Refugee and Kenyan girls top 2019 National Music Festival
“Our school has become popular due to poetry. Now people know that out of a camp there are people and there are girls with power, who are empowered by their own spirit and have nurtured talents.”
Angelina Jolie Shoolgirls pose for a group photo at the school with the ten trophies, including the presidential trophy, won at the 2019 National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Standing tall in the middle of the administration block are ten supersized trophy cups. These are the newest memento to be added to the collection of trophies and awards won by Angelina Jolie Primary schoolgirls, including an accolade trophy from the President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta.
Our school has become popular due to poetry
Mid this year, refugee and Kenyan girls from the Angelina Jolie school presented 14 entries in the 93rd Annual National Music Festival which aims aim at providing a platform for learners to identify and nurture talent. Eight of the 14 entries made it to the National level, winning them trophies and recognition for their prowess in poetry.
Nyigok Mayen, a refugee from South Sudan, is among the group of talented girls from Angelina Jolie school who competed in the 2019 Kenya National Music Festival.
“I love poetry because it increases my grammar. It has also helped me to be creative, learning how to use words in English and this is helping me a lot.” Nyigok says.
She recalls how fierce the competition was, bringing together various schools from across the country. Everyone was competing to have a trophy. Everyone wanted to go home with something because they didn’t want to go home empty handed but wanted their hard work to pay.”
Among the entries that won the girls accolades is a poem on Cyber Security titled ‘I am off the hook’ by George Okello for the Communications Authority of Kenya. Nigok says that this was among the girls’ favourite entry as the girls have been introduced to digital classes and better understand the risks involved.
The 2019 Music Festival finals, themed enhancing National Unity, Cohesion and Integration through Kenya Music festival, brought together over 120,000 learners, from ECD to tertiary levels, from across the country and was held at Kabarak University, in Nakuru County, in August 2019.
Angelina Jolie Shoolgirls pose for a group photo at the school with the ten trophies, including the presidential trophy, won at the 2019 National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
“Our school has become popular due to poetry. Now people know that out of a camp there are people and there are girls with power, who are empowered by their own spirit and have nurtured talents. And they are ready to do anything for themselves,” says Nyigok.
Sabella Muthoni, Headteacher at Angelina Jolie, says “When girls from Angelina Jolie school in Kakuma camp set out to compete in this year’s National Music Festival, they only had one thing in mind – to prove to the world that refugees are not only academic champions but also giants in cocurricular activities.”
Refugees in Kenya continue to post excellent results in national examinations and co-curricular activities. For four consecutive years, refugee learners from Turkana West sub county have emerged top in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) national examinations in Turkana County as well as among the top performers in the Country. Four girls from Angelina Jolie School have since attended the coveted Annual Pupils Reward Scheme (PURES) by the Kenya’s First Lady at State House Nairobi as a result of their excellent academic performance.
“To be named the best primary school a cross Kenya and to win several trophies and awards in different entries is a testament to the talent and resilience of refugee children.” Says Mohamud Hure, Education Officer for UN Refugee Agency.
Abuol Malueth displays one of the ten trophies Angelina Jolie Girls Boarding Schools scooped during this year’s National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Shadia Feysal: displays one of the ten trophies Angelina Jolie Girls Boarding Schools scooped during this year’s National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Nyigok Mayen poses with one of the ten trophies Angelina Jolie Girls Boarding Schools scooped during this year’s National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Angelina Jolie Shoolgirls pose for a group photo at the school with the ten trophies, including the presidential trophy, won at the 2019 National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Angelina Jolie Shoolgirls pose for a group photo at the school with the ten trophies, including the presidential trophy, won at the 2019 National Music Festival. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Angelina Jolie is the only Primary Boarding School facility and one of the 26 Primary Schools in Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei settlement that are supported by the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and run partners: Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Kakuma and Finish Church Aid (FCA) in Kalobeyei. The school is not only an academic center but a protection tool for refugee and host community girls.
To be named the best primary school a cross Kenya and to win several trophies and awards in different entries is a testament to the talent and resilience of refugee children
Whereas providing equal access to quality education remains a key priority for the UN Refugee Agency, education, at all levels, continue to face numerous challenges such as overcrowding in classrooms, insufficient teaching and learning materials, insufficient number of trained teachers and insufficient infrastructure. Currently, gross enrolment in Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei settlement stands at 85,124 learners.
According to Mohamud, Angelina Jolie schoolgirls achievement and success in the National Music Festival a reminder that with support and resources, together, refugees and host community children can excel not only in academics but in drama and sports.
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