Refugees in Kenya access to higher education via Internet

SPECIAL REPORT BY XINHUA CORRESPONDENT CHRISTINE LAGAT

KAKUMA REFUGEES CAMP
Refugees in Kakuma refugee camp in the scrubland of northwestern Kenya now have access to higher education, following the launch by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) of a distance-education project in collaboration with U.S. universities.

The Jesuit Commons, higher education at the margins project, offers a dynamic and flexible model of higher education to refugees, promoting education as a fundamental human right, the JRS said in a statement on Thursday.

In Kakuma, at least 100 refugees are expected to participate in the new program during the first year.

“I am very happy to participate in this,” said Bol, a refugee from Sudan.

“Life in a refugee camp is very difficult without access to further studies. Now that I study I know that I will be of use for my community in the future,” he said.

The Liberal Studies program is a three-year track leading to a diploma (similar to an associates degree in the United States), and focuses on humanities, leadership, business studies and communication.

Regis University in Denver of the United States offers the academic accreditation for the program.

Traditionally, few refugees have had access to higher education.

An Ethiopian student in Kakuma told the JRS that not having the possibility to continue his university education contributed considerably to his trauma.

Now, 20 years after he arrived in Kakuma, he can finally study again.

Currently, 35 students from eight different nationalities are studying for a diploma in Applied Liberal Studies and a second group of students will start in September.

“While most refugees have access to primary and some to secondary education, we have seen a strong demand for higher education,” says Christine Mwaniki, the JRS Kenya Director.

“This program brings refugees into a wider academic community, engages their minds and equips them with skills they can apply today to improve the lives of those around them,” she adds.

The JRS faced a huge challenge to overcome the infrastructure deficiencies at the remote Kakuma location, where there was no electricity or internet.

But, by partnering with companies like Safaricom, Libco and Microsoft those challenges were overcome.

Source: Xinhua