What
What we are
We are Action for Refugee Life (AREL), a refugee-led social impact organization founded in 2022 in Kakuma refugee camp striving to build a path to a sustainable and self-reliant future for the refugee community.
AREL intends to provide the necessary tools, resources, and support to refugees at the individual, household, and community levels, with the aim of capacitating them to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency. This will enable them to meet essential needs in a sustainable and dignified manner.
The objectives of Action for Refugee Life are to locate gifted and proficient refugees, provide training for those who lack skills, and facilitate their access to remote job opportunities. This is aimed at giving them power to become self-reliant participants in a life that is both economically and socially viable.
- We enable refugees with digital and business skills and guide them to secure jobs remotely.
- We empower refugees to be able to live an independent life free from relying on hand-out and become contributors to the economy of the hosting country.
- We equip refugees with entrepreneurial skills to be able to come up with and implement viable business ideas and cope with modern business technology trends.
Do you know ?
Kakuma Camp was established in Turkana County, one of the poorest counties in Kenya, in 1992. The camp is located in a semi-arid region in northwest Kenya.
The host community in the area is largely made up of Turkana residents who are pastoralists and lead semi-nomadic lifestyles. These residents live in small villages without access to basic amenities such as running water or electricity.
As of December 30th, 2022, the Kakuma camp and the nearby Kalobeyei settlement have a combined population of 248,929 refugees.
The majority of the refugees in the camp are from South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Uganda. These individuals fled their home countries due to ongoing conflicts that have lasted for decades.
Why
Why Us
Problem Statements
The refugee camps were thought to be temporary dwelling places but today they have existed for decades.
A country like Kenya has hosted refugees for more than 30 years, thus generations and generations have been born and have grown up in the camps.
Extreme poverty among refugees in African refugee camps hinders their ability to meet their essential needs for quality life, quality education etc.
There has not been a solution to address refugee economic development; and sustainably and scalably benefit hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Dependence on aid from humanitarian organizations is unpredictable and insufficient to meet the needs of refugees, resulting in ongoing insecurity and vulnerability.
Our proposed solutions
Technical skills training
We aim to provide refugees with technical skills training in in-demand areas, Those include and not limited to Web development/coding, data analytics, and digital marketing, to help increase their employability in the modern job market.
Career counseling and job placement support
Offering refugees career counseling and job placement support, such as resume building, interview preparation, and job search strategies to help to increase their chances of finding employment.
Networking and mentorship opportunities
Networking and mentorship opportunities are critical for the success of refugee tech skills training and client retention. Connecting refugees with industry professionals and experienced mentors can help them gain valuable insights into the business world and build relationships. These connections can lead to partnerships and collaborations, and mentorship programs can provide refugees with guidance and support to improve their professional skills.
Recognition of refugees qualification and work experience
As a refugee organization providing tech skills training to refugees, We work with our partners to offer certification programs that assess and validate the skills of our trainees, and advocate for policies that recognize refugees' experience and expertise. Additionally, we partner with employers to create opportunities for our graduates to gain practical work experience and build their professional networks. This proactive approach helps our trainees achieve their career goals and contribute to their new communities.
Our Vision
To develop a community of refugees that will be financially stable to build their future life and create their own destiny.
Our Mission
To empower refugees to be able to create a viable, profitable, sustainable, and fair living that will position them as actors in developing a more equitable and healthier society in the refugee camp.
Our Goal
To provide refugees with a learning platform that will equip them with digital and business skills to be able to work remotely or build their own businesses.
Team
Check our Team
Kiza Mauridi
CEOAs a young refugee entrepreneur with a background in education and technology, Kiza Mauridi has a passion for driving positive change and making a difference in the world. With six years of experience as a trained teacher in primary and high schools, Kiza is dedicated to improving the standard of living for the refugee community through partnerships and innovative solutions. He combines his teaching experience with his technical skills and has been selected as an advocate to address the refugee digital divide, furthering his commitment to creating a better future for those in need.
Yaredi Eninga
COOYaredi in his role as a school principal, he has a demonstrated ability to manage complex operations, identify areas for improvement, and implement effective solutions.Yaredi's experience in school management, operations, and education design, coupled with his ICT expertise, has made him a valuable asset to the education sector. His dedication to improving the lives of young refugees in the Kakuma refugee camp is a testament to his commitment to education, and his vast knowledge and experience make him a sought-after education professional.
Jessie Hu
Head of PartnershipsJessie is a penultimate year student studying BSc International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jessie's background in public relations and student consulting has equipped her with valuable project management, communication, and outreach skills. As someone with a deep aspiration to work in international development, Jessie is committed to building meaningful partnerships and contributing to AREL's mission of empowering refugees.
