Kakuma Instant Network Schools Centres are Buzzing

The INS centres have become hubs of activity as refugees take the opportunity to enter a world of knowledge with just a tap of a finger

KAKUMA, Kenya – The Instant Network Schools (INS) in the camp are buzzing with activity as excited students and community members take advantage of the innovation to learn and study.

The centres – a community library and a secondary school are fully online following the completion of internet installation at the sites this week. The use of the INS kits donated by Vodafone Foundation has been impressive with over 5,000 users benefiting from them since their launch in July 2015.

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An interactive classroom in one of the Instant Network Schools centres in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Photo UNHCR/D.Muya

The Instant Classroom was created from the Foundation’s experience of running eLearning programmes in refugee camps with UNHCR and education NGOs. It is a mobile, quick and easily deployable solution that allows for interactive classes using mobile educational content. The Instant Network Schools, which were launched in Kakuma in June 2015, are a mobile solution to environments where accessibility to educational material pose a challenge.

The concept behind the solution is to contain all the functionality to support an Instant Classroom within a single robust secure enclosure. The all-in-one mobile enclosure contains tablets and e-readers which allow users access to thousands of online reading and learning material.

“We are happy with this partnership which brings technology to our education system. Education is central in the lives of refugees since it is the most important thing that they can carry home. We are committed to ensure the success of the project,” said UNHCR Representative in Kenya Raouf Mazou about the Instant Network Schools.

The INS centres have become hubs of activity as refugees take the opportunity to enter a world of knowledge with just a tap of a finger.