In Congo, women form the core of their families, their livelihoods, their towns Women are the backbone of Congolese culture. And the same is true for Asili. In the communities where Asili operates, its women who run our businesses. From Dr. Ange our Medical Director, to Adrienne our head nurse, to Mama Faida who operates our water kiosk in Cirunga, … [Read more...] about Women of Congo: Leading Asili into the Future
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Win A Trip To Uganda
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A Month of Thanks
December is a month for reflection, for giving and gratitude. For returning kindnesses, showing appreciation to the people in our lives who mean so much to us. That’s why this entire month of Changemakers 365 will be all about giving thanks. We went to our field teams in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and more and asked them – who are the heroes out of the spotlight? Who makes our work possible? Whose day can we make by giving them an unexpected and joyful “thank you!”? We’re kicking off this month of generosity in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, where we serve over 120,000 refugees. But our work there wouldn’t be possible without the incredible people we work with. So for Day 335, we’re thanking someone who goes above and beyond in her work for refugees – an all-star foster mom, Mama Noume. Mama Noume is one of those people who seem to have a bottomless well of kindness within them. As a refugee living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, she’s taken it upon herself to support … [Read more...] about A Month of Thanks
A Little Reminder
Yesterday we dedicated some time to learning more about the community we serve. It only took a few hours. It was simple. But the knowledge we gained opened our eyes to what we’re doing right, and what we could be doing better. One of the most surprising things we learned from our day of research was that many people who live in the town of Mudaka, where the third Asili clinic is located, didn’t know much about our clinic there! They had seen the signs, the white building and the beautiful gardens, but weren’t sure exactly what services were offered, at what price. Most people we spoke with used our nearby water kiosk regularly, but had never visited the clinic. A huge part of Asili is a deep belief in our brand promise – clarity, consistency, and community. So on Day 300, we took a small step to make sure that everyone in our community knows what we’re all about. The kiosk in Mudaka is a mere few hundred feet from the Asili clinic. There’s no good reason that everyone … [Read more...] about A Little Reminder
Doing the Doable with Zu
Last June the Sweatshop community rallied to raise the funds to send our very own team member, Andezu Orionzi (Zu), a first-generation daughter of two Ugandan refugees and Macalester College graduate to Uganda. Zu had a life-shaping experience participating in the World Refugee Day 5k in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Now we're building on the overwhelming outpouring of support for this first initiative and sending Zu back to Uganda with American Refugee Committee - this time to make real, tangible change for one month. Through ARC's Changemakers 365 program, Zu will implement one project - costing no more than $500 - every day for one month. Sometimes the world's problems seem too big to touch, but there is also a lot of small change that can make a huge difference in real people's lives. It's doing the doable, and it's the change Zu will be leading - with our support. Will you join us in supporting Zu? You can donate here. Your donation will directly fund the daily $500 … [Read more...] about Doing the Doable with Zu
“Don’t Drink the Water”
It’s hard to believe that, even in 2017, this traveler’s suggestion still holds true for a large part of the world. It’s a phrase, an idea really, that we’d like to eliminate. But it’s also so much more. “Don’t drink the water” represents a distrust, or a double standard, in the way we look at the people we serve and what’s “good enough” for them. But it also betrays the way we look at ourselves. It represents a failure to think creatively - to dream with ambition. We’ve settled for “good enough” for far too long. At ARC, we have a deep belief that we should only offer services - whether that be water, healthcare, or anything else - that anybody, anywhere, would be delighted to use. Why should what we offer to refugees be any different than what we accept for ourselves? We’re challenging that double standard, and advocating for dignity and world-class quality, instead. “Don’t drink the water” is a rallying cry. To challenge the status quo. To get inspired - to simply do … [Read more...] about “Don’t Drink the Water”
WATER! Get Your Clean Water!
We have just a couple of days left in Kyangwali refugee settlement, and we wanted to spend today helping a group of young people who've already taken initiative to change their lives. These young men are running a water business in Kyangwali. There are some restaurants, guesthouses and residents who pay these boys to collect water for them from the settlement's water points and deliver it to their doors. The boys have a small wheelbarrow they use for the job that can carry about 3 jerricans of water. While they're at it, they also collect water for elderly residents or people who can't manage to get water for themselves. They wanted to grow their business and do more for their community. So, on Day 269 we helped them build their capacity...with a new water cart. We commissioned welders in Kyangwali to construct a new water cart that would more than triple the amount of water the waterboys could transport. Now they can carry 12 jerricans at one time (at any given time, they … [Read more...] about WATER! Get Your Clean Water!
A New Home
When refugees flee they lose everything: their homes, their livelihoods, their dreams. No camp and no project can ever restore what has been lost. However we believe that by working with refugees and host communities, together, we can put into place the foundation for a thriving community – that refugees are able to call home. The built environment matters; it shapes the way that we experience and interpret our surroundings. Intentional design has the power to transform camps into neighborhoods, clinics from places of sickness to well-being, and despair into hope for a brighter future. With years of experience, we are experts in the design and construction of durable, cost-effective structures. We build housing, latrines, showers, and cooking areas to help restore a sense of home and stability to vulnerable communities. But we are also the first to admit that too often the urgent nature of crises have lead us to construct buildings that although technically adequate haven’t built … [Read more...] about A New Home
A Complete Lab
Yesterday, we purchased two computers to make a little computer lab at the training camp for the Refugee Olympians. They'll practice typing, using email and learning English. But we still needed a printer to complete the computer lab. So on Day 238, we arrived with a brand new printer, ready to hook up. "It will be helpful for everyone to know how to use it," said Lam Joar, who works and lives at the training camp. "If they work in an office, they'll need to know how to use a printer." The staff from the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation that runs the camp were excited for the new color printer, too. When guests come to visit, they'll be able to print schedules and other materials now. This change made possible by Atomic Data. … [Read more...] about A Complete Lab
Investing in Congo’s Future
Last month, we sat down with some of our Congolese teammates who’ve been with us since the very beginning. People like José Katumba, who was instrumental to paving the way toward the first launch in Buhanga, to Michelline Engiteyo, who was based in Kinshasa for years, working with the Congolese government to get the permits and licenses we need to perate. We asked them what keeps them motivated - what gets them to work everyday. And it was amazing to hear their responses. … [Read more...] about Investing in Congo’s Future