Martha Ali
Head of Project ManagementMartha Ali's passion for creating positive economic change for the youth and women community is evident in her role as the Head of Project Management at AREL. With a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, Martha's knowledge of science and technology provides a valuable perspective in managing projects that focus on promoting financial independence. Martha's expertise in digital marketing and freelancing also comes into play in her role at AREL, where she leads efforts to empower youth and women through remote jobs.
Philip Black
Head of Training DevelopmentPhilip works for Elixirr Consulting with experience in global business and technology transformation projects. Philip has also worked in digital learning with a focus on technology research and integration, training design, and delivery with experience in designing and academy setup. Philip is also the Director of Partnerships and Networks for CSRN establishing and managing global corporate and Non-Profit Partners. Philip is also a One Young World Ambassador and RISE Youth Thought Leader.
Jack Elliott
Head of Advisory BoardJack is the founder of a global award-winning charity, CSRN, and a technology Investment Banker from London. Jack’s background spans organizational strategy, data science, and managerial finance, having received a Points of Light award from the UK Prime Minister for providing pro-bono management consultancy services to charities impacted by the crisis. Jack’s role at AREL is working with the team to help refine the organizational vision while overseeing the execution of ARELs overall strategy as the Head of the Advisory Board.
Elijah Musee
Advisory Board MemberAudit, financial risk advisory management specialist with over seven 7 years of not-for-profit audit and portfolio management. Specific sector experience: An all-rounded person in the humanitarian-development-Peace nexus, with an in-depth understanding of programming in key sectors including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Health, Education, Social Protection, and agriculture in the Eastern African region. Excellent communication skills, with full fluency in English and Kiswahili. Excellent Understanding of operations around grants management, with excellent presentation, proposal writing skills, Finance & accountancy, strategic financial advisory, Compliance, Internal audit, and risk management, policies/ systems formulation & implementation, and Team management.
Sustainable Development Goals we Address.
How do you achieve self reliance.We just want a life for ourselves.
AREL response to refugees economic challenges.
Trained Refugees
Hired Refugees
Acquired Clients
Initiated Businesses
Programs
Check our Programs
1.Digital and Business Training Programs.
Programs aim to provide refugees with training in various areas. These areas include”
Digital Marketing.
Web development and Coding.
Data analytics.
Foundational Business and entrepreneurship education.
The goal of the program is to equip refugees with valuable skills and knowledge that will enable them to become self-sufficient and build successful careers in the digital and business sectors.
2.Remote Job Opportunities.
The Remote Job Opportunities program involves creating a database of refugees who possess a range of digital skills. Once the database has been compiled, the program will connect these refugees with global hiring companies that are seeking employees with these specific skills. The program will also involve partnering with hiring companies to place trained refugees in relevant positions. Ultimately, the program is aimed at providing refugees with access to remote job opportunities that will enable them to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
3.Access to Capital.
The Access to Capital program aims to support refugees who have completed the training program and secured employment or started their own businesses. The program provides ongoing support to help these individuals maintain their employment or grow their businesses. Additionally, the program seeks to connect these individuals with funding opportunities, such as grants or loans, that can help them further develop their businesses. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide refugees with access to the capital they need to achieve financial stability and independence.
Partners
Check our Partners
WHAT ACTION FOR REFUGEE LIFE IS CALLING FOR
Partner With Us In Any Reasonable Way To Improve The Life Standard Of Refugees For Self-Reliance, This Can Include And Is Not Limited To:
Give Them A Job.
Provide Them A Platform For Learning.
Fund for Infrastruture.
Teach Them A Skill And Mentor Them.
Support Their Business Ideas.
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Kakuma History
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>>> Kakuma refugee camp is located in the........
Kakuma refugee camp is located in the North-western region of Kenya. The camp was established in 1992 following the arrival of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”. During that year, large groups of Ethiopian refugees fled their country following the fall of the Ethiopian government. Somalia had also experienced high insecurity and civil strife causing people to flee. With an influx of new arrivals in 2014, Kakuma surpassed its capacity by over 58,000 individuals, leading to congestion in various sections. Following negotiations between UNHCR, the National Government, the County Government of Turkana and the host community, land for a new settlement was identified in Kalobeyei, 20km from Kakuma town. As of 30th April 2022, the Kakuma camp accommodated 182,635 and 45,122 refugees in the Kalobeyei settlement. Kakuma Camp is divided into four namely: Kakuma 1, 2, 3 and 4 while Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement comprises of 3 villages: Village 1, 2 and 3.
Contact
Contact Us
Our Address
kakuma refugee camp, Turkana West, Kenya
Email Us
actionforrefugeelife@gmail.com
info@refugeelife.org
Call Us
+254 798 200 076
+44 7715 998 741