If futbol is the everyday sport in Nakivale, basketball is the sport most overlooked because of lack of decent play spaces. Every basketball team we met expressed concern with uneven ground, the dirt and gravel covering the courts, and even disruption of play as cars, motos or even cattle move across. Estelle from the women’s basketball team explains the dangers: “Truly we have a really bad court. Sometimes we slip, we fall. Cars and motos drive through the court while we’re playing.” So on Day 211, we resolved to do something about it. We met with Alex and other engineers from the Wakati Foundation, all who are refugees themselves. They presented a budget to resurface the court near ARC’s office in Base Camp. “We have many skills in our country as engineers” says Alex, a big smile on his face as Wakati Foundation signed the contract for the resurfacing. “We work as a community. It’s our job to give back.” They started the work right away, bringing in large rocks, … [Read more...] about On Solid Ground

Handball is not a well-known sport in the US. Described as a mix between soccer and basketball, it was codified in Germany and is popular in Europe. But as we have discovered in Nakivale Settlement over the past few weeks, it is very, very popular in Uganda. It is so popular that today’s idea – See Jane Play Handball – was the highest funded idea of all the teams running in the World Refugee Day 5K. We asked Jane why the handball team is so important. “Handball is a good sport because anyone can play it” she says. “Men, women, boys and girls. I’d like to introduce the sport to the people in my neighborhood.” She wasn’t asking for much – just some equipment to get a team or two started. But as we’ve seen on many occasions, once someone gets a good idea, the plan snowballs into something bigger – and better. We started off by getting Jane the equipment she needed – some team jerseys, handballs in different sizes for youth and adult teams, and a coach uniform for Jane herself. … [Read more...] about A Hand on the Ball

In a place filled with thousands of people from different backgrounds, like Nakivale Settlement, the hobbies of the community are as varied as the people who live there. But everywhere we turned we found talent - people exploring their own outlets of creative expression. One example is the Revolutions Artists collective founded by Ben Terarc. “No one trusts artists, no one sees what we do” he says. He wanted to change all that, by creating a safe space for people to gather and create art together. Ben started drawing and painting when he was a kid, and was only 17 when he arrived in Nakivale. “I started with nothing” he explains. “I create art using anything I could find.” And he used his art to meet friends too. While soft spoken, he lights up when talking about his favorite pieces – including the 4x6 hand-painted cards he sells to raise money for more art supplies. But for Ben, just creating art isn’t enough. He wants to pass on his knowledge to the next generation. “I … [Read more...] about Art From The Ground Up

We met the Burundian drummers on Day 195 – a group that uses drums to share their cultural heritage with others in Nakivale. But equally important and performing alongside them is the Burundian Dance Troupe, led by Lillian. When asked what they wanted to help support and strengthen their dance troupe, Lillian and her fellow dancers expressed interest in supporting their livelihoods project so they could continue to share their love of traditional Burundian dance in their new community. And what they wanted isn’t what you’d expect at first glance. “We are looking to build a chicken coop!” Lillian exclaimed. How exactly does a chicken coop benefit a dance troupe? The investment is a better fit than you might think. “Chickens will help us raise money. And we will gain business skills.” The chickens will provide a steady source of income, which allows the dancers to raise the money themselves to build a new dance studio. And that in turn will raise even more funds, as the new … [Read more...] about The Chicken Dance

We’ve already seen how playing futbol can benefit students in Nakivale settlement. From the youngest kids just entering primary school to the oldest playing sports in between studies at the Secondary School, everyone seems to have futbol on the brain. But what about the kids who aren’t in school? They needed support too. That’s where ARC staff Philip Wandera and Jimmy Ocieng stepped in. They see kids every day playing in pickup games just outside the ARC offices, in a location known as Base Camp. And they wanted a way to support the youngest players in the community – those that couldn’t yet play in a school league. “These are young kids” says Philip. “After all, talent starts at a young age, and maybe futbol can help some of these kids.” So on Day 208, we visited the kids and met with Shubi Baganga and Sam Mugisha, youth leaders in Base Camp. They were ecstatic when we handed out equipment to support their futbol team, including jerseys, cleats, and new soccer balls. … [Read more...] about The Purpose of Futbol

We're spending today with a community futbol league in Nakivale settlement. It's a league looking to provide support for an often overlooked group – girls who want to play futbol. There are girls teams throughout the settlement, to give girls a safe and competitive place to play – and the team we met in Base Camp was no different. “I love soccer. I love playing with my friends” says player Claudine Kiwanya Gifebi, who has been playing soccer for the last ten years. “Playing together, being together – we find unity together.” But because there aren’t many teams in the settlement for girls, their equipment is often woefully lacking – balls made of wrapped plastic, cracked cleats, girls playing barefoot and in their everyday clothes. So on Day 209, we brought new equipment to the women’s team that plays on the pitch in Base Camp near the ARC office. The girls were enthusiastic when opening the new equipment, which included team jerseys, new balls, and cleats for their feet. … [Read more...] about Peace in Sports

We've been keeping busy the last couple of days at Nakivale Secondary School - first installing a regulation volleyball net and court and then a running track. Today is our last day working on the school's new sports center. And we saved the futbol pitch for last - home to a boys and girls team at the Secondary School. In addition to fixing up the field with painted lines, new goal posts and nets, we also provided equipment for the teams. The students were ecstatic to receive new uniforms and balls. And the coaches were happy to have whistles and foul cards – things that are necessary for hosting games in their new space. “This standard pitch becomes a model recreation sporting center” says Ali, the headmaster. “Now we can invite other schools here for games.” The students were happy in their new space too, lining up to take team pictures with their new equipment, and practicing shots on goal with the new nets hung perfectly in place. Audrey, a teacher at the … [Read more...] about A Regulation Pitch

Yesterday you heard all about Nakivale Secondary School and the headmaster’s dream of converting an old field into a model recreation sporting center. Today we focused on one part of that dream - fixing up a track for the running club. Many students run at the school, but until now have had to guess at distances, running through weeds and among other games in the same field. “It’s hard” one student says of their former running space. “The ground is uneven and hurts our feet.” So today we cleared thistles and grass from the designated track area and marked out six running lanes. Students and teachers alike were eager to create dedicated space for running. Once the chalk lines had been painted, the students lined up at one end, behind coaches with new whistles and stopwatches. Heat after heat exploded at the starting line to run 100 meters down the track, legs flying, feet churning through the newly cut grass. “I like to run” one student exclaimed. “This is a good place to … [Read more...] about Room to Run

In all of Nakivale refugee settlement (population approximately 130,000), there is only one secondary school. Home to hundreds of students, including many who live on-site, the school is a place for students to dream big and work toward their goals. Students used the school as a place to work – and they wanted a place to play, too. But Ali, the headmaster, recognized there was something missing. “Our fields are poor, and we have no courts” he says. “I want to build a standard pitch for everyone to play.” Ali’s dream is to transform an empty field below the main school buildings into a model recreation sports center – for students and the communities. But the area needed some major work. So we’ve devoted the next few days to transforming the dusty field into a place where people would gather for sports. Ali compared the dream of their new fields to a community gathering spaces, just like the churches in the nearby neighborhoods. “If we go to the same churches, why not the … [Read more...] about Second(ary) to None