One Rohingya community was struggling to create safe, efficient stoves to prepare their food. So we had an idea – train a women's stove-making team to craft their own stoves, that were then distributed to people who need them. While the women are doing an amazing job – it’s incredibly difficult work. They're in the sun or shade for hours at a time, sitting or crouching on the ground. It's so strenuous on the body. We wanted to help ease the strenuousness of their work, even a little bit. Our idea? Something simple...stools! And cushions on top, making a more comfortable place to sit and work. “It is so comfortable!" said Jushna, one member of the stove-making team. "I will also use it elsewhere. This is very important because we have nowhere to sit. I can use the cushion for sleeping.” The women feel so much pride in their work, and such a great sense of togetherness. None of the women knew each other before, but now they've become like a family. They … [Read more...] about A Place to Sit

We've purchased sewing machines for women in one Rohingya community, who we first met yesterday. But there wasn't any space for them to work. And because of security reasons, they can't leave them outside in an open area. So we had a simple solution – why not build a covered, secure workshop for the women to work in? With a shelter, the women could keep their sewing machines in one place. Plus it would be a cool, shaded spot to work – and protect them from rain during the upcoming monsoon season. We asked some volunteers in the community to help us pull everything together. And they did – in just two days! The sewing group is now looking forward to an upcoming training, and they feel more secure themselves knowing that they don't have to house these valuable machines in their own homes. Together, this community worked to create a workspace that will benefit not only the sewers, but anyone who can use a secure place to work. They took the idea and ran with it – … [Read more...] about Got You Covered

A lot of what we do with Rohingya communities is all about making their families safer and more resilient. But there was one problem one community faced that was a clear physical hazard – their bridge. Over 1,000 people walk the bridge that connects their neighborhood to a market area every day. But there were no railings and it was starting to fall apart, making it very unsafe for everyone, but especially children and older folks. This was something we could help fix. So we told the community about our plan, and everyone jumped into action. Our friend Mohamed worked with the community to create a bridge they could be proud of. With bamboo to strengthen the bridge's stands, railings added to the side, and spray paint to make it bright and colorful, a new bridge started to take shape. Everyone working on the bridge decided together what colors they wanted to use, giving it a feeling of energy and joy. The most amazing part of this project was the ownership and … [Read more...] about Bridging the Gap

The group of Rohingya women we've been working with over the past few days face a lot of challenges. One of them is light – there is very little light on their block, and no formal security barriers between them and the rest of the camp. Their safety is often at risk. When we spoke with the women about their biggest challenges, they often talked about their safety. Having lost their husbands, these women often feel vulnerable. So we had an idea, and one that we've tested a few times in places like Uganda and Somalia – headlamps! Thanks to The Shine On Project, we gave out Watts of Love headlamps to some of the most vulnerable women in the group. And they were so excited – they said they would use it for many things, including working inside, sewing, walking at night, and going to the latrines. "It will be very useful!" they said. The headlamps were put to use right away, assembling the sewing machines. It was exciting to see that they wanted to use them for … [Read more...] about A Light in the Dark

Yesterday, we got five sewing machines for a group of Rohingya women, helping them find a pathway toward an empowered future. But there was a problem – although they all wanted to learn, they didn't know how to sew! We couldn't just provide the sewing machines and say "good luck!" - we had to provide them with the tools to be successful, too. So for day 94, we brought in a trainer from the community to teach these women how to sew. We hired a trainer to come visit the women for six hours per day, six days a week, for four whole months! To supplement the training, we also purchased scrap materials and various fabric samples for them to use as they learn. The women decided to take different shifts with the trainer, making sure that everybody learned. And those that learned faster would help women who took a longer time, helping all to excel. "It can be one of their professions in the future," said Shafiqa, the leader of the group. "If they go back to Myanmar they can … [Read more...] about One Stitch at a Time

Yesterday, we met a group of Rohingya women. They've lost their husbands, and are struggling to not only be the sole provider for their families, but to navigate without their partner. We knew that gathering firewood for cooking was a big worry for them. So a few weeks ago, we purchased a month's worth of firewood so that they can rest a little easier. But we also knew that one month would only mean a moment's reprieve. Today, we're thinking about ways to make the solution more sustainable – starting with sewing machines. With sewing machines, the women can sell clothing they make or other items, earning enough income to pay someone to deliver the firewood moving forward. We purchased five sewing machines for the group, and asked the women how to divvy them up. They decided that they'll go to one woman's house at first, where the others could be taught how to sew, and then later to different shelters where anyone came come and use them as needed. "Everyone in … [Read more...] about In Their Hands

Rohingya people are facing challenges that can seem impossible. So, we thought, they could really use the doable. To kick things off, we're turning our attention to an incredible group of women, many of whom lost their husbands in the conflict. They're now living together as a group of 35, lifting each other and helping each other survive. In talking with the women, we realized that one huge daily stressor was something seemingly simple - getting firewood. It was consuming their lives, emotions, and making them feel physically ill from being overwhelmed. The area around them has seen extreme forestation, so people need to walk long distances to gather firewood. And, it can be incredibly dangerous – especially for women. So today, we're doing something about it. In order to help ease their daily worry for just a small amount of time, we decided to give each family enough firewood to last one month. Our hope is this would allow for them to breathe just a little … [Read more...] about Friends in Need