The community of Rubondo is pretty far off from the center of Nakivale Refugee Settlement. It can take over an hour by car to get there along roads that are rough on cars and motorcycles. That's why in a lot of ways, they have to be pretty independent. They have their own clinics, schools, even a separate ARC office. And, they have their own restaurants. Three women run those restaurants, serving up traditional Ugandan fare like matoke, chapati, rice, potatoes, kasava, beans, peas, and ground nuts. They can serve up to 200 people a day! But they weren't equipped to supply such a heavy rotation of restaurant goers...sometimes people have to sit in the grass. In an ideal world, these mamas would love to accommodate more guests - more guests means more supplies, better business, and stronger ways to support their families. This was a change within reach. With the help of our team, we got these business owners new chairs, tables, water jugs, towels, pots, pans, place … [Read more...] about Dishing Up Good Business
Campaigns
Working at the Car Wash
Boda Bodas are big business in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. They're motorcycle taxis, used to take people back and forth throughout the sweeping camp. Boda Boda drivers take a lot of pride in their motorcycles, keeping them clean and in mint condition. But the resources to do so are limited. That's why a few of them have banded together, forming a Boda Boda group that shares things like soap and cleaning supplies. Right now, they usually gather by one of the streams to clean their motorcycles, but the steam water is muddy. And they don't have boots or other protective gear to keep them clean. Our team saw the efforts of these budding entrepreneurs and knew that with the right boost, they could really build their business. Keeping their bikes clean is number one priority for these guys, so we wanted to set up a proper car washing station for them, with all the bells and whistles. Boots to protect their feet from dirty water, mechanic uniforms, cleaning supplies, and most … [Read more...] about Working at the Car Wash
Giving Thanks, Showing Gratitude
The kids we've met in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement are pretty incredible. They're resilient. They're fun. They're filled with energy. But at the same time, life as a refugee kid can be tough. There aren't a lot of things to do, or many mentors to guide their way. Instead, they make their own fun, and make their way as best they can. But sometimes, it can feel pretty isolating. Today, we wanted to do something for these kids to show that we see them - that we're grateful for them. To thank them for simply being the silly, goofy, playful kids they are. And, to help them burn off some of that extra energy! Our teammate Andrew had the perfect idea. "Soccer is universal," he said. "It has no language. It's all about passing the ball, staying active. And it’s brings these children together. They don’t have a social gathering place. But they have a pitch. So if they have the equipment they’ll come together." Right now, these young people are playing with bundled pieces of … [Read more...] about Giving Thanks, Showing Gratitude
Serve and Protect
"This community, they are so hopeful." Andrew is one of our teammates based in Uganda. During a visit to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, he was bowled over by the incredible hope shown by one community in particular. "So many of their neighbors have gone back to Congo," said Andrew. "So I asked one person why they've decided to stay, even though they have been forgotten. They said they still have hope that someone will remember them. They live in positivity." This community in Kyangwali is welcoming to everyone who might help to spark change, including the local police force. In Kyangwali, police officers live within each village, helping connect refugees to resources they need, acting as their voice, and their protector. "They are living with the police like one community," said Andrew. "You cannot differentiate the two." But the police didn't have their own designated shelter. They were sleeping in tents, and working out in the open. "These are very special … [Read more...] about Serve and Protect
Gather, Give, Grow
Taby has been in Uganda since last December. She and her family fled from Congo across Lake Albert, deciding not to take their chances with rising insecurity at home. But for almost a year, Taby's been restless. She and her friends had businesses back in Congo, but they haven't had a way to start them up again here. They know how to run a small business - they just need a little help to get them running. Yesterday, we built a shelter for the women of Taby's community to come together, socialize, and most importantly, get their businesses off the ground. "With a shelter like this," said Taby, "we'll divide it into kiosks so we can all sell different things, like a market center." The next step was obvious - get these ladies some things to sell! We got a smorgasbord of wares...everything from sodas to flashlights to sweet treats to soap. That way, they can test the market, learn, and adjust for the most popular items. "We can even get fish from the lake and sell … [Read more...] about Gather, Give, Grow
