Having a bright smile can mean so much more than what shows on the outside. Being able to flash those pearly whites in moments of joy and laughter, without holding back, fuels a sense of confidence and pride. In Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, not a lot of kids have ready access to toothbrushes and toothpaste. But as they grow, it's so important that they learn the best ways to take care of their teeth so they can keep on smiling bright for years to come. Our team in Bidi Bidi really wanted to do something to help. They knew they couldn't reach all the kids in the settlement all at once, so they decided to start with what they could do... The team chose five schools that could really use a little boost. And then with bundles of toothpaste and toothbrushes in hand, they set out to get those kids keep their teeth nice and clean. The kids also got a quick lesson on the best ways to go about brushing your teeth. Dental hygiene is critical to keeping that beautiful smile, and … [Read more...] about Smiles So Bright

So many South Sudanese refugees who arrive at Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement are dealing with enormous trauma. They need people to help them process what they've been through - and provide guidance for the challenges still to come. Our team in Bidi Bidi helps refugees begin to heal. We have safe spaces where people can come and talk, tell us about what's going on, and ask for advice on what to do next. As you can imagine, these are very sensitive topics. Everyone needs to feel comfortable and at ease. But there was a problem - there weren't enough seats for everyone waiting to talk. A long wait can but tough - but a long wait with nowhere to sit is even tougher. Having nowhere to sit can make people want to leave early or not come at all. This lack of seating was impacting the quality of our services. So our team wanted to do something about it. We picked up 100 lawn chairs to spread out to all our different sites. The chairs were all put into action that same day - … [Read more...] about Sitting Pretty

Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement is vast - it can take hours and hours to drive from one point to another. For expectant mothers, this can be a little scary. When you go into labor, the last thing you want is for the nearest safe delivery center to be miles away. Plus, most of them get to those centers on foot. Going into labor can happen unexpectedly. But we want these mothers to give birth safely, no matter where they are. Our staff member Maggie had an idea...let's get Mama Kits to as many women who are the furthest afield. Mama Kits hold all the supplies you need to have a baby outside of the hospital. Having a baby without a doctor is not ideal, but having the right supplies makes the delivery much safer. Inside the kits these moms will find things like gloves, hygienic and sterilizing equipment, and everything else you could need. Selena - one of the mothers who received the Mama Kits - told us how thankful she is because her baby is due in 15 days. “Sometimes we are all … [Read more...] about More for Mamas

Kids are kids are kids. No matter where you go in the world, kids are into one thing - having fun with their friends. The case is the same for Bidi Bidi. Children love to run and play throughout the settlement, tossing a football around or coming up with their own games. But with all this rough and tumble play, we noticed something...almost none of these guys had shoes. The surface of Bidi Bidi can be unforgiving at times - hard ground, mud, and sometimes garbage can be underfoot. Not having even a small protection can make kids more susceptible to infection. We wanted to protect the little feet of Bidi Bidi. So we hatched a plan! We purchased large bags of youth-sized sandals and headed out to give them away. Then, we let the word spread. Soon, children were coming from all around to pick up their new kicks! Everybody took turns showing each other their new sandals. Seeing the children run off into the distance, waving their new shoes over their heads was a … [Read more...] about A Plan Underfoot

Bidi Bidi is the largest refugee settlement in Uganda. Because it's so close to the border with South Sudan, hundreds of thousands have sought refuge there. When refugees flee, their lives are put on hold. But that doesn't mean they don't want to get back to normalcy as soon as possible! And for young people, a big part of that normalcy is school. So for our first idea in the settlement, we're focusing on students - and helping them get back to their books. Our team in Bidi Bidi had the fantastic idea of supporting students at one school with scholastic materials. Every student needs things like pens, pencils, notebooks, and geometry kits - but not every student can afford them. So we gave these supplies to the school, so that everything they need is there right when they need it! It's amazing how a lack of something as simple as supplies can impact a young person's education. At this school at least, the students can get off to the strong start they … [Read more...] about Welcome to Bidi Bidi

Our team in Palabek is simply amazing. With refugees coming from South Sudan daily, there are always unexpected challenges, waiting around the corner. And it takes every last one of our teammates, working around the clock, to get the job done. How do you say thank you to such an incredible team? Nothing would ever be quite enough, but we decided to throw a big thank you bash as a way to start. It was a night filled with music, dancing, food, and fun, where the team could enjoy each other’s company an invite other colleagues to join in on the fun too. To add to the surprise, we brought a little care package from our friends at Atomic Data! It was filled with useful things in the field like pens, post-its, and hand sanitizer. Plus some candy - for a little energy boost when they need it most! Thank you, Palabek team, for all that you do for refugees - you make this work possible! This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about Hip, Hip, Hooray!

In an emergency situation like the one in Palabek, making sure that supplies don't run out is always a challenge. But when it comes to helping expectant mothers give birth, having enough clean materials for a safe delivery is absolutely crucial. "Mama Kits" are a one stop shop for all the supplies a doctor needs to deliver a healthy baby. But the maternity was running a bit low...so we stepped in to bridge the gap. We gave over 100 kits to the maternity in Palabek! And our doctors were so relieved. “The mama kits include everything for a safe delivery. We will be able to serve 100 mothers!” exclaimed Sharon, one of our partners. The staff at the maternity clinic work so hard, and have to do amazing things for moms with very little Providing a stop gap until they get more in stock was something very doable. But for those 100 mothers and their babies, it could make all the difference. This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about Mama Kits

The moments right after the birth of a baby are precious. Mom gets to hold her little one her in arms for the first time, filled with joy and relief. Families rejoice. The last thing that everyone should be thinking - during and after the birth - is having a bed. But at the maternity clinic in Palabek, there weren't enough to go around. Instead, during those precious moments, many moms and babies have to stay on the concrete floor. Mats on hard floors were clearly not good enough for these new mothers. So we returned to the maternity clinic, this time with new mattresses and blankets! “These beds are important because they increase mother’s comfort and keep people off the floors,” said Sharon, one of our partners at the Office of the Prime Minister. Keeping mothers off the floor is simply the right thing to do - plus, it will help to to reduce disease and infection. Now at this clinic, moms have one less thing to worry about, and one more thing to make the time spent … [Read more...] about Made for Moms

Right now in Palabek, refugees are settling into their new lives. And their Ugandan neighbors are getting used to their new neighbors, too. Yesterday, we helped one village of Ugandans living next to Palabek with some farming supplies. We want them to know that we're not forgetting about the challenges they face, too. There was something missing though, something that these farmers needed to really produce the best crops. Their idea? Ox plows! Tilling the field can be very time consuming and hard manual work. This village has many cows at their disposal that are up to the task, but not the tools to make the most of them. Our staff wanted to ease the work load of prepping the fields, so we returned with 2 plows and a whole lot of smiles from the community! Having plows will help to amplify the hard work the farmers are already doing. It's an extra tool to keep in their back pocket - and another way to say thank you for being the best kind of neighbors! This … [Read more...] about A Farmer’s Friend