If you're a student - and especially a good one! - evenings are often spent pouring over homework. Or, simply hanging out with friends, watching TV and playing games. But for a group of young people in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement in Uganda, that simply wasn't possible. The problem? Electricity. The Youth Center where they spend so much time after school wasn't hooked up to the power grid. So when we first met them on Day 60, we took an important first step to help them out. But they needed something more. The center offers a lot of incredible resources for young people in the community, like English-learning lessons, a small library, and a chance to spend time together in productive ways. But a lot of these things just weren't possible without light. “Some of our members are in school,” said Cubaka, the president of the group. “They come to the Youth Center in the evening. So when we’re in darkness it’s very difficult for us.” We knew that so many possibilities … [Read more...] about Flipping a Switch

“For us, when you dance you have to feel that rhythm in your soul.” Jennifer from ARC is one of the biggest champions of a women’s cooperative in Uganda, ladies who have come together to make change. “This is a group with career objectives,” she said. “They want to be somewhere. If we can support them as women, they’ll advocate for other women.” One of the ways they're making a difference? Through dance! The women’s group has turned dancing into a business, performing at cultural events and special occasions. But there was a problem. They didn't have enough instruments. So today, we're stepping in to make sure their rhythm is strong. As Jennifer said, rhythm is so important to a powerful dance performance. And without robust drumming, their dancing just didn’t pack enough punch. “I remember one of the cultural events that we had,” said Jennifer, “they came with only one drum and one shaker. So it could not bring out that sound.” We got the group enough new drums … [Read more...] about Beat of the Drum

Sometimes, an abundance of joy is best expressed not through words, but through movement, dance, and song. And nobody knows that better than this incredible group of movers and shakers – women who are taking change into their own hands. We first met this group on Day 65, when we recognized the initiative they’ve taken to create their own basket-weaving business. And today, especially in honor of International Women’s Day, we’re focusing on another one of their talents – dance! These women have made a good business out of their knowledge and love for traditional dance, performing at events and special occasions. It’s a money maker for them. But there was just one problem – they didn’t have costumes to show up in style. “Right now, they’re borrowing costumes,” said Jennifer from the ARC team at Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. “Having their own would make them more visible, seem more professional. They would get more business.” The solution was simple. We took two of these … [Read more...] about A Reason to Celebrate

“Since we started working together, I knew there was something really unique about this group of women.” Jennifer from the ARC team works with a lot of people who need support. But there was something different about a collective of Ugandan women who came to her, seeing how they could work together to make change. “I knew that they would hold on to ideas like gold,” she said. They were organized, they had leadership, they knew what they wanted. “They all had the group’s best interests at heart.” We first met this incredible group of ladies yesterday, when we surprised them with new basket-making materials. And today, we’re building upon an activity they already have their sights set on – making low cost, reliable energy. The ARC team had already trained the group on how to make briquettes – a compressed, coal-like energy source made from trash and other raw materials – and clay stoves. “We don’t have a lot of tree cover here,” said Jennifer. “The beauty of the briquettes … [Read more...] about One Woman’s Trash…

Oruchinga is a small refugee settlement, nestled within towns where native Ugandans live. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the refugee settlement apart from local communities. But the ability of refugees to live safely in Uganda depends so much on these host communities – in many ways, they make opportunity and peace possible. We found out about one incredible group of Ugandan women who live near Oruchinga. They’ve banded together, joining forces to kickstart some entrepreneurial projects. We sat down with these women, and they told us about their dreams – and the things they needed to achieve them. So for the next few days, we’re helping them reach their dreams just a little bit faster. And we’re starting with baskets. “Most of these women depend on farming – that’s where they get their livelihood,” said Jennifer from the ARC team. But to make sure their families get the things they need, like education and nutritious food, they need something to supplement that … [Read more...] about Weaving Together

