Tales from Uganda
BLOG
A travel diary of my days with the American Refugee Committee at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Eastern Uganda, Africa for World Refugee Day. June 15-22, 2017
Entries:
June 8, 2017 - Uganda. A Big Decision
June 13, 2017 - A 5k Like No Other
June 16, 2017 - Notes From A Plane Ride
June 17, 2017 Road Trip To Mbarara
June 20, 2017 World Refugee Day 5k
HOW TO HELP
1) World Refugee Day 5k: Click Here to read about the refugee teams & help them reach their goals!
2) Help the American Refugee Committee & their work at Nakivale Settlement by clicking here.
3) If you live in the Twin Cities: Please consider attending my post-trip photography show fundraiser in early fall 2017. Details to follow.
BACKGROUND
Uganda
Uganda has been welcoming refugees for nearly 60 years. Home to more than 500,000 refugees, Uganda has long-held generous policies for those fleeing violence, disaster and conflict. Recognizing the importance of social cohesion, Uganda tries to integrate refugees and promote peace. Refugees have access to the same services as Ugandan citizens. And rather than setting up traditional refugee camps, the Ugandan government builds settlements where refugees receive a plot of land.
Most of the refugees in Uganda are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Sudan, though many Burundians have also sought refuge in the recent years.
Nakivale Refugee Settlement
Nakivale is the oldest refugee settlement in Uganda, established in 1958. It is home to nearly 100,000 refugees.
World Refugee Day June 20, 2017 at Nakivale
World Refugee Day has been celebrated since 2001. Established by the United Nations, it is a day to honor the spirit and courage of refugees worldwide. Communities all over the globe celebrate the contributions of refugees.
At Nakivale it will be a very big day! Together with the ARC, the refugees are organizing a 5k race with over 1000 runners expected to participate. This is a 5k like no other... it will be led BY refugees and FOR refugees, alongside the 2016 World Refugee Olympic team!
Through this run, refugees living in the Nakivale settlement hope to raise money for their own small projects... a women's basketball team is running for first aid kits, acrobats are running for mats and juggling equipment, and school teachers are running for basic sports equipment. There are more than 40 teams signed up to run!
The teams are raising money now! If you are so inclined, please click on the link below to read about the teams and perhaps contribute to one... (or two.. or three) of the teams! Thank you!
American Refugee Committee
I was introduced to the Minneapolis-based American Refugee Committee by my friend & local businessman Brad Johnson. He has been a supporter of ARC for a long time and traveled with them last year to the Middle East.
Bringing an abundant world of amazing people together to work on the toughest problems.
THEIR MISSION: ARC works with its partners and constituencies to provide opportunities and expertise to refugees, displaced people and host communities. They help people survive conflict and crisis and rebuild lives of dignity, health, security and self-sufficiency. ARC is committed to the delivery of programs that ensure measurable quality and lasting impact for the people they serve.
THEIR VISION: Every person who participates in an ARC program or project will have a better chance to take control of their life and achieve self sufficiency.
To learn more, visit their web site: http://arcrelief.org
Follow my updates on Instagram: @ShineOnYouCrayDiamond
