon as we put the benches out, they instantly filled up with people! It was a bit of instant gratification for us — seeing that we could meet a need in such a short … [Read more...] about Rest While You Wait
A Place to Sit
When we think of a school, we think of desks, blackboards or dry erase boards, books, and more - we think of them as filled to the brim with the things needed for learning. But getting a school started from the ground up can be tough - when the structure is built, there's still all the expensive furniture to consider. The Rubondo Secondary School had a creative solution to this problem. They made an agreement with a nearby church that students would pick up the church pews on Monday morning and use them throughout the week, and then return them to the church Friday after school so that they could be used for weekend services. But it's a lot of work...they have to walk up a steep hill with the pews to get back to the school. The pew system was working - but it was pretty time consuming. So we thought we might do something to help the school, and ensure that they had enough desks for all of the students to use. We also wanted to make the classroom brighter and more … [Read more...] about A Place to Sit
All Packed Up
Only 62 students are enrolled in Rubondo Secondary School's schools Senior 1 and Senior 2 classes this term. Part of the problem is that students can’t afford to pay for school fees, and even if they can, many of them struggle to get basic materials they need to succeed in their classes. We wanted to take away that worry for as many as we could... We found some durable backpacks and packed them with supplies that the students and teachers had wished for — erasers for their notes, fine arts pencils, colored pens, math class supplies like protractors and compasses, umbrellas for walking in the rain or bright sun, and more. A group of visitors from the US packed 80 backpacks, so that the current students could be stocked up with school supplies and new enrollees would be welcomed to the school with supplies too! As the students walked in one by one, a traveler slipped a backpack over their shoulder, like a parent sending their student off to their first day of school. It … [Read more...] about All Packed Up
Shading the Way
The Rubondo Secondary School sits on a large hill, with lots of land surrounding the school. When you stand outside of the classrooms, looking down the hill, you feel the vastness of the Rubondo community and how green and lush it is. The area around the school is green, and just down the hill is a well where the community pumps water. But there are no trees past the main road, and the students walk up a bare hill in the heat before getting into their classroom. As another learning opportunity, as a way to shade part of the students’ walk to school, and even as a source of additional nutrients, we decided to plant over 200 fruit trees on the school property! Students, visitors from the US, and staff from our international programs planted a combination of different trees to line a walkway for the students to use, and decorated other parts of the property that have plenty of sun and space. The students had anticipated our arrival - they decided to dig most of the … [Read more...] about Shading the Way