This month is all about teachers. It's about seeing the dedication that often goes unseen. About making sure they know how critical their work is. About doing something simple...saying thanks. The secondary school teachers at Nakivale Refugee Settlement live on the school's premises. But their residence wasn't fully equipped with everything they needed for a comfortable stay. And that takes away from putting all their energies into what they love most - teaching their students. The Teacher's residence doesn't have water. The closest water point was a half a mile away. Not the longest walk, but certainly not ideal. We had an idea - to harness the rains that pelt Nakivale consistently during the rainy season. What if these hardworking teachers didn't have to walk so far just to quench their thirst? With a rainwater harvesting tank, all they'd have to do is walk outside their front door. "The water tank is important because when you look at the distance teachers are … [Read more...] about Catching the Rain
Campaigns
Bright Ideas
Having a good teacher in your life is so important. An inspirational teacher can open a student's eyes to a profession they had never considered, to new worlds and languages. At Nakivale Refugee Settlement, there are a lot of amazing teachers. Because getting in and out of Nakivale can be time consuming, most of them stay in the settlement, sleeping in residences nearby. But none of those residences had access to electricity. We believe that these teachers' comfort at home can mean all the difference in the classroom. So today, we're giving them access to something they could really use - light. "Without light, it is a challenge," said Wilber, one of the head teachers. "We want to do extra work and mark exams but we can't. When you try to charge a phone, you might have to go two days without charge because of the lack of power.” We installed solar panels on five different teachers' residences in Nakivale. The panels will give access to light at night and also charging … [Read more...] about Bright Ideas
Sparking Joy
Joy is something that's tough to quantify. How much do you need of a good thing to feel joyful? Or is joy about the little things...sunsets, a good laugh, an unexpected connection? For one border community near Tecate, Mexico, and on one particular Saturday, joy meant something shared, some simple. A fiesta. This neighborhood doesn't always get the chance just to celebrate for the sake of celebrating. So when they told us that a fiesta could really boost everybody's spirits, we decided to plan a party. Our friend Esveide lead the charge. And the women of Finding Sophia jumped in to get everything setup, helping make empanadas and set out tables and decorations. They really gave the ladies of the community a chance to just relax and enjoy the fun. And what a fiesta it was! Esveide and our Finding Sophia friends really pulled out all the stops...pinatas, empanadas, cotton candy, a cake, games for kids, balloons, streamers, even a inflatable bouncy house! What kid - … [Read more...] about Sparking Joy
Gifts that Give Twice
When they can, Esveide and her community of close-knit women near Tecate, Mexico, give out food supplies to other households in their neighborhood. They don't have much themselves, but over the years they've found ways to support those who are really struggling. Lately, they haven't been able to support their neighbors with the rice, beans, and other mainstays like they used to. So today, we're surprising them - with the gift of giving. We went shopping with Esveide and her daughter to get just the right things - oil, sugar, rice, beans, coffee, and more. Then we gathered our friends at Finding Sophia to organize the haul and get ready to give it all away. "There is little access for food for many people," said Luz, Esveide's mother. But "people help each other. They give everything they have to one another." The bags of food for families will last them about a week. But the feeling of giving back, doing something good for your neighbors, and stepping in right … [Read more...] about Gifts that Give Twice
Some TLC
When we sat down with some ladies near Tecate, Mexico, we asked them to tell us what their biggest challenges were. And what we might do to make things a little easier. We met these mamas, which includes Esveide and her family, through an all women's service group called Finding Sophia. We had heard that lately, this community was dealing with some pretty difficult things - increase in crime, insecurity, and a general feeling of unease, not sure what would come next. We had thought that perhaps their answers to our questions would be all about their greatest physical needs...but we thought wrong. Instead? It was all about joy. Something that came out loud and clear was that they needed some TLC. They needed something to lift their spirits. One of the ladies had an idea - what about a salon day? Gathering anybody who needed a little pampering, to boost their confidence and make them their special? So we gathered up some supplies, got the ladies of Finding Sophia … [Read more...] about Some TLC
Listening In
