Katika Kambi ya Kakuma, ambapo elimu bora ni nadra na ajira ni chache, hadithi ya Sosthene Nsengiyumva, 26, ni ushuhuda wa kile elimu inaweza kufanya.
Kupitia ushirikiano wa Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) na Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Global Education Movement, wanafunzi 100 hupata fursa kila mwaka — masomo ya mtandaoni yanayotegemea ujuzi (competency-based), na wakufunzi wa kitaaluma katika Arrupe Learning Center.
Safari ya Sosthene haikuwa rahisi: intaneti ya kuaminika ni anasa kambini, na kusawazisha masomo na maisha ya kambi ni mzigo mkubwa. Lakini kupitia programu hiyo alijifunza ujuzi wa mawasiliano, alishiriki kama mkalimani na mhamasishaji wa jamii, na akamaliza masomo yake kwa wakati — akihitimu na shahada ya mawasiliano (communications).
Hakusimama hapo. Alirudi mahali ndoto zake zilipoanza: leo ni academic coach katika Arrupe Learning Center, Kakuma, akiwashauri wanafunzi wengine wakimbizi.
"Now I am an inspiration. Before, I thought that for someone to be successful, they must go work in big cities like Nairobi. But the opportunity that JRS gave here in Kakuma has made my community see that education is real and can make a better change." — Sosthene Nsengiyumva
Wahitimu wa programu ya JRS-SNHU wanapata kazi, internship, na hata shahada za juu nchini Italia na Ufaransa — na wanarudi kwenye jamii zao kama wabadilishaji.
Chanzo: JRS Eastern and Southern Africa — https://ear.jrs.net/en/story/education-beyond-borders/