The Bidi Bidi settlement in Uganda is home to more than 270,000 people, mostly fleeing conflict in South Sudan, making it one of the world’s largest refugee settlements. This week, join us in praying for families surviving in harsh conditions and asking God to bless the work of Tearfund’s local partner in the settlement, Here Is Life (HIL).
Sunday 15 March
Lord, we thank you for the people of Uganda who are providing a safe place for people fleeing violence. We pray for continued political stability and the resources needed for Uganda to remain a safe haven for more than 1.6 million refugees. We also pray for peace in the region, so that refugees can return to their homes. Amen.
Monday 16 March
Lord, we lift up the more than 270,000 refugees in Bidi Bidi, many of whom are children who came fleeing the violence – often losing parents or whole families in severely traumatic events. We pray for their healing from trauma and for comfort for those who have experienced such profound loss. May they find peace in their new community. Amen.
Tuesday 17 March
Lord, we pray for the safety and protection of children in the settlement. We are heartbroken by the risks they face, including severe hunger, trauma and lack of basic necessities, sexual and domestic violence, child labour and harmful traditional practices. We ask you to help Tearfund partners create a safe environment for them to grow and thrive. Amen.
Wednesday 18 March
God, we pray for the provision of food for every family in Bidi Bidi. We thank you for the gift of the mango season, which provides a respite from hunger for the children. Please guide HIL’s efforts to find lasting solutions to food insecurity, with thousands of people struggling to find food each day. Amen.
Thursday 19 March
Lord, we lift up the relationships between the refugees and the host communities. We pray for understanding, as the mangoes have often been a source of conflict between the refugees and the local population. We ask you to continue to use the community dialogues to encourage people to work together to find solutions and share resources. Amen.
Friday 20 March
Lord, we thank you for the work of HIL’s Transforming Communities project. We pray that these crucial community dialogues continue to empower refugees, restore dignity, and help people find common ground to solve problems together, as they provide a safe space for people to voice their concerns and to start to understand each other better. Amen.
Saturday 21 March
Lord, we thank you that the community dialogues are helping to rebuild hope. We pray for the host and refugee communities to continue to live together peacefully. ‘There are challenges of land use and stray animals in the camp,’ says one refugee, ‘and the dialogue has been a good platform to discuss this.’ We pray that the spirit of cooperation continues. Amen.