Working Women
When we sat down with a Congolese community living in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement to learn what we could do to help, one thing came out loud and clear - women wanted more ways to support themselves. "Back in Congo, women had little shops, selling things like sugar, salt, vegetables, and clothes," said Taby, a Congolese woman who sought refuge in Kyangwali almost a year ago. "What we need is something to help start those businesses again. We need a market, a place for people to gather." The community where Taby lives is having a tough time. Some people are even returning to Congo, where they fear for their lives. Our colleague Andrew had an idea to help... "My mother has sold bracelets in the market for years," he said. "I was raised up at the market. If we build a market stall for women to gather, they have a place to start a business." Together with Andrew and the ARC team in Kyangwali, we built a brand new market stall for women in this area to use! "When you … [Read more...] about Working Women
Rain, Rain
During the rainy season, the ground in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement soaks up quite a lot of water. It can rain several times a day, in huge downpours that last for hours. Our colleague Igor saw an opportunity. "Rainwater coming in is relatively clean," he said. "The amount of filtration that's required in minimal. And parts of the year, rainwater is abundant." One remote community we've been working with the past few days really struggles to get clean water. So Igor and the team came up with a temporary solution, something that will help boost their access to water with the resources that they have. Igor's idea? A water cathchment system for their community shelter! Now, when it rains, water will be collected and saved in a tank that everyone has access to. It won't be enough to serve the entire community all at once, but it will help in a pinch. "Their biggest challenge is water," said Andrew, another teammate in Kyangwali. "Sometimes in a week they'll get water … [Read more...] about Rain, Rain
Easy Does It
We all know what it's like - sometimes doing the "right" thing for yourself and your body is all about convenience. If the gym is far away, how likely are you to get there? If that good book you've been meaning to read is out of reach, you might just settle for reality TV instead. That's the concept behind "tip top" jerrycans. It's not that they deliver better or cleaner water than regular jerrycans, it's just that they're more fun. And easier to use. So, more people use them. In Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, getting clean water is a challenge for most people, and even more so for one community we've been working with the past few days. So, we thought, couldn't we make the water they do get just a little more convenient to use? Tip top jerrycans flip, pouring water to use for hand washing and drinking. They're really popular with kids, who sometimes need extra encouragement to wash their hands. Our colleague Andrew has seen them in use throughout many of the places we … [Read more...] about Easy Does It
How Does Your Garden Grow?
When you think of refugee camps, you might not think about the loss of things like trees, plants, and shade. But when a town pops up virtually overnight, that tends to be the case. This loss of biodiversity impacts everybody, and refugees not least. The new landscape can feel barren and uninspiring. Tree growth starts from scratch. Our team in Kyangwali sat down with one community in the settlement to talk about the problem. And they came up with an idea that - fingers crossed - will really bloom into something exciting. Mango trees play many different roles - they bear fruit of course, leading to increased nutrition for children. They provide shade, protecting against the hot Ugandan son. Their fruit can be sold at the market, giving supplemental income to families. And, they simply look beautiful. We purchased 360 mango seedlings, enough to kickstart a community garden. Everybody was excited about this improvement - including our team! "This idea really supports … [Read more...] about How Does Your Garden Grow?
Soap in Hand
Soap. That deceivingly simple substance that most of us use in one form or another multiple times a day. That we rely on to stop the spread of sickness and disease. That we mainly take for granted. A bar of soap is a small thing. But for someone going without, its absence looms large. We've spent the last two days with a newly arrived Congolese community in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. With the help of our teammates in Kyangwali, we're helping get them more regular access to resources. But in the meantime, there are small things we can do to get them where they need to be. After spending time with families in the community, it became clear that one thing was sorely needed...you guessed it, soap! There are 720 families in this community. So we got 720 packages of soap. "These small improvements, they mean a lot," said Igor, one of our water and sanitation experts working on the problem. "When we're out here talking to people, a lot of the time we feel like we … [Read more...] about Soap in Hand