At this time of the year in Darfur, it can get quite cold at night. So, when Alight team member Amani had the idea to get the most at-risk families blankets to stay warm all night long, we were on-board. We had the blankets ready and loaded to bring to Kalma Camp for the displaced, when a confused Amani intercepted the delivery. “My idea was to provide blankets for the homeless people right here in Nyala” (the nearby city’s where Alight’s regional office is located). Since we knew there were also vulnerable households in Kalma who needed the blankets, we decided we’d do both. And what better time than the present to head out onto the streets of Nyala to deliver this little bit of warmth to the community? Amani led the way! Many of the people we met were struggling with similar challenges to those living in Kalma. Most were not originally from Nyala, and they had traveled here looking for work and a means to support themselves and their loved ones. Things hadn’t gone as … [Read more...] about All Bundled Up

Today we have an incredible story of a community looking after one of their own. Our story takes place on a shop corner in the main market of El Deain. Beneath the shade of the shop sits our friend, Adam. Adam Saeed Fashir is a fixture of this marketplace. “I have been working as a tailor for 50 years, inside and outside Sudan, I worked for many years in Libya. I have three children and my brother died years ago leaving behind five children, so I have a big responsibility.” But eight days ago, Adam’s sewing machine broke down. “As you see,” he said with a sigh, “since that day I am not working.” He’d been trying to repair his machine to no avail, and you could tell he was feeling the pressure. It was time for a new sewing machine! When we returned the next day, we found Adam still tinkering away, trying to repair his old machine. He smiled when he saw us pulling out a brand-new model! “I am very glad, now I can continue doing my work! The machine that you gave me will … [Read more...] about A Sewing Machine for Adam

Today we met a true force for good in East Darfur, Mohamed Abbdulrahman. He’s a bit of a celebrity in the Alight office—he lives and works just next door—and our staff predicted we'd love him. Spoiler alert: they were right! Mohamed is a welder, and he really keeps the community together. He first met our staff late one night, when he helped restore power to the office after a bad storm. He’s so resourceful, and he works from home out of a wooden shed surrounded by piles of metal and stacks of old beds and other furniture. “I make a lot of things, like beds, chairs, tables, doors, and stoves. I buy old things from people and fix them and then sell them. I rent all the tools so that I can work.” Mohamed uses these skills to provide for his entire family. “My father died years ago, leaving my mother with 16 children. In 2008, I dropped out of school and I started working and learning English,” Mohamed explained. But he kept learning. Now, he keeps a chalkboard in his workshop … [Read more...] about Welding a Future Together

During a draining workday, a bit of watercooler talk can be the perfect pick-me-up. Little breaks for chatting about work or play count for a lot. But where there’s neither a literal nor figurative watercooler to chatter around, teams miss out! For a long time, this was the case in our offices in East Darfur. There were no meeting or break rooms—really no designated places at all to meet up and chat. That’s why Irshad, a State Program Manager, suggested we create one! “See those trees?” Irshad said, pointing a shady grove next to the office. “If we could get some small chairs and a table, we could make a nice gathering space to meet with clients and coworkers.” It was the perfect spot. The staff could all get together in the great outdoors, and the shade helps beat the heat! Who could say no to such a doable idea? Just like that, we ordered chairs and a table. This quickly became the spot to be, and people gathered to sit, talk, and enjoy each other's company. “You … [Read more...] about A Seat at the Table

Doctors work so hard. And to do their jobs right, they’ve got to move quickly. The last thing that should slow them down is a lack of basic equipment. But at El Deain Teaching Hospital, the staff is missing one key tool... Stretchers! Because the team works without stretchers, when a patient has an injury that renders them unable to walk or arrives by ambulance, they are carried in by hand. Though our staff is plenty talented, carrying injured patients can be dangerous and prolong their recovery time. We knew there had to be a better way. Working with local vendors, we found a metalworker who made the stretchers with ease and speed. Soon enough, we had 14 new stretchers for the hospital! When the stretchers arrived, our staff was so excited to practice moving each other around. There were laughter and smiles as one staff member posed as a model. We hope that these stretchers help make the El Deain Hospital a safe, reliable place to be. … [Read more...] about Let Me Lift You Up

