At Ariwa Health Center in Bidi Bidi, the reception area is the first place that patients come to seek help. That’s where we do patient intake, where records are kept, and where Florence – nurse in-charge at Ariwa – greets her customers. But in the past few months, the number of patients coming to Ariwa has skyrocketed. So there were certain things that needed some work. The floor needed sweeping, trash was collecting, the room was dark with ragged curtains, and the desk itself was a mess. So on Day 94 we thought – we can do better. In-charge nurse Florence has handled the rapid increase from three patients a week to over 40 – and she’s managing it all with a limited budget and same size staff. She spends the most time at the reception area. So we purchased new pencils, pens, a clock, beautiful plants, and more tools to organize her files and papers. We gave the whole area a good scrubbing and bought brand new, nice curtains. Someone who works as hard as … [Read more...] about A Lovely Space

One thing we know is true - just because we can’t do everything, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything. In fact, doing something opens up a door – you can return to a problem and do one doable thing at a time until the job is finished. And because we’re committed to making change at Bidi Bidi, for Day 93 we wanted to go back and finish something we started on Day 19 – finishing the painting at Ariwa health clinic. And this time, we’re focusing our attention on not just the maternity ward, but the entire complex. With buckets of paint and brushes in hand, we set out to paint the triage office, patient intake rooms, waiting areas, and recovery rooms. Instead of dark, grimy walls, now patients will be surrounded by a fresh coat of paint, clean walls, and brightened rooms. “Just a couple of days ago this place looked like a deserted area where no one should be treated,” said Joseph, an ARC team member who helped repaint the rooms. “But a simple touch can make all the … [Read more...] about The Second Coat

We first met our volunteer Suzan on Day 25, when we brought her on board to be the caretaker of Ariwa Health Center. And in the weeks that followed, she’s proved to be indispensable to the team there. She works with every department, helping to care for the whole patient. Every morning, Suzan wakes up early to walk an hour by foot to the health center. And she spends long days there, returning home in the evenings. So for Day 92 the team thought – what can we do to make Suzan’s life just a little easier? And we came up with an answer – a bicycle. The kind of sturdy bicycle that can tough it out on the unpaved roads of Bidi Bidi doesn’t actually cost very much – we found one in Kampala for $120. But having it is invaluable. Suzan can get to the health center in a few short minutes. She can more easily get water, or go to the market. A bike can change everything. “I think I’ll be doing this job a long time.” said Suzan. “Having this bicycle feels good.” Suzan has … [Read more...] about A Bicycle for Suzan

Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you? If you have, you know that it can be a big challenge. In Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, many of the South Sudanese refugees who have sought safety there don’t speak English – they speak Arabic, among many other languages. And yet, our Ugandan staff and volunteers mainly speak English. This is clearly a time when translators are needed – and a lot of them. We have volunteer translators who are crucial to helping us do our work. But we really want and need them to stick around. So for Day 91, we’re taking the next step - creating paid positions for these incredibly hardworking people. And, we're honoring them with some gifts – like notebooks and pens - to help them do their work. “When I don’t have a translator, I face problems when there are many languages. I don’t know many of them,” said Jamal from the ARC team. “So if they come and I can’t communicate, we face some … [Read more...] about In Their Own Words

Imagine for a moment that you’ve just moved to a brand new town. You don’t know your neighbors, or even the location of the closest grocery store. What would your first step be? Look it up online? How about the yellow pages? In Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, there’s no internet, yellow pages, or even a town crier – if you want to get to a food distribution, you simply have to be lucky enough hear about it from someone else. That’s the only way to get the news. We run community centers at Bidi Bidi, which are meant to act as a hub for everyone who lives nearby. So we thought, what if we could make those community centers a place not only for people to gather, but to come for much-needed information? So for Day 90, we’re doing just that. We put up information noticeboards, filled with useful information like the times for town meetings, food distributions, vaccination days at the local clinic, emergency phone numbers, and notices for opportunities like volunteer or paid … [Read more...] about Sharing Knowledge

