With their futbol field taken care of on Day 201, today we're back at Nyaragugu Primary School to equip them with some of the gear and supplies they need to get their students out and playing. Nyaragugu students aren't just playing soccer. "We have students who like to play futbol, volleyball and netball," said Sara, head caregiver in the school's Nursery Division. "But they aren't playing anything right now because we don't have the balls and materials." Sara and her fellow teachers decided to run in the World Refugee Day 5k to try to raise support for their idea of getting balls, jerseys and other equipment for Nyaragugu students. So, on Day 202, we're back at Nyaragugu to deliver those materials. We brought more futbol gear including jerseys, balls and nets for the goals that were repaired yesterday. But there are more than just futbol players at Nyaragugu. We brought uniforms and balls for the netball players and the volleyball players, too. And tennis shoes the … [Read more...] about Gear for Nyaragugu

The kids at Nyaragugu Primary School love to play. No matter what the game. If you drop by the school grounds before school, after school at lunch or on a break, you'll always catch at least on group playing something. "The challenge is we have 1,700 students," said Alex, a teacher at Nyaragugu. "But our play spaces are not good for so many children." Nyaragugu's futbol field is in particularly bad shape. Alex and his fellow teachers thought it would be a great idea to fix the futbol field so that it gave the children one more safe place to play. So, on Day 201, we got to work on the Nyaragugu field. Parts of the pitch didn't look much like a field. There were anthills rising up out of the field and potholes large enough to swallow up a few futbol players whole. We put a team to work knocking back the anthills, filling in the holes and just generally smoothing the surface of the field. We also brought in our favorite welder who has been keeping busy with all our various … [Read more...] about A Field of Dreams

On any given day in Nakivale Settlement you can see people participating in their favorite sporting activities. Futbol, basketball, running – it’s all here. And with over 100,000 people in the camp, these sports activities help bring communities together in ways few other things can. That was one of the driving forces behind Beatrice and Mwami’s idea for Day 200 – they wanted to host a women's bicycle race between ARC Community Activists and participants from all the neighborhoods in Nakivale. You first met the Community Activists (CAs) back on Day 144. They are ARC frontliners – connecting members of the community with vital services, but having fun in the process too. What began as a women's bike race grew into a bike race with both women's and men's divisions. Mwami and Beatrice gathered their fellow CAs together to plan a race for 100 people – inviting 10 members to participate from each of the 10 subregions near ARC’s base camp office, along with the 20 CAs. And after the … [Read more...] about Like Riding a Bike

Whenever you ask someone in Nakivale their favorite sport, the most likely answer is futbol. It's the most watched and most played sport here. So, it was no surprise when we learned that Augustine, an ARC team member who helps keep the office neat and tidy, plays and coaches futbol himself. His team is called Twegerane which means 'together' in Swahili. The team brings together young boys and girls who have come to Nakivale from all different countries – Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. "We're always together and when we are together we are united," Babu, a young team member tells us. "That's why I play with this team." Augustine works hard coaching his team several times a week. But, a few months ago their one and only soccer ball broke. "We haven't really been able to play for the last few months," Augustine explained. "In the meantime, we have been teaching each other languages – English and French," he said. All it would take to get this team back to playing futbol was a … [Read more...] about Together Again

Yesterday, we met some of the amazing teachers of Ruhoko Primary. They participated in the World Refugee Day 5k in Nakivale refugee settlement to raise the funds to get their students futbol equipment. But, they had another idea to make their futbol team complete. "Our second idea is to level our futbol pitch," explains Simon, a teacher here at Ruhoko. Looking at the futbol pitch, you wouldn't even know that it was intended to be a playing field. Filled with thorny bushes, dirt mounds and rocks, it was a dangerous place for kids to play. We first started by using a grader to level the field, making it even, flat and properly sized. Once this was done, it was time to paint and install new goal posts and nets. The last finishing touch was painting lines to demarcate the different zones of the field. Within a few days' time the futbol pitch was complete. "Wow, we are happy for this work and a new field here at Ruhoko," said Simon. Special thanks to Clif Bar and Kenan … [Read more...] about Safe and Flat