Alicia has a talent. When people in her community are struggling with something, she sits with them. She listens. She guides. And she walks with them through the tough times. She a little bit like her community's informal counselor. Alicia lives right next door to Esveide, the fierce single mother we met yesterday. While we were chatting with Esveide and her family, we learned about Alicia's talent - and her leaky roof. We thought we could do something about both. Alicia has so many people over to her home to chat. So we wanted to help her do more of what she does best. We got her a fresh of coffee supplies and cups and saucers, plus some books on counseling and coloring book supplies - for when her "clients" need to relax and unwind. We also knew her leaky roof was a big problem. When it rained, the water trickled down right inside the house and into her kids' rooms. That was an easy fix - we helped her get the supplies she needed to patch it right … [Read more...] about Listening In
A Special Treat
For Esveide, family means everything. A single mother of nine children, she lives in a border town near Tecate, Mexico, doing her very best to keep her kids in school and give them every opportunity to grow. We came to know Esveide through the ladies of Finding Sophia. We learned that recently, Esveide's community has faced an increase in violence, crime, and child abductions. And as a result, an increase in fear. We sat down with Esveide's crew, wanting to learn some doable ways we could help. And their first idea? It might surprise you... Chinese food! The family's all-time favorite restaurant is called Wong Wa, which serves up classic dishes like orange chicken, shrimp fried rice, and sweet and sour soup. Esveide and her family go there for special occasions and holidays, and when we asked what might cheer them up their answer was clear - a family meal at their favorite local spot. In truth, their response wasn't surprising at all. What family doesn't feel joy … [Read more...] about A Special Treat
Keeping the Faith
As a refugee, holding on to your most dearly held traditions reminds you of who you are. Reminds you of home, of family. For one Muslim community living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, that tradition is coming together in prayer. "Prayer brings us together," said the community's Imam. "It helps us know one another." Right now, this community is doing what they can to keep the faith. But they don't have proper prayer mats, so instead they're using plastic sheeting to kneel on. "It's not ideal," said the Imam, "but it's what we've got." This was a problem we could solve. We got prayer mats for the mosque, enough for every member of the community to use when they come to pray. We had also heard requests for fruit trees, specifically mangoes. "Mango trees bear fruit. People can grab one and eat them on the move. It's nutritious. And as refugees, we can't afford to buy fruit at the market," said the Imam. So, we thought, why not solve two problems at once? Having … [Read more...] about Keeping the Faith
Art in Action
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But sometimes, we could do a little something to help that beauty along. In Nakviale Refugee Settlement, there aren't a lot of places with bright, vibrant colors. Yet the few pinks, purples, blues, and greens that are splashed on homes or churches draw your eye. They add a little spark of joy in an otherwise brown and dusty landscape. Those little sparks are the inspiration behind today's idea - a colorful, encouraging mural right in the heart of the settlement. The mural's design and painting was led by Ben, one of Nakivale's resident artists. His brother taught him to paint, and now, he's teaching others. "Being an artist is my identity," he said. "I don't have a diploma or papers. This is who I am." His idea for the mural was to spread messages of love, peace, and the importance of education. "We can respect and empower young people through this art," he said. Together with a team of art enthusiasts, we set to work painting … [Read more...] about Art in Action
Feeling Protected
Being different can be tough, anywhere you are. But when you're living in an environment where resources are scarce, and communities are shaping and reshaping, being accepted and getting the things you need can feel impossible. Today, we're turning our attention to one group that faces discrimination - both inside and outside refugee camps. The albino community in Nakivale Refugee Settlement knows what it's like to be marginalized. But they also know what true friendship means - because they're surrounded by friends and a community that cares. And that includes us. Albino people in Nakivale have different needs than many refugees at the settlement. One of those needs? Sunscreen. Everybody should use sunscreen. But for albino people, not using it can lead to devastating burns that can become infected, and are very painful. For Day 329, we got everybody in the community their own bottle. But sunscreen isn't the most fun gift for kids...so we couldn't help but give out … [Read more...] about Feeling Protected