Meet Matio, Kakuma Refugee Camp’s Newest Certified Electrician
After losing his family home and cattle in a war in South Sudan, Matio Kiir Kon, together with his two siblings, a niece, and a neighbour, fled to Kenya in December 2012. Since then, life has had its fair share of challenges, he said, including being separated from some family members during his pivotal years and having to adjust to life in a new country.
Despite the challenges of living in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya, Matio consistently sought opportunities that would enable him to access work and a better life. Matio completed a three-month electrical wiring course in 2021, receiving a certification through the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).
In 2022, Matio learned about the WUSC scholarship for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, through a friend. RPL is the process used to identify, assess and certify one’s knowledge, skills and competencies acquired in non-formal or informal learning, such as work or life experiences, against prescribed standards or learning outcomes.
“I liked the idea of the RPL certificate and used it as a motivation to enrol,” he said.
By pursuing certification through RPL, Matio hoped this formal recognition of his skills would open more doors for work opportunities.
Matio, together with other fellow refugees, receives guidance from an RPL invigilator on their RPL assessment at Kalobeyei Settlement in Turkana, Kenya.
As a part of the application process for RPL, Matio was required to submit a portfolio of evidence, which included photos, videos, and testimonials of his electrical wiring and installation experience. While Matio previously had a well-documented portfolio of his work, he was unable to access these media files.
“I was using someone’s phone to record photos and videos; I did not have access to them after that since my friend moved back to South Sudan,” he said, explaining that he had to retake the photos and evidence for his RPL application.
After being shortlisted, Matio was evaluated by a team from Kitale National Polytechnic, undergoing theoretical and practical examinations, which he passed, leading to a recommendation for graduation.
Matio hopes to further his studies until diploma level, after which he plans on returning to South Sudan to support the country’s development. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunities that have come his way and wants others, especially those with a background of displacement, to know that they too, can strive to accomplish their goals.
“Everything is possible. Do what you can as long as you are alive,” he said.
Matio is assisted by a Kitale National Polytechnic invigilator to fill out some documentation during an assessment and examination session as part of the RPL process to assess candidates.
Matio works on a switchboard as part of his practical exam under the watch of a Kitale National Polytechnic trainer, Fredrick Simiyu.
Matio repairs an electrical inverter for a friend who owns a clothing store in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Matio Kiir Kon poses for a photo with his graduation stole during the National RPL Policy Launch and Graduation of Cohort 1 event held at KICC, Nairobi, Kenya, in 2024.