Everyone loves futbol here in Nakivale and the students of Ruhoko Primary School are no exception. The teachers had an idea to get their students more futbol equipment. They work tirelessly to educate and encourage their students – both inside the classroom and out. "I think sports are so important for my students because it helps in their development – it helps them to learn to make decisions quickly and easily," says Fred, one of the teachers. We also heard from several of the teachers that having sports equipment would encourage kids to continue coming to school. It was time to do the doable for Ruhoko Primary. With just a short trip to town, we had all the necessary supplies for a futbol team – jerseys, shoes, futbols, pumps, a whistle, cones and a first aid kit. "You have reached in the source of my heart," exclaimed Edward, one of the teachers. "Now, we are fully equipped. We are very much pleased." Thank you so much to the Mortenson family, Sarah Kiefer, and … [Read more...] about Everybody Loves Futbol

We met Alex back on Day 179, and heard about his dream to bring fresh, nutritious food to his runners – to keep them healthy and strong. With this health challenge out of the way, Alex is thinking bigger. He plans to create a running club for girls and younger kids – those who might be afraid to run without a safe group to be part of. “It is good to have a team to practice together,” he says. So on day 196, we met Alex and his running club at practice to bring running shoes and gear to help him recruit additional runners to the team. Two women runners eagerly switched out their shoes for the new pairs, finding just the right fit. They joined the rest of the club in running laps, laughing along the way. But the new gear is just the beginning of the dream for Alex. Once he recruits new members, he’s training them to run competitively – to participate in regional and international running competitions. “With healthy athletes, we are ready to compete” he says. Last fall, … [Read more...] about Get Out And Run

Seeing the Burundian drummers of Nakivale perform is something you will never forget. Despite the constant movement and even carrying their heavy traditional drums on their heads at points, their energy never wanes over the two hours. Their extraordinary talent makes them a must for any community event in Nakivale refugee settlement. "We're working to keep our culture going here in Nakviale. We like to share with the neighbors around us – Somalis, Congolese and Rwandese," says Therence, a drummer in the group. They also teach the younger generations to pass along the traditions they had to leave behind in Burundi. But, sometimes their drums get damaged or they don't have enough to teach the younger groups. The group took part in the World Refugee Day 5k on June 20 hoping people would support their cause and raise money for more drums. "The difficulty is that the drums we have found here are not our Burundian drums. They are made differently and the sound is not the same. … [Read more...] about The Beat of the Drum

The teachers at Kashojwa Primary School in Nakivale Refugee Settlement had four ideas for getting their students playing and active. And today – Day 194 – is our fourth and last day at Kashojwa, and we’ll be focused on futbol (or soccer) which seems to be everyone’s favorite around here. It was Reagan Tukkasibkle’s idea to upgrade the futbol facilities. “Boys, girls, it makes no difference. The most popular sport at Kashojwa is futbol,” he told us. Reagan and his team of teachers ran in the World Refugee Day 5k in support of their idea, and generous supporters stepped up to make it a reality. There was a lot to be done at Kashojwa. Brush and anthills were all over the field, one of the goal posts was missing a crossbar, neither had a net and the field had none of the required markings. So, we recruited a team to help us. A local welder got to work replacing the crossbar for the goal. And a few people began working on the field itself, taking out the prickly bushes that … [Read more...] about A Futbol Refresh

More kids come to school on basketball days than a regular school day. That’s Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. That’s one of the reasons that Coach Joan Akasingura wanted to get real basketball equipment for the Kashojwa Primary School players. You see Joan is not just one of the basketball coaches. She’s also a teacher at Kashojwa. So, when she thought about what kind of play and sports opportunities she wanted for her students the answer was simple. Basketball equipment would give them an opportunity to improve their skills, but it would mean more kids in school. “It will help with school dropouts,” Joan told us. “Having opportunities to really play basketball with the appropriate equipment will engage our students and break the boredom they may be feeling.” So Joan, her fellow coaches, and teachers ran in the World Refugee Day 5k in support of their idea. And on Day 192, we were able to make it happen. We brought all the supplies to outfit the Kashojwa girls basketball … [Read more...] about Can’t Miss Basketball Practice