For the next few days, we’re back in Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan with our Syrian Changemakers! Today we’re making change with a particularly vulnerable group – widowed and divorced women who live alone. Jobs are very hard to come by in the camp, and it can be difficult for women to work outside of their home. Especially when they have small children who need care. Some of these women were seamstresses before the war started in Syria. So we bought sewing machines for nine women head-of-households! These machines will make a big difference - they’ll be able to operate small businesses out of their home making mattresses, clothing, and other items. When we gave the women their new machines, everyone was buzzing with energy. The women said they had given up hope that anyone would invest in them because of their age. Believing in the potential of people – regardless of age – is something we can miss in our world. But these women have grit and talent. All they … [Read more...] about Sewing Hope
Campaigns
Helping Them Shine
Today is our last day with the wonderful women of a salon cooperative in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. We’ve renovated their salon from head to toe, but there was one vital piece missing, something to really jump start their business. SUPPLIES! No salon is complete without the right materials to serve their clients. From hair extensions to brushes, this teaching salon needed the necessary equipment to help them shine. We asked Jennifer, the brain behind this operation, what is what they needed most. She gave us a list, and we went shopping. Soon, the inside of the salon was filled to the brim with supplies – model hair for practice, hair extensions, brushes, shavers, nail polish, you name it. Jennifer and her crew were thrilled with the changes, from today and from the past week. The group plans to use the boost in profits from all this change to grow even bigger, to serve more people, and to expand their savings so that they can continue to support each other. … [Read more...] about Helping Them Shine
Powering Up
No matter what kind of services you seek out at a salon, no matter how talented your stylist is, chances are they’ll need access to electricity. From blow dryers to flat irons to shavers and just simply the light overhead, getting primped requires power. The ladies of a salon cooperative in Oruchinga didn’t have access to electricity at all. So they were pretty limited in the services they could offer – especially for men. To really increase profits and offer all kinds of services, they want to be able to cut the other half’s hair, too. So for Day 136, we’re making it happen. We installed solar panels on the newly renovated roof. And voila, there was light! “We can start to offer shaving!” said Jennifer, the leader of the group. “This is also about security. Now, we can work late into the evening.” With expanded services and hours, Jennifer expects they’ll be able to save quite a bit more than they were able to before. “Everyone in the community, not just … [Read more...] about Powering Up
Getting Comfortable
Jennifer, a refugee from Congo, is a tireless advocate for young mothers in Oruchinga Refugee Camp. She’s the kind of person who, given the opportunity, will turn lemons into lemonade, a spark into a fire. One of her most successful projects has been a salon, where girls learn a trade and business skills, too. But the building housing this business wasn’t in the greatest shape – they were missing the basics, like chairs, mats, and tables – things to help the ladies and their customers relax. So, we thought, there was something we could do about that. With a brand new coat of paint and the roof fixed, we got to work filling the space with colorful, yet practical, furniture. Bright patterned mats, chairs, and a table were purchased for the space. And we couldn’t forget one of the most essential parts of any salon…a mirror! With just a few short steps, the interior of the salon was completely transformed. And lo and behold, customers began to gather around, waiting for … [Read more...] about Getting Comfortable
A Leaky Roof
This week, we’re working side by side with women in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, helping to bring out the beauty and potential of their salon cooperative. We kicked things off with a splash of color, adding vibrancy to the walls. And today, we’re moving on to something a little more functional – the roof. “The roof is totally broken,” said Jennifer, the leader of the group.“When it rains we usually take out all our stuff and put it in our own houses.” Having holes in the ceiling leads the problems with critters and insects, too. So for Day 134, the solution was easy. We got these ladies a brand new roof! Going from a leaky roof to a solid one is much more than just aesthetics – it lends confidence to the women and their customers. It’s a signal that this business is here to stay. It says that these ladies are here – and that they’re serious about making change. “This is an answer to our prayers,” said Jennifer. “This will make our business better.” … [Read more...] about A Leaky Roof