For months now, volunteer guards at our community help desks in Bidi Bidi having been dedicating their time and energy to keeping our team and their refugee customers safe. They stand in the rain – and the subsequent mud. They stand guard in the dark. They keep their eyes out for creepy crawlers, like scorpions and ants, which can be difficult to see at night. They get help in emergencies. These guards are our first line of defense in case something goes wrong. And – they’re all volunteers. They saw a need and decided that they have the time to help. So for Day 88, we’re returning the favor. The ARC team put together a kit for the guards, with gum boots, a rain jacket, flashlight, and a cell phone for emergencies. The things they need to stay dry, see at night, and protect themselves against the things they don’t want crawling up their legs. “The gum boot is very important because there are very many scorpions here,” said Joseph, one of the volunteer guards. He’s … [Read more...] about A Light in the Dark

Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement sprang up practically overnight. And along with it, many drastic changes to the countryside. When thousands of people arrived, bulldozers were called in to clear vegetation, trees were uprooted. Part of starting a new life means making the space around you come to life again, too. It means planting, revitalizing, and nurturing the earth. So for Day 87, we’re planting some trees. We started around our community center. Each new tree was dedicated to someone who works there – guards, cleaners, volunteers, and staff. The team chose mango trees to plant because of their wide reach and thick trunks – they’re good for food, and for the cool shade they provide. “Each person who cuts one tree should plant one hundred of them,” said Festo, an ARC volunteer. “The place was so bare, without any trees. But in a few years to come, you’ll find that we’ll be sitting here, enjoying the shade and the fruit of the mango trees.” One by one, these new … [Read more...] about A Fresh Start

Imagine that you’re trying to give directions, get someone’s contact information, or remember a list of things you need to do – all without a pen or paper. It would be quite a challenge. But for refugee leaders living in Bidi Bidi, that's how they do their work. Refugee leaders are the eyes and ears of their communities. They help us stay close to people’s everyday experiences - what they need and how they’re doing. But without the right tools, their impact is limited. “Can’t we just give them a notebook and pen?” asked Hildah, one of ARC’s volunteers in Bidi Bidi. It’s a simple question, with a simple answer. So for Day 86, we’re doing just as Hildah suggests. We gave out notebooks and pens to all the refugee leaders we work with, along with a moment of our deepest thanks for their leadership and generosity. They can use the notebooks to keep track of their contacts, to create handmade business cards to hand out, or just to jot down thoughts as they chat with … [Read more...] about With Pen and Paper

In Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, we run community centers – places where people can get together, hold meetings, connect with others. And behind the scenes, there are a few generous individuals who make sure everything runs smoothly. Who ensure that the space is welcoming and hospitable for all who gather there – our cleaners. These incredible women are volunteers – they’re not paid for their time. But they don't have proper cleaning tools, using instead what they can find – an old piece of foam mattress to clean the floor, a broom made of twigs to sweep. “The idea that they would volunteer to do this work,” said Brent, 365 team member in Bidi Bidi, “it’s really moving.” We couldn’t agree more. So for Day 85, we’re honoring these remarkable women. We’re equipping them with tools to do their jobs with dignity, with pride. Each cleaner received a mop, a squeegee broom, gum boots, and other cleaning supplies like soap. They no longer have to use torn clothes or old … [Read more...] about Cleaning with Care

There are a group of people at Bidi Bidi who have discovered their superpower – their unique contributions to the world, and what they can do to change it. They help to save lives each and every day. That group of people? Our volunteers. Each morning, ARC volunteers get up before sunrise. They’re driven by car out to the far reaches of the settlement where they work. And they stay there all day long - sometimes even until midnight - making sure that new arrivals are registered and people are getting what they need. They give their time freely and with joy, realizing that to change one person’s life is to change everything. Their contributions to ARC – and to the refugees living in Bidi Bidi – are immeasurable. And Paul, who manages these volunteers, takes every opportunity to thank them for what they do. So for Day 84, it was Paul’s idea to do something extra special to show our gratitude – throw them a party. As part of the festivities, Paul wanted to honor a volunteer … [Read more...] about Our Superheroes