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

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

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

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

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

When we first met the young Changemakers at Oruchinga’s Youth Center, we knew this was a special group of people. But someone stood out to us as going above and beyond in working to achieve his dreams, despite the obstacles – and that was Devins. Devins is a guitarist, artist, and all around amazing person. He’s also wheelchair bound. But he doesn’t let his physical limitations stop him from growing as a musician – or from being a part of making change in his community. We noticed that while Devins created beautiful artwork, he was missing some supplies – he has so many ideas, but limited tools to see them through. So for Day 74, we’re doing something about it. We scouted a local art store, and got Devins all the things he needed to keep a steady flow of art supplies - things like colored pencils, paper, watercolor paint, portfolios to hold his art, and more. We gathered some of his closest friends from the Youth Center, and surprised Devins at home. As we handed over … [Read more...] about Creativity is Key

It’s no secret that sports have the power to bring people together. From international events like the Olympics to pickup football games in the backyard, sports help people find common ground - and sometimes meaning and purpose. This is especially true for young people in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. “It’s a way for us to be together with nationals and refugees,” said Cubaka, the president of the Youth Center. “Sometimes you can form friendships.” Young refugees at the Youth Center organize a lot of sports activities – soccer, netball, volleyball and more. But they’re constantly coming up against one problem – the demand for sports is higher than they have the resources to support. For Day 73, we’re doing something about it. We went to a local sports shop in Mbarara, the closest big town, and practically bought out the place. Soccer balls, volleyballs, netball equipment, badminton, soccer goals, jump ropes, you name it! Now, the Youth Center won’t only have more of … [Read more...] about Off the Bench

“What can we do to fight poverty?” For Christian, treasurer of the Youth Center at Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, this is a question he and the other young people he works with contemplate and act on all the time. And, he says, the answer isn’t straightforward. “Poverty isn’t just about money. It’s a big part, but it’s also about lack of peace and community.” One of the ideas Christian and his friends at the Youth Center have to build peace is neighborhood volunteer days – where members of the group come together to do community works projects once a month. They do things like fix potholes in the road, plant trees and flowers – anything the community needs. They’ve already gotten started, repairing a nearby road that was in terrible condition. But they want to do more, to expand to all of Oruchinga. “But the biggest challenge for us is the material,” said Cubaka, President of the center. “With more tools, we could do more." For Day 72, the idea was simple – get these … [Read more...] about Community Works

For many refugees in Uganda, farming is their main source of income. When done well, harvesting and selling crops can be a great way to earn some income. The young folks at Oruchinga’s Youth Center knew that having their own farm could help support their activities, could help them grow. The group, led by their President Cubaka, had a small garden but they were running out of supplies – things like good seeds, fertilizer, hoes, boots, watering cans, and trowels. So, we thought, there was something we could do about that! For Day 71, we got the Youth Center all the things they need to get their community garden in great working order. “We teach our members how to farm in the best way,” said Christian, the treasurer of the group. “So the members will not only have access to the profits generated by our garden, but also will be better farmers themselves.” “What we can’t plant right now we’ll put in our store,” said Cubaka. “And we’ll share with everyone. Some of the … [Read more...] about Growing Up

For any teenager, getting out from under the watchful eye of their parents is the best part of the day. This is true of teenagers everywhere, and it’s true of youth in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, too. But it’s also important that they have something to do with their time – something positive, productive, and fun. Members of the Youth Center in Oruchinga knew just the thing – an activity they could use to spend quality time with friends, and to make a little extra money for their club. Their idea? A pool table! “A pool table has many uses,” said Cubaka, the president of the Youth Center. “We use it first to be together. But also we can pass positive messages to youth, things like HIV and preventing violence against women. Things that can be difficult to talk about, but that are said more easily while you’re playing a game like this.” We couldn’t resist the way these kids’ eyes lit up when talking about the benefits of having a pool table! So for Day 70, we surprised … [Read more...] about The Perfect Shot