Weekends are a great time to recharge. You might take weekends to relax, spend time with friends or family, and maybe even have a little fun. But for our staff living in East Darfur, weekends can be difficult. Why? Boredom. Many of our staff stay in guest houses—they’re expats, far from home, and far from family and friends, too. They are committed to their work and proud to be where they are. But the weekend downtime can move slowly! So, we decided to provide one simple way of bringing staff together for a little entertainment: a TV! Day in and day out, the East Darfur staff works so hard. We wanted to make sure they have the chance to come together and recharge when the weekends roll around. A TV will allow them to watch a football match or binge a show together! It’s not much, but we wanted to surprise the staff of East Darfur with the TV as a thank you for all their hard work! Now, with just the click of a button, they have one way to unwind after a hard week’s … [Read more...] about Weekend Getaway

When neighbors come together to fix up their streets, everyone feels a little prouder of where they live. Community investment gets a boost from care for shared spaces. In Al Safaa, community members meet once a month to maintain their neighborhood. “We started this cleaning and repairing campaign in our area a long time ago. With time, more people joined us. Now every year before the rainy season, we start a health awareness campaign and do street cleaning” said Ahmed Abdulrahman, a member of the cleanup crew. Everyone wants to get involved! As member Mohamed Mahadi put it, "we started as a small group of 5 to 10, but now we have 70 members!” But despite all the eager helpers, the group was missing one thing: cleaning tools! Almost all the cleaning happened by hand. So, off we went to get rakes, wheelbarrows, and other tools for the whole group! Right away, the group set out to clean more quickly than ever before. “We appreciate this because it’s encouraging us to … [Read more...] about So Fresh, So Clean

In El Nimir camp, we have an amazing group of volunteers. The team is by refugees, for refugees, and today we’re amplifying their hard work! The volunteers are eager to give back. Every day, the group spends time with the community, spreading the word about the services Alight offers. They also help connect Alight to refugees who may not be able to access our clinics on their own. This group is passionate about what they do, and we couldn’t do our work without them! “Being a volunteer means doing what you can without waiting for something in return,” one member Simon told us. “I volunteered to help my people, my community.” But though the volunteers are leaders, when out in the community, people often don’t know where they’re coming from. The group wanted to wear a uniform, to help look more cohesive and increase trust and visibility. The solution? Hats and T-shirts for the whole team! “It will help us a lot during our health awareness campaigns. All the people will … [Read more...] about Looking Like a Team

No matter where you live, going without a paycheck is hard. A job helps you support a family, buy the things you need, and build a sense of purpose. But finding work can be a struggle. In El Nimir camp, one group of women is working to increase job opportunities. They’re a sewing group by trade, and they make beautiful embroidered blankets and clothing. But they're teachers, too, and their lessons span beyond textiles and into women's empowerment. Now, the group is working to build out more livelihood opportunities. Habbiba, one of the leaders of the group, has good reason to expand their operations. She's a 28-year-old mother of six, and her husband did not come with from South Sudan. “I have to work hard because I have big responsibilities and I am alone,” she said. Though she is busy now, she knows she can do more. “As you see, I am a needle worker, and I make all kinds of things,” she explained. “I can learn anything to increase my income.” Her idea? A noodle making … [Read more...] about Noodling Around

Getting around in East Darfur can be difficult. It's especially treacherous in the rainy season, when even cars and donkey carts struggle to move from place to place. But mobility is must, especially when you’re the sole provider for your household. Meet Tabis Jabir Wad Jabir, a South Sudanese refugee living in Elnimir camp in search of a little boost. While fleeing South Sudan, Tabis lost one of her legs. Though she has a prosthetic leg, it’s old, broken, and doesn’t fit correctly. “I’ve been wearing this leg for two years, and recently I don’t feel comfortable,” Tabis explained. “I can’t bend to get water, and when I do, I can’t stand up, so someone must be with me. But I have big responsibilities.” It's true—Tabis has a lot on her plate. During their journey, Tabis’ husband lost his vision and is now completely blind. On top of looking after him, she also supports their five children. But with her limited mobility, Tabis had been feeling stuck. Luckily, our … [Read more...] about Back on Her Feet