Yesterday, we helped kick start the Gambela women’s netball new look. But there's another team in Gambela that we of course couldn’t forget, the men’s soccer team! Zu is back there today making a difference. The men’s soccer team are role models in their community. They provide a positive outlet for people to get involved, a way to grow together. They had an idea to make their team even better...new jerseys! These jerseys help make the team feel fresh and look their best on the court. The sports teams of Gambela are truly amazing. The energy and life that they bring to those around them is inspiring! Everyone looked great, and they even let us join in their game. It was a truly memorable experience for all! … [Read more...] about Team Spirit
Campaigns
Over the Net
Gambela is a city in western Ethiopia, close to the border of South Sudan. Due to conflict and ethnic persecution in both countries, many people from Gambela have sought refuge in Uganda. But out of this hardship was born the beautiful Gambela community in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Organized sports for youth provide so many benefits, both physical and emotional. People in the community recognized these benefits, and wanted to support their youth with the things they needed to compete as organized teams. So today, we're helping this vibrant neighborhood fight the daily stressors of life in a refugee camp with something everyone can rally around...a netball team to cheer for! The girl's netball team was completely outfitted with new blazing yellow uniforms, netball nets, hand pumps, and three netballs! We were even lucky enough to be a part of the first practice session led by the team coaches - it's certainly easy to become a lifelong fan of the Gambela girl’s netball … [Read more...] about Over the Net
Staying Connected
After two days with farmers who spend their time growing produce, today we're with someone who is growing knowledge. His name is Prince. We first met Prince last year when we thanked him for his hard work educating young minds. And he's never stopped being a force for education - but something was stopping his access to the rest of the world. When we sat down with Prince, he told us about an idea for change he had. A new phone. His current phone was broken - he could receive calls, but the screen was cracked, making email and texting impossible. Many people are interested in joining in to help out with his school, but he can't connect with them. We wanted to be sure Prince had all the tools at his disposable to unleash his and other's talent in Nakivale. So Zu and the crew headed to pick out a phone that could connect Prince to the world and improve the school! Prince was filled with gratitude upon receiving the phone! The smiles wouldn’t stop. “Thank you, thank you, … [Read more...] about Staying Connected
Sprinkling Change
Yesterday, we visited farmers in Rubondo, delivering a new hose for watering their crops. We were so inspired by their excitement and joy that it gave us another idea - a sprinkler. We got to thinking...what if we could attach the hose to a sprinkler and let the sprinkler take care of all the work for our farming friends?! We liked this idea - and the farmers liked it even more! So we came back with a sprinkler to test it out. It worked! The sprinkler sprang to life, shooting water across the whole field. The sun was setting, and everyone was cheering. It was a truly magical moment. Tomorrow, we'll ask the question - what do a changemaker and a phone have in common? Stay tuned to find out! … [Read more...] about Sprinkling Change
Remembering Forgotten Friends
Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda is really big. Most people live in an area called Base Camp - and those folks also tend to get the most love. But there's another part of the settlement, named Rubondo, that can sometimes be a bit forgotten. Rubondo is made up of mostly farmers, and they tend to stay near home. Andrew from the ARC team told us that refugees will sometimes only make the trek to Base Camp once a year, and maybe even less! Our friend Zu wanted to make sure Rubondo felt the love too. So we piled into the car and made our way there. When we arrived, we met some farmers who oversaw a huge amount of land. They work together to manage the large fields and they told us how they have a water reservoir, but they have no way to efficiently spread the water across the whole field. They just fill up watering cans, and do it all manually. This gave us an idea...a hose! This would make their access to water all the way across the field possible. When we … [Read more...] about Remembering Forgotten Friends
Nothing but Net
It's our last day at the reception center in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, and the staff and residents have stolen our hearts. The team's last idea? It was all about net. Netball is a relatively new sport to the settlement. It's similar to basketball, but the hoops have no backboard behind them and the ball is like a volleyball. Games like this allow everyone to take a break and focus on simply having fun. The Netball set up was a huge hit with the kids! “This really means a lot to us. The kids need to play so badly, and this will help,” said one of the staff. These children are the future. Even though their childhood will be different than most, it's so important that they still get a chance to play - and just be kids for a while. … [Read more...] about Nothing but Net
Ready to Play
The more time we spent with the team of the reception center, the more it was clear to us how much they cared for the children there. Whether it was dancing and singing with them or playing sports, the staff loved spending time with the kids. And the kids loved the staff right back! So it came as no surprise that when asked what the reception center needed, the staff’s answer was focused on the littlest people there... ...volleyballs! Volleyball is an easy sport for the kids to play. All you need is a net and a ball and the game can begin. So today's idea was easy - we got these kids some volleyballs. The children loved bumping the balls back and forth with each other! Another way to spend some time getting to know new people and settling in. Tomorrow, we have one last surprise for our new friends at the center...stay tuned! … [Read more...] about Ready to Play
Looking and Feeling Good
When we met with the management of the reception center at Nakivale Refugee Settlement, we found that one of the greatest needs was for children’s clothing. One, because kids outgrow their clothes quickly, and two, some of the children show up to the settlement with just one pair of clothes. We found out how many children were in the reception center. Then we went into town to find some new clothes... The kids were so surprised and delighted to get new outfits! The little girls got beautiful new dresses, and also a functional outfit. The boys got new shorts, pants, and shirts. Children tend to be excited about most things. But today was a little different - kids were jumping up and down and running to show their parents their new clothes. As these little ones adjust to life at the refugee settlement, there will be big challenges ahead. But equipped with an extra boost, they'll be able to face those challenges with a little more confidence, looking and feeling good. … [Read more...] about Looking and Feeling Good
A Piece of Home
Yesterday we brought an important item to the reception center - soap. Today, we're thinking about things a little differently with something that's so very important for kids as they grow up. And, it provides hours of entertainment, too. Footballs! “The reception center rightfully focuses on the basic needs that the newly arrived residents require," said Zu, our friend from Minneapolis who's doing the doable with us in Nakivale. "But the chance for organized play as a pastime can make all the difference." When you're new to the reception center, everything feels completely foreign. But football is something familiar. No matter where you're from, you know how to play football. The children gathered to run and play, laughing with friendly competition. What a great reminder that a small change can bring such immense joy! … [Read more...] about A Piece of Home
A Way to Welcome
The reception Center in Nakivale Refugee Settlement is the first point of entry for people who have just arrived. Many have walked distances far and wide after fleeing a situation of crisis. People carry with them few belongings. They don't have much if anything to support them during their stay at the reception center, alongside hundreds of others waiting to be assigned land and other resources. The team who oversee the reception center told us that there's a huge need for a simple thing - soap. So, we thought, there was something we could do for these new arrivals. We went into town and got a whole truckload of soap for under $500! We were able to ensure that every family in the reception center received a bar for every member of their family. There was smiling and laughter all around. One of the most moving moments was as the soap was handed out, the community brought forward a woman who was deaf and mute. They told us that they wanted her to be the first to … [Read more...] about A Way to Welcome