Faridah and her brother Dani are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have a small music studio in their home, producing music that's personal to them...about their experiences as refugees and what life is like in Uganda. Faridah and Dani live in a crowded neighborhood in Kyaka Refugee Settlement - many people living there come from cities in DRC, and tend to prefer living close to their neighbors. But there isn't a lot of green space to go around. As the siblings graciously welcomed us into their home, we talked about how a spark of green might bring a breath of fresh air to their home, but also their neighbors'. We brought trees upon trees to their neighborhood, filling the nooks and crannies with their growing roots. On top of making music, Faridah helps run a local school - so we got trees for the students, too. "These trees will change the school and the well-being of our children," said Faridah. "Thank you for everything." This day of … [Read more...] about A Breath of Fresh Air

Teachers in Nakivale Refugee Settlement are on site for 24 hours a day, sometimes for months at a time. Since they live and work at their schools, it can be tough to make space for themselves. Teachers Douglas, Laubeen, Milly, and Anithens told us that they were looking for something to do. And we can just the thing in mind... Spikeball is coming to Nakivale! Spikeball is a fast-paced, fun-filled game that's similar to volleyball, but takes on a life of its own. After a quick explanation, the game began - and so did the laughter. Spikeball was the perfect way for these teachers to spend time together, take a break, and have some fun. It's amazing how a ball, net, and some good friends can go such a long way in making the teacher's dorms feel a little closer to home. This day of change brought to you by Spikeball. … [Read more...] about A Spike in Joy

There's a moment when people forced to flee their homes are faced with a difficult truth. The life they used to lead is all but over, and a wholly new life is just beginning. What if, in that moment, we could meet them with kindness? With a little something to show them that we're here to help them build that life? In Kyaka Refugee Settlement in Uganda, new refugees arrive everyday. Centers across the camp house families until they receive the things they need to settle in - a plot of land, supplies to build their house. It's these days of waiting that can be the most difficult, when reality sets in. We've heard from people over the past few days how important and life-giving the simple act of planting a tree can be. So why not give the same gift of life to these new arrivals? We gave families mango tree seedlings, helping them set the roots in the earth. As families construct a home and plant new fields of sorghum, maize, beans, and cassava, we thought a mango tree … [Read more...] about Turning Over a New Leaf

Trees are life giving. Both for the fruit, shade, and oxygen they provide, but also for the meaning they add to our lives. For people in Kyaka Refugee Settlement, trees are meeting places, a legacy to be passed on. Tending to a growing tree is a shared responsibility, a symbol of moving on and growing up. "As the trees grow, our children grow," said Mupenzi, a community member in Kyaka. Yesterday we focused on shared spaces throughout the refugee settlement, planting trees at mosques, churches, and schools. But we also wanted to think about families who might benefit from their very own seedlings. With the help of our team in Kyaka, we found some particularly eager families who were excited about the idea of trees benefiting the family not just in the moment, but for generations to come. Hundreds of growing fruit trees are now rooted in place in these family's backyards, ready to be watered. Sifa, a mother and grandmother, was so grateful for the new addition. “When … [Read more...] about “As the trees grow, our children grow.”

Driving down a road in Uganda, you’ll likely pass jackfruit, orange, mango, and papaya trees dotting the countryside, teeming with bounty. Not only do they offer delicious fruit, some of the best around, but they also do so much more - provide shade, prevent erosion, offer a source of income, attract rainfall, and curb malnutrition. But not everybody in Uganda is able to reap these benefits, especially refugees living in the country. So we turned our attention to one refugee settlement in particular - Kyaka - to help remedy the problem. Starting at a school and slowly working our way through the community to churches, mosques, community centers, and households, we gave hundreds of trees! “There’s a great challenge to our resources," said Benson from Uganda's Office of the Prime Minister, which helps run the camp. "The trees will act to supplement the food rations that the residents already get. People have spent a lot of time sustaining off of maize and beans, but these … [Read more...] about Deep Roots, Strong Branches

