There are a lot of things to think about right before a mom gives birth. Are the supplies set? Is the family ready to greet the new little one? Is the way to the clinic mapped out? Families need to get prepped - they shouldn't have to worry about their clinic being prepped, too. But the maternity ward in Bidi Bidi is sometimes strapped for supplies. They struggle to keep up with demand, while at the same time providing the kind of quality care they strive for. Enter Changemakers 365. We thought to ourselves...what are some small, doable changes that will make a big impact for the clinic team and mothers in the maternity ward? Our first idea? Birthing mats. When there are limited resources, these mats can fall out of reach for purchase. But they're crucial to keeping mothers healthy and free of infection during pregnancy. The mats are sterile, so they go a long way in keeping the birthing surface clean. “Literally every mother who comes in needs this," said Jackie, … [Read more...] about A Safe Delivery

The main role of the police force in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement is to keep people safe. This applies to both daytime and nighttime, when crimes can happen under the cover of darkness. But without a reliable light source, keeping the peace can be a challenge. When someone comes to the police station when the sun goes down, officers can't properly assess the situation when they can't see well. We knew lights are important, but we also know that power keeps everything going. So, we combined the two needs - and solved both. Equipping the police station with a solar panel was a way to power up the lights and give the officers a way to charge phones and computers. It's amazing how much these hardworking officers are able to do with such limited resources. They're already working around the clock - this will just help them see their work a little clearer. This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about Light at Night

Whether you realize it or not, a big part of your healthcare experience is all about aesthetics - are the sheets clean? Do the walls need to be painted? Do the doctors and nurses look crisp and professional? You can be with the most talented medical staff in the world, but if the space isn't in tip top shape, chances are you won't feel like you're getting the best care. At one health center in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, you didn't have to look far to see that the beds were past their prime. Many of them were cracked and broken. Needless to say, the beds - and by extension the clinic itself - did not look very inviting. This was something we could solve. It was an easy fix....new beds and sheets for the clinic! Not only did the new additions brighten up the place, but it brought new life to patients and medical team alike. Patients can rest a little more soundly, and the team can have confidence in the quality care they aim to provide. No one should have to … [Read more...] about Brightening up the Place

Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement is a full ten hour drive from Uganda's capital city of Kampala. But most of our team in Bidi Bidi is from Kampala, or somewhere else in the country. Sometimes they go back on the weekends, but they're separated from their friends, their family all too often. On top of that, they spend most of their waking hours in the settlement itself, which can be emotionally draining. Despite the challenges of being isolated, our team brings out the best in each other. They're always thinking about how they can better show up for their colleagues, and for the refugees they serve. Always on the job, they make sure all refugees in Bidi Bidi are treated with dignity and respect. We wanted to say thanks to this team that often goes unacknowledged...so we asked them what would make them feel special and appreciated. Their answer? A party! There aren't a lot of opportunities to kick back and relax in Bidi Bidi, to forget about worries for a while. So it was no … [Read more...] about A Night Off

You probably remember the start of the school year and all the ritual around it. Getting your cutest back to school outfit ready to go, reconnecting with friends, and gathering up all your supplies. Young refugees in Bidi Bidi get excited about the same back to school bustle of activity - but they also face barriers to getting the things they need to feel ready. . Their parents struggle to pull everything together. A backpack goes everywhere with you - it holds all your books, papers, pens, and pencils. So we thought we'd help out by getting some young kids a tool to start the year off right. Our team in Bidi Bidi had the idea to bring a surprise for little ones about to kick off classes - backpacks! The children were over the moon with excitement to get their new bags. They held them close, treasuring the gift. Now these kids can show up to their classes in style, backpacks on their backs, ready to fill them with books and lessons from the new year! This change … [Read more...] about Back to School

This month, we're asking our team in Bidi Bidi to dream up ideas that would make their work better. That includes their service to refugees. But that also includes what might improve their day to day workplace. Joseph, one our teammates, had an idea to make everyone's experience a little more pleasant at the Bidi Bidi office. All of the staff share a latrine. And no one would describe that latrine as smelling like a daisy. Can you guess what Joseph's idea might be...? ...you might have guessed it! Joseph wanted to solve this smelly problem. Em-cleana is a chemical that reduces smell and evaporates the fluid from a latrine. This addition will go a long way in lessening unfavorable fumes during the workday. But he's not stopping there. Joseph also wants to add this chemical to select latrines that need it in the settlement. Who are we to stand in the way of making a place more pleasant smelling? We got 10 cans of Em-cleana and Joseph got to work! Everyone was … [Read more...] about Fresh as a Daisy

Imagine open fields, out in the countryside, maybe dotted here and there with small towns. One day those fields are empty. And the next, a small city has popped up overnight. That's a bit what Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement was like in the early days. Building a new refugee camp from the ground up can happen quickly - and it can catch the neighbors who were already there a bit off guard. But these Ugandan neighbors have been so welcoming to the refugees from South Sudan who have sought safety in Bidi Bidi. Our team knew they wanted to do something to say thanks. And in a farming community, nothing says thank you like helping out with the harvest. We've been working with a Ugandan farming cooperative near Bidi Bidi who are doing so much to give back. Fred, their leader, told us, “We like to get together and be useful to the community!” Sometimes they have trouble getting together and working at the same time, due to a lack of supplies. So we brought rakes, hoes, grass … [Read more...] about Gardening for Good

On Day 289, we saw what a huge impact reusable sanitary pads can have on a group of women - it lifts their worry, makes each month a little easier. But sometimes, you can't predict when - or where - you might need a pad. This is especially true for girls in school. Sometimes they need access to a pad during classes, far away from home, but they're stuck without. When we met with the headmaster of a school in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, he filled us in on the problem. "When girls hit puberty," he said, "Sometimes they don't have the right resources. It can even keep kids out of school completely." There are so many challenges keeping girls out of the classroom in Bidi Bidi, especially as they get older. Having your period shouldn't be one of them. So we stocked this school with as many sanitary pads as we could get for $500 - which totaled over 500 pads! “This will really help the students!" said the headmaster. "They need these pads. With them, they can more … [Read more...] about For When You Need It

Everybody has their thing. What they're good at, what they're passionate about. And once you've found your passion, you want to shout it from the rooftops. For Gerald, it's all about soap. Gerald is a soap maker based in Kampala, Uganda. He's seen the value of his skill in the marketplace, and how it can really change a life for the better. And he shares his skills with anyone who will listen. When Gerald graduated from school, he had a very difficult time finding a job. So to keep himself afloat while he searched for a gig in the IT world, he started a soap making business. Two years later, he's a full time soap maker, bringing others into the fold, too. The type of soap he makes can be used for cleaning latrines, clothes, and many other surfaces. It's really useful in a refugee settlement - while also helping families earn an income. So when we asked Gerald to come up to Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement for a soap making workshop, he jumped at the opportunity! … [Read more...] about The Soap Maker

There is a big need for sanitary pads in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement. But there's no easy way for women to get them - and they're a bit too pricey for most. As a result, every month women and girls face intense worry and marginalization. Some girls even drop out of school. Having access to quality reusable sanitary pads can revolutionize a woman's experience getting her period every month. This was something we could help with. We set out to purchase reusable pads that last for an entire year and gave them to a group of women who were curious how it all worked. Everyone gathered together to get their gift, along with a quick how-to workshop. Goodbye worry, hello brand new day! Reusable sanitary pads are the gift that keeps on giving. These ladies are ready to take on the world knowing that they'll be protected with just one small, discrete, yet powerful change - whenever they need it. This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about Brand New Day