Making Business Beautiful
Every so often, remarkable people cross our paths that change the way we see what’s possible. That inspire us to do more, and more importantly to do better, not just for ourselves but for each other. Today, those people are the women of the salon group at Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. These ladies don’t have a whole lot of resources behind them. But nevertheless, they are constantly banding together and coming up with ways to learn, grow, and lift each other up. Jennifer, a refugee from Congo, is the leader of the group. “Most of them here in this group are teenage mothers without any support,” she said. “We formed so that young women have somewhere to go and make themselves better.” For the past few years, Jennifer has trained generation after generation of girls who learn business and marketable skills in her salon. Then they go out and start their own businesses, or help to mentor the incoming group. It’s a model that’s worked – but they’re limited. “If we had more … [Read more...] about Making Business Beautiful
Stepping Up
Yesterday, we met the incredible members of Siiqqee International Oromo Women. They're working tirelessly to support the Oromo people of Ethiopia. Today, we're seeing if we can do a little more. Yesterday's event served to raise awareness about the conflict in Ethiopia. Their big goal? To raise enough funds to build homes for displaced communities. So, we had an idea for how to help. We pledged to contribute $500 toward building homes for Oromos caught up in violence and conflict – and the Siiggee Women wanted to leverage this contribuate as a match to help kick off the evening of fundraising! And it worked. By the end of the evening, and spurred on by the energy of that first contribution, the Siiggee Women had raised $36,000! It was incredible to see everyone come together to support a community so in need. "The Oromo are in a state of limbo," said Najat from the group. "That’s no way to live. I don’t want to just be talking about how my people are suffering. … [Read more...] about Stepping Up
Like Family
The Oromo are the largest ethnic group of Ethiopia. Since 2017, over 1 million Oromos – the majority women and children – have been displaced from their homes inside of Eastern Ethiopia due to conflict. Minnesota is home to over 40,000 members of the Oromo diaspora. One of whom, Aanne Atomssa, is ARC’s very own team member! Aanne came to the U.S. 18 years ago, but she remains connected to her community back home. Aanne and a group of other women leaders in the area were particularly moved by the recent conflict and humanitarian emergency in Ethiopia. They wanted to do something to help. So together, they formed the Siiqqee International Oromo Women. One way that they plan to achieve this goal is by building homes. “Disaster happened, and we knew we had to do something," said Aanne. "Something big. Building homes is that something big.” The Siiqqee International Oromo Women set out to fundraise to meet their goals, with events in the U.S. and around the world. … [Read more...] about Like Family
Seeing Clearly
Losing your sight can be terrifying. But for women who are taking care of their children in Kalma Refugee Camp, it can also mean putting the entire family at risk. Many women in Kalma are breadwinners in their family. They have the triple role of taking care of their children, their extended family members, and making sure there’s food on the table. Cataracts are common in Kalma Camp, but access to surgery is not. As you may imagine, losing their sight can have ripple effects that go far beyond these superhero women. Most families can’t afford to pay for the simple surgery that could fix their problem. So we’re fixing it for them. For today, we honed in our efforts on two moms and one dad – Asha, Kaltoum, and Adam. “I have one son whom it has been a long time since I could see his face well,” said Asha. “Today, I open my eyes to see him clearly. I see my two sons – Musa and Gabriel whom I consider a gift from you.” It was a quick fix, at relatively low cost. But … [Read more...] about Seeing Clearly
A New Beginning
For the next couple of days we’re spending time with the people of Kalma Camp in South Darfur. These communities don’t have a whole lot of support, they do a lot with a little. But for people who face extra challenges – like a physical disability – hurdles in Kalma can morph into mountains. There are a lot of kids in Kalma who face physical challenges. But, it’s so important that they continue to socialize with their peers, go to school, and get around the camp with ease. Our teams wanted to do something to help. So they sat down with people in the community and came up with a plan for three children – kids who, despite the obstacles, are working hard toward a bright future. What do these kids need most? Wheelchairs. Abdulsalam, age 9, Mojahed, age 14, and Izaedin, age 16, all got new wheelchairs – tools they can use to get where they need to go. And the kids weren’t the only ones over the moon about these gifts. “Izaedin loves education and he is very good, but it … [Read more...] about A New Beginning