A kitchen feels best when it's full. Fridge stocked, plates and cups in the cupboard, friends crowded in - because that's where everyone always seems to gather. But teachers in Nakivale weren't feeling that abundance. At the homes where they live together, their kitchens weren't very stocked. People had to take turns eating, cooking, and gathering, detracting from time spent together. There weren't enough pots and pans and other supplies for everyone. Plus their basic food supplies were running low. This is their home. It should be as full and comfortable as the home they left to pursue their life's work. Our mission? To get these kitchens up to speed! We gathered plates, cups, pots, and pans, along with additional food supplies to split between teachers and students - like posho (corn flour), rice, beans, and wheat flour. “The posho and rice and beans are all helpful because they are nutrient rich and energy-giving foods," said Julius, the head teacher. "This will … [Read more...] about Feeling Full

Making a difference doesn't have to be complicated. Or expensive. Or flashy. Today, doing the doable for teachers at Nakivale was something simple - a place to sit. Somewhere to sit and gather as a team, or even just to rest, is so important anywhere you work. But at schools in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, they don't have a space all to themselves - they don't have a break room to take a load off every once in a while. Most of the teachers are just looking for a simple chair. This was a easy fix. A plastic chair doesn't exactly scream excitement. But the teachers here see things a bit differently. A place to sit means a place to be comfortable, to grade papers, to sit together for meetings or spend time together as a team. They're symbolic of something more - adding a missing piece of the puzzle that makes these teachers feel a little more whole. This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Less is More

You can't picture a classroom without a blackboard. Teachers writing up notes for students to copy down and study, the faded marks of previous lessons still lingering on the board. At one school in Nakivale, they weren't quite living up to this classic ideal of what a schoolroom should be. “The students have been carrying the portable black boards to and from the classroom,” said Julius, the head teacher. And aside from having to move the chalkboards around, the permanent ones had large holes and were difficult to write on. With the right tools, anything is possible. What these teachers and students needed was something to make learning easy, not harder than it needed to be... We were on the case...new blackboards for the classrooms, pronto! Once the new boards were installed, it completely changed the look and feel of the room. Lots of room to write, no burden to carry the boards around, and a picture perfect learning space. “The size is now big enough so that the … [Read more...] about Making Things Easy

When you're feeling low, a little run down, sometimes the very best thing is to do something that makes you smile - that makes you feel refreshed. To tell yourself, let's start again. The teachers of Oruchinga Refugees Settlement have endless talents. But their access to supplies is not. They were feeling frustrated, like their hands were tied. What they needed was to hit the refresh button...a way to start the year off right. A boost in their teaching supplies was the name of the game. Books, colorful educational posters, and supplies to get their students' creative side switched on. These posters really brightened up the place. And books allow all the students to have their own reading material, and learn at their own pace. “This is very encouraging to us," said Dorothy, the head teacher. "We have a big number of learners and I’m so grateful for what they’re doing to succeed. They do their best tirelessly. And when I see someone considering teachers, it’s so kind. … [Read more...] about Hit the Refresh Button

Chances are, you're reflecting on the resolutions you'd like to make - and hopefully keep! - as we flip the calendar to 2019. We're all looking for new beginnings, to make this year our best year yet. Teachers in Nakivale Refugee Settlement want just the same. Today, on the eve of 2019, we're helping these teachers shift into high gear - and start pedaling their way to a new and brighter year. The teachers dreamed of having bikes. And for good reason! In Nakivale, bikes are one of the major ways people get around. If your only other option is walking across the settlement (which takes a couple hours to drive through) having a bike on hand can cut down your travel time in a big way. We all know that a teacher's time is precious...so if bikes help them feel a little more powerful, a little more equipped to face the challenges ahead, we knew the time was right to do something about it. As our truck pulled up to Ruhoko Primary School, filled to the brim with bikes, … [Read more...] about Their Best Year Yet