A library’s just not a library without books. But there wasn’t a book in sight in this library – and that needed to change ASAP! Luckily, our US visitors had filled their suitcases with books for the library – their favorites from when their kids were kids…or even when they were kids…Charlotte’s Web, Where the Wild Things Are, Stuart Little. As we opened up their bags and began putting the books on our new book shelves, the place was finally starting to feel like a library. Green Eggs and Ham, Goat with Many Coats, The Cat and the King, and many more… In addition to the books our travelers brought, we purchased some local favorites and some materials in French and Kinyarwanda. The kids section was pretty well stocked by the end of the day (although, you can never have too many books – especially for a camp of 13,000 people!). “This is going to be magical for the kids,” Jacques Rumanyika told us. “They’ve never seen this many books in one place before.” But this library … [Read more...] about Stacking Up
Campaigns
Curl Up With a Good Book
When it comes to reading, having a comfy spot is actually pretty important. It’s hard to really get into a good story without a nice place to sit. For that matter, the right furniture is crucial for creating a reading and learning environment that’s calming and feels welcoming. Fortunately, the building in Nyabiheke was already equipped with library tables and chairs (too many, in fact – we actually needed to take some away to make the space usable). We just needed to take care of the rest. It was all about shopping locally. We hired refugees in the camp who are expert carpenters and welders to start building a few wooden bookshelves for inside and welding some metal and wood benches for outdoor seating. Then we headed to the camp tailor, and she got to work constructing pillows for the library. Our partner World Vision offered us a few children’s tables and chairs for the kids’ corner. We just needed some armchairs, a few more shelves and some floor mats, so we headed to … [Read more...] about Curl Up With a Good Book
Shhh…it’s a Library!
When we arrived in Nyabiheke, we were glad to hear there was a library – that’s not something you usually see inside a refugee camp. But we quickly found out there was a library building – a space built and reserved by UNHCR for a library to someday take shape. We couldn’t resist the possibilities of this blank canvas to benefit the community… First thing’s first, we needed to make the library a place people wanted to be, somewhere their imaginations could be unleashed. We needed color. Thankfully, our artist friends Willy and Isaak were there to help. A group of school kids joined our group of travelers to get some paint up on the walls and a little bit of color in the space. “Just paint what you’re feeling,” Willy told the students. “What does what we’re doing today make you feel? What does it feel like to be making a library for Nyabiheke?” We picked up brushes and rollers and got to painting the walls inside the library – a horizon, people reading, images that … [Read more...] about Shhh…it’s a Library!
UMUGANDA!
We’re here in Nyabiheke Refugee Camp in Rwanda, doing the doable for a few days with a group of visitors joining us from across the U.S. (if you’d like to learn more about our Changemakers 365 trip or any of our other immersion travel, contact Alissa at AlissaJ@ARCrelief.org or (612) 607-6486). First of all, Rwanda has its very own take on doing the doable, and we love it! It’s called Umuganda. Umuganda happens on a single morning each month, when each and every neighborhood in the country gets together to volunteer and take on community improvement projects. When the work is finished, a meeting immediately follows to discuss news, challenges, and build a sense of community. Umuganda includes Rwanda’s refugee camp communities, too. Our group happened to be in Nyabiheke on Umuganda, so we asked if we could join in. We grabbed hoes, machetes, and slashers and got to work alongside the community slashing long grasses, leveling the ground and cutting back underbrush and … [Read more...] about UMUGANDA!
