Spreading joy through sport at the Kakuma Refugee Camp

In a refugee camp located in the North Western Region of Kenya, football has found its way into the lives of dreamers, reigniting passions and keeping the ambitions of many alive. 

The Kakuma Refugee Camp, home to over 160,000 refugees and asylum seekers, was created in 1992 to house the Lost Boys of Sudan, while also being a refuge for Somalian and Ethiopian refugees. Within the camp are asylum seekers from over 20 countries living in four sectors.  This area has been home to many, yet it is riddled with violence and poverty.

Trials have found their way into this community, both environmental and ecological. Floods and infertile soil lead to the quality of agriculture worsening by the year. Food insecurity is at a high, clean water is difficult to find, and the healthcare system is filled with long wait times and insufficient supplies. The lack of food makes many skip or ration their meals leading to near starvation. With the constant stresses and struggles of their environment, tension builds, creating barriers towards one another. Most of those who live there are youth, with 61% of refugees being 18 years or younger. Despite it all, the youth at Kakuma Refugee Camp have managed to find something that can unite them – Football. 

Humaniti, with our initiative to foster a sense of community, peace and well-being, was eager to find a way to implement a sense of unity within the camp. In collaboration with Gu Africa and at the recommendation of the community leaders within the camp, a football tournament was created to further inspire and bring the youth together. The tournament consisted of four rounds and a penalty shoot-out where 224 children participated along with an estimated 1,000 people from the community in attendance. The youth working together in high spirits in a competitive, friendly match lifted the spirits as they ran across their fields. Working in harmony to score into the net, the tournament created a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship in a place where so much unrest was present. Despite facing immense challenges and hardships, children in Kakuma Refugee Camp continue to navigate their realities with remarkable resilience, finding strength in the community and moments of joy.

The tournament was more than just a game, it was a symbol of how unity can be fostered, and how the shared love of a sport can break down barriers and ease a community. 

At Humaniti we strive to create opportunities and initiatives that can be a beacon of hope for those who need it most, by knowing that even the simplest pleasures, like a game of football, can inspire and heal the lives of many.