On our last day in Kyangwali, we saved a project that might make the biggest impact yet. There are too many people in Kyangwali who are stuck - people who have a disability or who just can't get around on their own. They're stranded at home, only able to connect when people come to visit them or see how they're doing and if they need anything. We met one young boy who isn't able to walk. He can only drag himself across the ground - so his clothes are always dusty and dirty. If he wants to go any distance, someone must carry him. Another elderly gentleman in his 80s has been confined to his home. His neighbors do what they can to take care of him, but it's hard on them and it's hard on him. For these Kyangwali residents, mobility would make all the difference. So - before we moved on from Kyangwali - we purchased and handed over 3 new wheelchairs to help these residents get moving. "I am very excited," Agnes, our third wheelchair recipient told us. "Now I can walk on my … [Read more...] about Some New Wheels

At ARC, we work on two kinds of problems - the impossible (very big, tough problems) and the doable. Changemakers 365 is all about doing the doable, making small changes that cost no more than $500 a day but make a huge difference in people's lives. But we've discovered that we can do the doable and, at the same time, lay the groundwork for tackling the impossible. One of the biggest, toughest problems in Kyangwali is violence against women - trying to prevent it and responding when it does happen. To create solutions that will work and be embraced, we need to meet women and communities where they are. We need to be accessible. But right now, ARC has just one central location where women can come for help. It's at the center of the settlement, but it's a 5-6km walk from home for many women. Violence against women is one of those big, tough problems our teams work on. In Kyangwali, our team believes that if they can just manage to get locations set up in the settlement's 4 main … [Read more...] about Getting Local

One of the ideas that inspired the creation of Changemakers 365 was Immediate Service Delivery. It was submitted to ARC's worldwide staff ideas competition - The Changemakers Award - a few years back. While it didn't win, we thought it was terrific. And we carried the spirit of the idea forward in Changemakers 365. Here's the gist. A lot of ARC's work is spent on big, long projects. These are projects we've planned months in advance with very specific budgets, each dollar earmarked and spoken for. It's critical work, but the the problem is it leaves little room to respond to emergent needs. If something comes up and someone needs help that's not already allotted for from a budget, a special request must be made to our institutional donors. The process can take awhile. Immediate service delivery is all about cutting out the waiting time. And getting people what they need, right when they need it. On Day 267, we wanted to make immediate service delivery a reality in Kyangwali. … [Read more...] about Immediate Service Delivery

In Kyangwali refugee settlement, there are hundreds of people who are considered extremely vulnerable individuals. These might be elderly residents who are living alone, unaccompanied minors, or people living with disabilities. But on Day 266, we met one woman who - on that day - might have been the most vulnerable person in Kyangwali. She had been sleeping rough - out in the open every night without a roof or a door to protect her. We had to do something about it. People from the community brought the woman's situation to our attention. So, when we let them know our plan to build her a home, they were on board. We had a building crew ready to go that very minute. We got them the building materials and they got to work - putting up supports, laying a roof and mixing mud to make the walls. A frame was up before we knew it. "This shelter will protect this woman," said Joseph, ARC team member. "She was unsafe living out in the open like that." In addition to her new home, … [Read more...] about Out Of The Elements

On Days 242 and 243, we helped a group of girls - who weren't able to complete their formal education - continue building skills that will support them into the future. Today, we're working with a group of boys who are dealing with some of the same challenges. Not able to finish their educations, they need to figure out how to make their way in the world. They had an idea, and we were happy to help them make it happen on Day 265. Kyangwali settlement is actually a quite fertile place. The refugee farmers who work the land here are able to get decent yields of maize and beans. That's where these boys come in. Their idea is to be a link between farmers and traders. Farmers are busy in their fields, and don't always have the time or means to transport their produce to market. Likewise, the traders who want to purchase produce can't visit each and every farmer. The boys wanted to get in the middle. So, we helped them to purchase a whole lot of sacs to store the maize and beans … [Read more...] about The Middlemen

Imagine every night in total darkness. No way to find something in the dark, to see your way to the bathroom, to read...to do anything. That is how many people in Kyangwali pass every night. They don't have any kind of a light, so when the sun goes down there's little they can do but sit awake or sleep. If they have a little bit of money they try to buy parrafin candles, but those quickly run out. Being in the dark is challenging and terribly limiting for many people. But for certain individuals who are living on their own or are particularly vulnerable, not having a light can really be terrifying. On Day 264, we were determined to bring light into the lives of as many Kyangwali residents as we could. We delivered solar lamps to 35 of the most vulnerable individuals in the settlement. The lamps sit out in the sun all day long charging, and then they last for hours of use after the sun goes down. They'll make an impact - overnight! "I have been buying parrafin when I have money … [Read more...] about Sunlight 24-7

The way Changemakers 365 works is not business as usual in Kyangwali settlement. And that is what is so great about it. Most of the time, our team in Kyangwali is working on years-long projects and working to move the needle and make a measurable impact with the refugee community. It's incredibly critical work, but there's often not room (or funds) for doing the doable - recognizing small, emerging problems and acting fast to create change that will make a big impact. So, as our time in Kyangwali is winding down, we thought we'd host a little gathering of the whole ARC team that have been working on the Changemakers 365 projects for the last month. An opportunity to celebrate what has been accomplished and look ahead to what is next. And what better way to do that than around a fire. On Day 263, we hosted a staff campfire. We thanked the team for their hard work with dinner and treats. And we talked about what went well, what was hard and what we could have done better. We … [Read more...] about Around the Fire

Yesterday (Day 261), we added a bunch of toys to our counseling rooms, so that kids could play while their parents were working with our counselors. Inspired by these kids, we thought we could do a little more for them. So, on Day 262, we carried in a big bundle of new clothes, just these kids' size. Many women who come to ARC for support often bring their children along with them. And often these little ones are in bad shape themselves. Their clothes are threadbare and it's been awhile since they've had a good bath. So, while their mothers are being taken care of, our team also takes care of the children. They give the kids a good scrubbing. And they always wanted to get the kids dressed again in a new set of clothes. But they never could until today. That's why these new pants, shirts, hats, underwear and other clothes will make such a difference for these children. It will help them - and their mothers - to feel just a little bit better. This change made … [Read more...] about A Clean Set of Clothes

There are loads of youth futbol teams in Kyangwali settlement - school teams, teams made up of kids who live in the same neighborhood, teams of kids who come from the same country. These teams are a great outlet for the kids, giving them something physical to do to keep a healthy mind and body. Most of the time, kids just get together and play around. Some more organized teams might run drills, too. But they don't get much opportunity to play against other teams, and most of the players have never played in a tournament. On Day 260, we decided to change all that and hold a settlement-wide futbol tournament. On the line were a new set of jerseys for the winning team (most of the teams don't have jerseys or appropriate futbol gear either). The teams played valiantly all day long - this rare opportunity to show off their skills for parents and the whole community. But in the end only one team could win. They took the jerseys home, but nobody left empty handed. Everyone who … [Read more...] about A Soccer Tourney