156. Kakuma Refugee Camp: Empowering Youth

Today we will hear about the Kakuma Vocational Center (KVC), and how the founder's interactions with community members in the Kakuma Refugee Camp revealed challenges faced by the population, particularly youth and young women. As one example of the socio-economic and education challenges these women face, it became clear that a holistic education option would help young women who lacked support after becoming mothers, particularly single mothers. KVC was founded to make a positive impact on the lives of youth and women in Kakuma. The KVC includes a range of services and programs to refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp including an innovation course, a makerspace, a soap-making program, child development and learning activities, and more.The founder is Matabishi Narukako, also known as Mata. Mata is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who fled his home country in 2012. In the DRC, he earned a diploma in Business Administration, and after seeking refuge in the Kakuma Camp, he actively participated in various international NGO training programs, including Applied Human Rights from the University of Geneva. This program allowed Mata to earn certificates related to managing non-profit organizations.While in Kakuma, Mata's passion for computer applications, coding, and IT grew significantly. In 2018, he founded the Kakuma Vocational Center (KVC), which serves as the first makerspace for youth in Kakuma, Kenya. As the Founder and CEO of KVC, he is working to drive positive and sustainable change in the community.To learn more or donate to the Kakuma Vocational Center, go to: ⁠https://reframe.network/rlo/kakuma-vocational-centerFacebook page:https://m.facebook.com/kakumavcenter/