Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in northwestern Uganda is the second largest refugee camp in the world with an expanse twice the size of Paris and a quarter million residents, most of whom are fleeing war in the South Sudan. Because Uganda has some of the most progressive refugee policies in the world, refugees are able to live, work, and farm freely. As a result, life at Bidibidi is slowly transforming into a permanent city as the economy builds and ways of life develop. Robert Baryamwesiga, the settlement’s government overseer, says that he is more optimistic now than ever that it will be transformed into "a big city": “Because I see more creative ideas from the refugees themselves. I see them try to engage now in livelihood programs.”

The stories in this collection are each a slice of life in Bidibidi. The first story by National Geographic is a photojournalistic overview of the history and current conditions of the settlement and offers a nice, well-rounded education in the subject. The following four stories are all from Things That Work Uganda, a project run by The Media Challenge Initiative that focuses on developing the next generation of journalists in Africa. One covers the Yoyo Youth Vocational Skills Center which is transforming students' lives through a free education that will eventually earn them a living. Two stories cover further examples of entrepreneurship in Bidibidi: making reusable menstrual pads and growing and harvesting cotton. The last uplifting story is about a dance troupe called Burn Dem Squad that uses dance as a means to heal trauma and spread messages of hope and unity. All of these stories are only a handful of examples of the rich variety of life going on in Bidibidi since the settlement began in 2016 and continues to develop into a thriving home for both Ugandans and the South Sudanese.