Breaking barriers: the inspiring journey of a disabled refugee advocate
A story of resilience unfolds in the heart of one of the world’s largest refugee complexes. It is here, amidst the sprawling tents and makeshift homes of the Dadaab refugee camps, Garissa County, that Daud Kusow, a Somali refugee living with a physical disability,...
Statelessness advocate celebrates historic academic achievement in Kenya
Dizzying excitement filled Nosizi Dube’s heart as she opened a letter offering her a place to study economics at the University of Nairobi four years ago. But with neither the birth certificate nor identity card required for university entry in Kenya, Nosizi’s...
A new chapter of hope: refugee students embark on university journeys in Canada
At the dusty Dadaab airstrip in Garissa County, north eastern Kenya, a mix of emotions fills the air as fourteen young refugees stand together, clutching their boarding passes. Some hug their families tightly, fighting back tears, while others wear nervous smiles,...
‘Being a humanitarian is all I know how to do.’
Name: Carmeline Wanjiru. Born in Nairobi, Kenya Job title: External Relations Officer, based in Nairobi. Years at UNHCR: 24 years. Joined UNHCR in 2000 as a community services assistant and went to Somalia in 2017 for two months. Why did you become a...
Young refugee athlete defies odds to compete in Paris Olympic
Perina is one of the youngest athletes and the only athlete based in Africa on the 37-strong IOC Refugee Olympic Team competing in Paris. Laughter and giggles reverberated through the chilly air at Eldoret Sports Club in Kenya’s Rift Valley region as Perina Nakang and...
Kimbo’s Final Drive: Celebrating 32 Years behind the wheel with UNHCR.
Ahmed Abdinoor, lovingly known as ‘Kimbo,’ reminisced about his first day on the job with a warm smile. “They asked if I could drive, and I replied, ‘This truck or an aircraft?’ And just like that, they handed me the keys!” His laughter...
Maternity ward provides life-line for refugee mothers in Kenya
Funded by the European Union, the maternity wing of Natukobenyo Health Center in the Kalobeyei Settlement is ensuring hundreds of expectant mothers deliver safely. The soft coos and gentle cries of newborn babies emanate from the maternity wing of Natukobenyo Health...
Q & A on flooding with William Ejalu, Head of Sub-Office, Dadaab
In March and April this year, Kenya has been battered by stronger-than-usual rains and heavy flooding, caused by the El Niño weather system. For refugees in the Dadaab refugee camp, this has brought misery and upheaval. William Ejalu is the Head of Sub-Office in...
Congolese refugee turns plastic waste into a profitable business
Raphael Basemi has come a long way since arriving in Kenya’s Kakuma camp in 2009 with just a bag of clothes and his education certificates. The Congolese refugee now runs the largest community-led recycling enterprise in the camp, providing hundreds of jobs for other...