Improving access to digital skills and employment opportunities for young women in Kakuma Refugee Camp

Nakuor smiles as she reflects on her first days at the Digital Skills Hub in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Her journey into digital literacy wasn’t driven by ambition but by a genuine spark of curiosity. She had seen an advert at the camp’s gate for an opportunity to learn computer skills. For a young woman who had spent most of her life in the camp with limited access to formal education, it felt like an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

In Kakuma, initiatives like the Digital Skills Hub have been a lifeline for many young girls and women. The program, designed to equip young women with foundational and advanced digital skills, offers more than just technical training; it brings renewed hope. It is a space where refugees like Nakuor can learn new skills such as ICT training and transcription that open doors to opportunities beyond the confines of the camp. The opportunities in camps are limited, and many refugees are not legally permitted to work outside so the work available through the Digital Skills Hub opens up a new realm of possibilities. 

Through the Learning through Education and Access to Skills for Employment Project (LEAP), funded by Global Affairs Canada, we are working to strengthen digital skills for young women in partnership with the Solidarity Initiative for Refugees (SIR). In 2017, SIR was created to provide young women with access to education. Led by refugees for refugees, SIR set out to equip women and girls with the digital skills needed to unlock new possibilities. Since then, it has grown into a pillar of empowerment, helping hundreds of young women and men as they work toward economic independence. 

Through our partnership, SIR expanded its operations, building a larger digital hub and offering a more comprehensive curriculum to ensure the skills being taught matched the needs of the digital economy. It also helped SIR scale its operations and refine its focus on employability and long-term success for the participants.

SIR’s approach to digital skills training goes beyond teaching technical skills. The organization’s mentorship and job linkage model ensures that participants can navigate the often-complex world of online freelancing. After completing the three-month training, participants are paired with experienced mentors who guide them through finding and securing work on various online platforms. 

SIR’s mentors work closely with participants, teaching them how to create strong online profiles, apply for jobs, and manage client relationships. The support doesn’t stop at training completion, mentorship continues long after, ensuring that these young women have the tools they need to succeed in a competitive and unpredictable job market.

While Nakuor faces some challenges, such as unreliable internet access, she shares that the support from other trainees helped her persevere with the program. “We would encourage each other,” Nakuor says. “When one of us got a task, we’d share tips on how to complete it faster or better. It wasn’t about competition between us, but about surviving together.”

A turning point for Nakuor came when the program introduced a mentorship component. She and her peers were introduced to alternative online platforms, reducing the pressure on the single transcription service that had been their only source of income. The mentors offered invaluable, practical advice, teaching the girls how to market their skills, navigate the complexities of online freelancing, and improve their chances of securing higher-paying opportunities.

The digital skills that Nakuor acquired didn’t just give her the tools to work online. They gave her a new sense of self-worth. “Before, I was shy. I didn’t talk much in groups, and I didn’t think my opinions mattered,” Nakuor says, her voice soft but steady. “Now, I’m different. I can speak up. I know I have something to offer.”

The training helped boost her self-confidence in unexpected ways. Through the program’s life skills courses, Nakuor learned to manage her time, set goals, and work independently, skills that helped her succeed in online work and transformed her daily life. “I discovered that I can accomplish things on my own. I don’t have to wait for someone else to help me.”

As Nakuor’s confidence grew, so did her earning potential. Though still modest, her income from online tasks has become vital to her family’s survival. She contributes to household expenses and is saving to buy her laptop eventually. “It’s not a lot, but it’s mine. I’m proud of my achievements, even though it took longer than I had hoped.”

Today, Nakuor continues to pursue online jobs, and her aspirations have expanded beyond just earning an income. She dreams of starting a small business and perhaps mentoring other girls in the camp who are just beginning their digital journeys. “I want to help others like my mentors helped me,” she says with a smile. “If I can do it, anyone can.”

In an environment where opportunities are scarce and various limitations often constrain life, the Digital Skills Hub has given her the means to break through some of the barriers. Her journey, despite the obstacles, highlights the transformative impact of education, mentorship, and unwavering determination, showing that success is achievable no matter where you begin.

LEAP is implemented by WUSC and funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project is designed to increase the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, and surrounding host communities through improving learning outcomes at primary and secondary school level and increasing equitable participation in the informal and formal labour workforce.