When it comes to getting things done, we all have our” “go to” places – from the mechanic down the street, to your favorite coffee shop, to a doctor that you trust – these people and places provide reliable services that never let us down. The same is true for our teammates in Rwanda. Over the years, they’ve come to rely on incredible partners who are always there just when you need them. And unlike a favorite coffee shop, having reliable partners in the humanitarian context can literally mean the difference between life and death – it means someone getting the care they need in time, or not. So we asked some of our very best partners and vendors to gather for a surprise reception, held in their honor, complete with tea, cookies, thank you gifts, and a whole lot of gratitude. Some of the most important vendors in Rwanda are pharmacies. “We trust that they have the medicine whenever we need it,” said Bernad, ARC Rwanda’s Country Director. “And a lot of these medicines relate … [Read more...] about Steady As We Go
In Rwanda
Behind the Scenes
In any humanitarian context, there are always different kinds of people that are needed to get the job done – planners, activists, dreamers, and doers alike play a role in saving lives. But we truly couldn’t do the things we do without one role in particular – our warehouse crew. Working in the warehouse perhaps doesn’t sound like the most exhilarating job in the world. But in Rwanda, the warehouse is where most medications for the country program are held. It’s where expensive supplies are stored and kept safe, and dispatched when the time is right to six camps throughout the country. It’s where records are kept, stretching back almost a decade. There’s only a few guys who work at Rwanda’s main warehouse in Kigali, and most of them have never even met some of their colleagues who work at the ARC office! So for Day 351, we decided to change that – thanking our colleagues at the warehouse for the incredible work that they do, and bringing everyone along for the ride. We … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes
A Simple Thanks
Our team in Rwanda is unstoppable. They manage six different refugee camps and serve over 122,000 refugees. But they're so busy with the day to day, that they don't often get the chance to pause and appreciate the things they've accomplished together. So we gathered the team for a meeting – for the sole purpose of saying thank you. We surprised our teammates with gift bags filled with a thank you card, some snacks, and a new notebook. Small things – but with big meaning behind them. "They're surprised because we never have meetings just to say thanks," said Bernad, ARC's Country Director in Rwanda. "Sometimes we forget to rest and reflect a bit." Smiles were abundant as the team opened their baskets. “Your kind gesture and recognition to us is so appreciated," said Betty, one of our Rwanda teammates."It shows us that you value the work we do." "This kind of thing means a lot," said Bernad. "This may look simple, it may not cost much, but for me it touches the … [Read more...] about A Simple Thanks