Refugee girls in Kakuma camp attend ICT Bootcamp
“The Bootcamp not only offers much needed and marketable skills, it also empowers the trainees and builds their confidence and self-esteem in ICT. Some now see technology as a gateway to future career prospects.”
Abeny Ajok (in purple) and Achai Bol (second right) during a web design training at Morneau Shepell Girls School Refugee girls work on designing a website during the INS Bootcamp for girls in Kakuma refugee camp UNHCR/S.Otieno
Sixty refugee schoolgirls have been given an opportunity to attend an Information Communications Technology (ICT) Bootcamp in Kakuma refugee camp.
The girls from 6 different schools in Kakuma got the chance to undergo a 1-week intensive ICT Bootcamp, organized by the Vodafone Foundation, UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency, and education focused NGO partners, under the Instant Network Schools (INS) project.
During the course, the refugee students were provided with access to the web, tablets, laptops, and projectors. The idea: to enable them to interact with technology, enhance their learning experiences, and improve school attendance and participation in classrooms.
“These skills will help me to research and learn more about my dream career.”
INS has been organising ICT training for refugees since 2016. The course in Kakuma took place this month, over the school holidays. The goal was also to offer useful educational activities to refugee girls who would typically have stayed at home to carry out daily chores like cooking and cleaning.
17 Year-old Abeny Ajok from South Sudan poses for a photo during a break from the web training. UNHCR/S.Otieno
Refugee girls work on designing a website during the INS Bootcamp for girls in Kakuma refugee camp UNHCR/S.Otieno
Refugee girls work on designing a website during the INS Bootcamp for girls in Kakuma refugee camp UNHCR/S.Otieno
Refugee girls work on designing a website during the INS Bootcamp for girls in Kakuma refugee camp UNHCR/S.Otieno
The camp provides an opportunity for the girls to gain exposure to some of the latest ICT innovations like web design and development, digital art creation, basic computer and coding skills, and computer robotics.
The vision is to improve the skills of refugee students, spur creativity and broaden their horizons. The hope is that someday some of the girls will be able to go into ICT careers.
17-year-old Abeny Ajok, a refugee from South Sudan, is one of the students. Abeny is so happy to have had the chance to improve her ICT skills on the course.
“Before coming for this boot camp I didn’t know much about computers.”
She says: “I have learnt a lot about computers. Before coming for this boot camp I didn’t know much about computers. Thanks to the Bootcamp now I know more, including how to format texts to make them look better in my browser.”
18-year-old Achai Bol Deng is another recipient of the training. Achai says her dream is to become a lawyer to give voice to women and girls. She feels having up to date ICT skills will be essential to her success.
“I have discovered new things about computers and it’s been great. These skills will help me to research and learn more about my dream career.”
UNHCR’s Education Officer, Mohamud Hure says. “The Bootcamp not only offers much needed and marketable skills, it also empowers the trainees and builds their confidence and self-esteem in ICT. Some now see technology as a gateway to future career prospects.”
But more support for such education opportunities is needed for refugee students in Kakuma.
Over 87,000 refugee children need access to education in Kakuma camp, but only around 50,000 have access, leaving many thousands unable to access education.