DREEM

“We are, after all, the pillars upon which the future of the refugee community will be built.” Jean-Marie, based in Kalobeyei Settlement, Kenya, spoke those powerful words about the role of entrepreneurs in refugee communities. How he and his partner Adele came to embody those words started seven years ago in difficult circumstances. When you’re…

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy Framework was officially launched at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2024, with the first cohort of 883 individuals from across the country graduating. Senior national and county government officials, led by the Deputy President, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, and education sector players attended the…

Looking back on his life’s journey, Peter Kimutai reflects fondly on how things have turned out for him.  “I never imagined I would get this far,” he says. At 32 years old, Peter runs a thriving electronics shop in Kakuma town in Northwestern Kenya. Born and raised in Turkana County, Peter lived a nomadic life…

A WUSC delegation recently had the opportunity to participate in the annual GYEO Summit, hosted by Making Cents International in Washington, DC, from September 9-12, 2024. Bringing together more than 500 global stakeholders from 75+ countries, the Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit showcased innovative programming models such as public-private partnerships and AI, enabled evidence sharing…

Refugee youth have the talent, energy, and potential to positively impact their communities. Yet, they are often excluded from the spaces where decisions are made. WUSC is committed to advancing refugee leadership and creating opportunities for refugee youth to grow and develop skills they can use to advocate for what matters most to them and…

WUSC, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Light for the World, and Solid Minds, has released a guidebook to support universities in understanding an intersectional approach to equity and inclusion, especially for youth with disabilities, refugees, and displaced persons.  The guidebook, entitled Journey to Success: A Guidebook on Inclusion for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Partners,…

Receiving a work permit or business license creates positive impacts in the lives of refugees and for their communities. In practice, access to work permits and business licences is complicated by several barriers. A new report, led by the University of Oxford’s Refugee-Led Research Hub and supported by Mastercard Foundation and WUSC, explores the gaps that exist between policy and practice of refugee access to Class M work permits and business licences in Kenya, and identifies what support is needed to improve access to sustainable livelihoods for urban and camp refugees

On June 13, 2023, WUSC collaborated with Expectation State with funding from Mastercard Foundation to organize a virtual event on economic opportunities for refugee and displaced youth. Close to 100 people from different parts of the world participated in the event who were members of civil society organizations, academia, and post-secondary institutions. The aim of…

Forced to confront the double discrimination of gender and displacement, young refugee women face many unique barriers to accessing health services, advanced education opportunities, and ultimately a seat at the table on discussions that directly impact their lives.  Around the world, in the often overlooked shadow of displacement, refugee youth are coming together to challenge…

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in the broader West Africa context Despite West Africa’s  reputation for stability and economic growth there are a number of significant economic and political crises unfolding in the region. Most recently, the Mali‒Niger‒Burkina Faso tri-border area (Central Sahel) has become one of the fastest growing displacement crises in the world.…