AIHD2: DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP IN KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP

CONSTRUCTION OF AFRICAN INITIATIVE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP

OVERVIEW:

Kakuma refugee camp is the largest camp in the world and is home to close to 188135 refugees, place in an arid and semi-arid area located in the north-western part of Kenya in the poorest county known as Turkana County.

The worsening refugee crisis in Africa has had a devastating effect on the rights of millions of children including the right to good quality of education. Growing up in a remote area, the young people in Kakuma refugee camp are disconnected to different opportunities of education, life skills initiative such as computer skills, Freelance and digital entrepreneurship trainings, online higher education opportunities, and leadership, peace and conflict resolution. While a variety of humanitarian organizations are doing a great job in providing humanitarian assistance in various forms, the digitalization of young people and leadership, peace and conflict resolution trainings still a dream and needs different efforts, diversification of actors and amplification of local community initiatives from refugees. Through a direct experience in the community, on-going learning, reflection and engagement, African Initiative for Human Development (AIHD2) has noted a great gap and started working on it in Kakuma refugee camp. In the remote areas especially in refugee camps, deprived populations don't have equal opportunities: Children between the ages of 10 to 18 years old don’t have access to basic digital skills. More than 2000 refugees that graduate from high school in the camps are jobless due to lack of access to continued learning. This limits the chances to participate in income generating activities. Unfortunately, this leads them to become inactive. By offering freelance digital skills and monitoring learning progress, refugees will build their future and support themselves.

This has made the African Initiative for Human Development to conceive multidisciplinary programs adapted to refugee concept and allow them to get engaged active life:

AIHD2 program targets two groups; 14-25years to provide:

• Digital literacy: students learn digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices in life. Computer skills will prepare young people to actively participate in the process of their digitalization and therefore, promote a future thinking mindset of this young generation. Learning to code will open the door for critical thinking and future learning such as game creation and app development. We aim at achieving three things:
  • Prepares students with critical 21st-century skills.
  • Supports educators with training and recognition.
  • Engages the whole community through family outreach.
• Freelancing and digital entrepreneurship training: online and offline job opportunities, we equip the youths with the required skills in the freelance economy where they can get jobs as freelancers either online, offline, locally or globally.
• Leadership, peace and conflict resolution: we train the refugees in how to become the real leaders, maintain social peace, and solve conflict in the communities via the mechanisms of conflict resolution. . In fact, after successfully completing the course in December, the first group of graduates from the course are dedicating their time to train other refugees in Kakuma camp.
• Connect refugees to online higher education programs: we identify higher education platforms which offer free online higher education and link refugees who have completed high school and wish to pursue higher learning.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this center is to empower refugees with the skills for life by training, facilitating them access to online opportunities such as online higher education and freelancing jobs.

AIHD2 Kakuma refugee camp Center and the project need to:

Prepare participants for the modern world with skills that will enable them to have confidence and a clear and correct understanding of the basic skills in computer programs and hardware, build self-confidence and motivation among trainees on the technology, and make the community members aware of the opportunities afforded to individuals with basic computer skills.

Understand the parameters of solving and preventing conflicts and managing peace in their families, communities, and society.

The main objective of this program is to support children and youth to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in a digital world and promote inclusive online engagement, global exchange of information, and connect them with the world outside Kakuma Refugee camp, engage them in coding and games or apps development.

With these objectives, the project has an annual target of 400 trainees in our different programs. Leadership, peace and conflict resolution will host 30 students per intake x 4. Computer training (two programs: children and adults) with 30 students x4, online higher education 10 x 4 and Freelancing 40 students x4.

Background: After running for two years their programs in someone’s compound, AIHD2 is seeking support from various donors to construct the center in Kakuma refugee camp. The free digital literacy program will enable trainees to acquire basic skills in computers and digital devices such as smartphones.

Program Vision:

Reduce the high rate of undigitized young people in Kakuma refugee camp and give trainees the skills they need to become better workers in their future lives.

What topics will students learn in this center?

1. Leadership, peace and conflict resolution:

• Leadership, democracy and elections;
• Social peace and conflict resolution
• Nonviolence Management of Traditional and Religion conflict

• Computer training:

• Module 1: Basic computer skills and knowledge

Introduction to computers and digital devices, including software, hardware, and apps;

• Module 2: The Internet and World Wide Web. How to use cloud services, create an email account, send email, conduct a search
• Module 3: Digital privacy and security

What are computer viruses and how to prevent them, how to present yourself online and in social media

• Module 4: Digital lifestyles

How to use digital device utilities such as flashlight, camera, stopwatch, calculator,etc.

• Module 5: Productivity programs

Coding, game and app development

• Freelancing training: students will learn how to create Facebook Ads, launch a campaign and how to work online with Up-Work, Freelancers etc…

• Online higher education programs: The center will be identifying online platforms which are providing free online studies and connecting refugees.

Creating an Environment for Student Success: Long term success of this project depends on external and internal factors that will support the project to achieve its objectives.

Duration: This project is intended to start once the construction of the Center is funded and completed and will be ongoing according to funding support.