Digital literacy program in Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Description: In the place where the future is not visible and tomorrow is unpredictable, training our children in computer science could certainly allow them to prepare for their future. Kakuma Refugee camp was opened in 1992 by the UNHCR as a temporary refuge. It is located in an arid and semi-arid area in northwestern Kenya. The camp is located in one of the poorest counties in Kenya, known as Turkan County, specifically Turkan West Sub County. Kakuma refugee camp is currently home to 192,167 refugees with a number of more than 39,867 young people between the age of 15 to 25 years old (UNHCR statistics of 30 July 2019). The worsening refugee crisis in Africa has had a devastating effect on the rights of millions of children including the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goal #4, the right to good quality education. The young people in Kakuma refugee camp are disconnected to the outside world and have little or no access to computers or the internet, and therefore, go through a primitive life in this modern world. While a variety of humanitarian actors or organisations are doing a great job in providing humanitarian assistance in various forms, the digitalisation of young people is still a dream. Other forms of assistance to provide for a modern education is the current need in the camp. Through a direct experience in the community, on-going learning, reflection, and engagement, African Initiative for Human Development (AIHD) identified a large gap in computer skills and started working on it. The gap can only be filled by organizations at the camp such as AIHD collaborating with recognises their efforts from different local and international organizations and companies to promote digital literacy. AIHD acknowledges all efforts to support the youth in Kakuma camp and seeks to support and fill the gap through its Center. AIHD also recognizes the vital role computer skills plays in our daily activities. According to AIHD, computer skills will adequately prepare young people in the camp to actively participate in the process of his or her digitalisation, and therefore, promote a growth mindset of this young generation. It will also give them access to online education opportunities and prepare them for future employability.