A co-created project developed in partnership between Small Things Creative projects and Life Skills for Better Future. This is a communtiy led organisation founded by Polydord Wasokye in 2018 in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana West, Kenya.
Polydord is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo but is now a refugee in the camp, located in the north-west of Kenya. Kakuma Camp is home to more than 200,000 asylum seekers and refugees, living together in one of the harshest and unforgiving climates in the world.
“My journey begins in the verdant landscapes of Kazimia Village, nestled in the eastern expanses of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Born on December 10, 1995, into a lineage steeped in agriculture; my life was intimately tied to the rhythms of the land. Our family – guardians of the soil – cultivated our livelihood through the bounty of our gardens. From a tender age I accompanied my mother on the long treks to our plots, learning the art of farming and the value of hard work amidst the lush diversity of our fields. Our land yielded Cassava, maize, avocados, pineapples, bananas, and a mosaic of vegetables and legumes, sustaining the family and funding my education.
Despite the pastoral beauty of my homeland, my narrative took a darker turn as the shadows of war and unrest crept across the Congo. The fragility of life in my village, marred by violence and insecurity, propelled me on a quest for safety and peace, leading to my registration as a refugee in Kenya’s Kakuma camp in February 2015.
In Kakuma, I encountered a world far removed from my agricultural roots, marked by food scarcity and economic hardship. Yet, it was here that my resilience shone. Determined to overcome the barriers of language and displacement, I embraced the challenge of learning English, laying the groundwork for a future driven by purpose and community service.
By the end of 2016, My personal life blossomed with the founding of a family, yet my heart remained with the broader camp community. Disturbed by the dire conditions facing women and children in Kakuma, I founded the Life Skills for Better Future (LSBF) organization. LSBF emerged as a beacon of hope, dedicated to empowering refugees through vocational training and sustainable development programs, fostering a community where self-reliance and economic independence are within reach.
Under my leadership, LSBF has initiated programs like Livelihoods for Resilience, targeting the nutritional and educational needs of women and children and cultivating permaculture practices. The organization’s mission extends to enhancing employability and entrepreneurship, aiming to dismantle the barriers to economic advancement for Kakuma’s inhabitants.
I envision a future where equity, opportunity, and self-sufficiency are accessible to all, striving tirelessly to expand LSBF’s impact. My story is a testament to the transformative power of education, community, and unwavering resolve, illuminating a path of hope and renewal for refugees far beyond the borders of Kakuma.”
We are working with Polydord and LSBF to explore ways that we can co-create a permaculture learning space for people living in Kakuma with the initial focus upon the development of small home gardens. We will explore how these gardens can provide food to eat and sell, but also to support improved physical and mental wellbeing, and to develop learning and skills that particpants may take into other areas of their life.