Making it Personal
Even if you have a room that holds your belongings, or where you spend lots of time, it doesn’t necessarily always feel like your own. Especially if you don't have the personal touches that look and feel like you. Today, we’re finishing up a project with two Ugandans who had a dream of opening a spa together. Now that they had their space, it was time to make it personal. To help them make the shop really feel like their own, we helped them get paint and furniture, in addition to the beauty supplies we helped them shop for yesterday. The two new spa owners picked out the colors and items they liked best, and then designed a sign to be hung out front and attract customers. “Spending the day with and shopping these two individuals demonstrated the passion and vision they have for their new business," said Jonah from the ARC team. "Seeing their salon in-progress made me incredibly excited for the beautiful space they are creating and for the empowerment that business … [Read more...] about Making it Personal
Polishing Things Up
We spent yesterday working with two Ugandan refugees living in Nairobi. They had a dream of one day opening a spa of their own. Not only could it be a livelihood for the two, but it could be a space where they can be welcoming to all. After Day 97, they have their very own space! Today, we're getting the supplies necessary for running the successful business they want to create. The duo plan to offer a number of services — facial therapy, eyebrow shaping, nail extensions, gel and cutex polishing, plus manicures, pedicures, and acrylic nails. To attract a range of customers, they need a range of supplies, too. So we went out to a few shops and bought many of these supplies — face masks and exfoliating scrubs, nail clippers and emery boards, regular polish and gel polish...the works! “I forget how many small details go into businesses like this, but these two totally had everything down," said Samantha from the ARC team. "We could sit and budget out the supplies before … [Read more...] about Polishing Things Up
A Space of Their Own
Whether it’s a piano for a budding pianist, or a mathematics textbook for a talented student, access to specific resources can open the world to the right person. Two Ugandan refugees we met in Nairobi were looking for exactly that. They'd fled Uganda after the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2013, and came to Kenya to seek refuge. The two met and became fast friends, realizing they had so much in common. Both had been trained as beauticians in Uganda — one specializing in hair and nails, and the other in makeup. They had a dream of opening their own spa together. We wanted to help them make this dream come true. So after spending a couple of weeks looking for a space, they finally decided on a small site tucked in between a number of other shops, and close to a main road that would direct a lot of traffic their way. We covered the first few months rent and helped with a deposit. Then they were off and running - a new spa, and a new beginning! “We have been … [Read more...] about A Space of Their Own
Making a Difference
Shadia is a 20 year old single mom who fled Uganda, fearing for her safety after anti-gay laws were passed there. Not only is she strong and resilient young woman, she’s also a leader in her community as the founder of the Foundation for Lesbian Bisexual Queer Women Refugees. As Shadia puts it, women in the LGBTI community are especially vulnerable, and that’s why she’s dedicated herself to supporting women like her. But Shadia's facing a problem - the organization is low on funds. So she had an idea...she wants to start a jewelry business to fuel the group. And we were excited to help! Shadia took us to her favourite shops to buy supplies in Nairobi. We got beads, chains, strings and jewels in all sorts of colors. Shadia had an experienced jewelry maker train the members of FLBQR, and now the ladies are making bracelets, necklaces and rings. All the profit will go towards running group. Shadia is a bright star in her community. With a little boost to her idea, she'll … [Read more...] about Making a Difference
Thank You, Mbazira
One of the friends we've made in Nairobi is Mbazira Moses. He's the Executive Director of Refugee Flag Kakuma, a local organization that supports and advocates for LGBTIQ+ refugees. He’s also a trusted community leader that works tirelessly to make sure the people around him are safe and cared for. He serves as a voice for the LGBTIQ+ refugee community living in Kenya and around the world. During the heightened protection issues in Kakuma Refugee Camp in December, Moses was one of many who was attacked by the police and local community. He was brutally beaten and his phone was destroyed and then confiscated. He arrived in new center in Nairobi without a phone, which meant that he really didn’t have any way to communicate with the outside world - including fellow community members living in urban Nairobi, those that remained in Kakuma, and others around the world who turned to him for updates about the community. When he could, he borrowed his friend’s phone. … [Read more...] about Thank You, Mbazira
Safe and Warm
The weather between Nairobi and Kakuma Refugee Camp is like night and day. Even though both are in Kenya, Nairobi’s temperatures drop significantly in the evening. In the desert environment of Kakuma, it's always hot and sandy. The group of LGBTIQ+ refugees from Kakuma we’ve met in the past few days are newly arrived in Nairobi, where warm clothes are a necessity. Most of the refugees that were relocated to the safe center came with just the clothes on their backs. The nights were cold and oftentimes unbearable, causing sickness and discomfort. We asked this community what other essentials they needed to make their lives a bit more comfortable. They were quick with their answer – they needed sweaters. With the help of one of our contacts at the center, we were able to purchase warm jumps in all the appropriate sizes for each adult there. And as the temperatures drop, a small difference today will make a world of change tonight. … [Read more...] about Safe and Warm