Advance vocational training empowers refugees and Kenyans in Kalobeyei Settlement

Vocational skills training equips refugees and Kenyans with market-oriented skills that empower them to make choices.

Thirty-eight year-old Beatrice Silas Kasimba’s face glows with hope. She smiles as she powers her sewing machine with her feet, a stitch at a time, turning fabrics into beautifully made clothes. The strong gusty winds and soaring heat does not deter her from doing what she loves.

“I want to build a stall near my house in Kalobeyei village 3 and buy a new sewing machine. I also want to stock my shop with African print fabric which I can sew into beautiful clothes and sell to clients.” Beatrice says.

Beatrice, from Burundi, recently graduated from advance vocational skills training in Kalobeyei refugee settlement, located in North-Western Kenya located 15 kilometres away from Kakuma refugee camp. 300 other refugees and Kenyans have benefited from the UNHCR supported advanced training offered by the Danish Refugee Council with funding from European Union Trust Fund (EUTF).

Kalobeyei settlement offers refugees and Kenyans an opportunity to be self-sufficient and an enabling environment to learn new skills and pursue economic activities

Beatrice enrolled for advanced vocational training in June 2018 and has since mastered the art of tailoring. She is among the best in her class and is already carving a niche in the fashion business in Kalobeyei settlement.

She says, “I completed the tailoring course just before Christmas and I was lucky to get paying clients whom I made clothes for.”

A new approach “the Choice Theory” was developed to allow refugees and the hosting communities maximize their potential in an enabling environment. The theory has two main building blocks; create an enabling environment and build people’s skills/capabilities.

Batamutiza Mariya, skilled plumber from Congo, shows off her prowess in plumbing during a graduation ceremony in Kalobeyei. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno

Kalobeyei settlement offers refugees and Kenyans an opportunity to be self-sufficient and an enabling environment to learn new skills and pursue economic activities.  Vocational skills training equips refugees and Kenyans with vital market-oriented skills that enable them to be self-sufficient.

Kashindi Siyaona, from Congo, has graduated in Hairdressing. Her hairdressing skills were evaluated by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) through a national test in December 2018. She will soon receive her grade 3 certificate.

Kashindi says, “Previously, I did not know how to do hair but now I have the hairdressing skills. I had very many clients over the Christmas holidays and now everyone is looking for me because of the skills I got from DRC vocational training.”

Godfrey Okumu John, from South Sudan, a graduate electrician, says “I took part in the installation of an incubator in Kalobeyei. This required a lot of wiring skills to install and ensure that the incubator works perfectly.”

“With these skills, I want to go out and look for jobs.” George Okumu, who is originally from South Sudan is now a graduate electrician residing in Kalobeyei settlement. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno

“The specialized market driven training for local and refugee community are creating opportunities for self-reliance, which is in line with UNHCR response also known as Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, that seeks to enhance refugees’ self-reliance and inclusion in Kenya.” Edith Imbolokonye, Assistant Livelihood Officer, UNHCR Kakuma explains.

Regina Nanok is from the Turkana host community and is now a skilled plumber. She says she was motivated to pursue plumbing because her village lacks access to sufficient clean water.

I know my skills will be useful. Many people in my village need water and plumbing is the only means to deliver safe water to them

She also sees opportunities in the new settlement. “This being a town, the demand for plumbing services will be high as people would want piped water into their businesses and homes.” Regina remarks.

“The first 303 student sat for the NITA Grade 3 examination in December 2018. Going forward, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is working on improving the quality and relevance of the courses provided in line with the job market demands.” says Neville Agoro, Area Manager,  DRC Kakuma.

Kalobeyei settlement is home to over 38,000 refugees.