Elizabeth is a strong woman. Nearing 90 years old, her life in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement isn’t easy. She doesn’t have family to support her, instead relying on neighbors and organizations like ARC to lend a helping hand when she needs it. But, she manages quite a lot on her own, too. We first met Elizabeth on Day 58, when we gave her a solar-powered headlamp to help ease the difficulty of getting around at night. During our visit, we realized that she could use lots of other things, too. Things like warm clothes, a mattress, and blankets. Can you imagine your grandma sleeping mattress-less on a hard, dirt floor? We couldn’t either. So today, we’re returning to Elizabeth’s home again, this time with supplies that will make the chilly nights a little warmer – and much more comfortable. It rains quite a bit in the afternoons in Oruchinga, and the ground gets muddy and wet. Temperatures drop at night, and thin t-shirts don’t really do the trick. Plus, the dirt floor is tough … [Read more...] about A Soft Spot

A few days ago, we met Francisco, a 90 year old Rwandan refugee living in Uganda. Francisco has spent the past 25 years in a refugee camp. He lives alone. And now that he’s gotten older, his needs are different – he has a hard time caring for himself and ensuring that he gets enough food and water. Despite his own challenges, Francisco has done something remarkable – he’s taken in someone else. A young boy who was also on his own. Instead of turning the other way, Francisco saw an opportunity to step in and shelter this boy in whatever way he could. When we visited Francisco on Day 58, we saw that he was missing a few basic things. So for today, we’re doing a return visit – and showing a little extra love to someone whose heart is so big! One of our ARC teammates, Jacques, has made a connection with Francisco when we first met him. Jacques is from Rwanda, and so is Francisco. They got to talking, and it turns out that Francisco knew Jacque’s grandparents and great … [Read more...] about A Helping Hand

“When you work with youth, you need first to put yourself in their skin. We have a lot of work to do, but we’re doing it.” Cubaka is the President of the Youth Center in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. He’s stepped up to lead a group of young people in Oruchinga who are looking to make a change. “We have very many challenges here,” he says. “But our main challenge is finding ways to be together." Peaceful and productive things to bond over and work on isn’t always easy when there are 13 different nationalities living in one camp. But, says Cubaka, “we say that there is no Congolese, to Rwandese, no Burundians, and no nationals. We’re all the same at the youth center.” The center is a place to gather, to share ideas, to find purpose and meaning. And sometimes, the best time to get together is in the evening, providing something for young people to do at night. But there’s one problem – getting around in the dark. Since most of Oruchinga isn’t connected to a power grid, … [Read more...] about Being Together

“I like all the subjects, but science and math are my favorites.” Meet Vincent, a student at Kajaho Primary in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. He’s a hard worker, spending most of his free time studying and reading. Especially recently – his final exams are coming up. But, he’s ready. “I’m prepared to take my final exam!” he says. We wanted to do something to make Vincent’s and the rest of his classmate’s study time a little easier. The answer? Headlamps! Most households in Oruchinga don’t have access to electricity. So at night, it’s dark. Really dark. And unless families have solar or paraffin-fueled lamps, when the sun goes down forget about reading, studying, or doing much of anything. That can be a huge challenge for students who are looking to excel. Solar-powered headlamps are an amazing solution for just this type of scenario. And luckily for Vincent and his friends, the team at The Shine on Project helped us give a Watts of Love headlamp to every student in … [Read more...] about Study Time

The average length of stay in a refugee camp is 17 years. But for Francisco and Elizabeth, it’s been closer to 25. “They came to Uganda from Rwanda in 1994,” said Mercy from the ARC team. “They’ve been here a long time.” Now both nearing 90 years old, Francisco and Elizabeth don’t have any family to support them. They get by with the help of neighbors and organizations like ARC. But life is tough. “They face so many challenges,” said Mercy. One of those challenges is access to electricity. For the past few days, we’ve explored the power of light – and how even just a small increase in access can change lives. And for Day 58, we’re bringing that change to these two. Solar-powered energy is often the best option for many people living in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. Unlike the power grid that is inconsistent – and not to mention expensive! – the sun’s power is free, reliable, and almost always there when you need it. Especially in Uganda! So we had just the thing for … [Read more...] about Resilient and Strong