Author: Ukech Charity

Every year on June 20th, the world comes together to celebrate World Refugee Day, a day dedicated to recognising the courage, resilience and strength of millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, insecurity, violence, prosecution and other crisis.

For many, being a refugee is often associated with loss and hardship. While these challenges are real, refugee stories are also stories of hope, perseverance and the determination to build a better future.

Behind every refugee is a human being with dreams, talents and the desire to live in safety and contribute positively to the society.

Refugees are not just survivors, they’re leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, educators and change makers. Their stories remind us of the power of resilience and the importance of our shared humanity.

On this world refugee day, let us celebrate the strength of refugees everywhere and renew our commitment to build a future where everyone can live with dignity, peace and hope.

Happy World Refugee Day 2026

Watch short vedio

https://youtube.com/shorts/vL7Q1gvWVy8?is=iWG-nzlS-GEFhAR4

Ukech Charity Foundation organised a football tournament in Kaloboyei settlement in collaboration with Klabu to bring together the youth from different communities through the power of sports.

The tournament created an exciting platform where the youth showcased their football talents, build network and strengthen relationships with one another in a positive and supportive environment.

Sports activities like this tournament, play a vital role in the refugee communities by promoting unity, resilience and mental wellbeing. For many young people living in challenging circumstances, football provides a healthy outlet and chance to develop discipline, confidence and leadership skills.

The event also encouraged community participation and strengthened the spirit of cooperation among participants and spectators.

Through this collaboration, both organisations aimed to create a meaningful opportunity for the youth engagement and empowerment.

We continue to support programs that mature talents and foster a sense of belonging and optimism within the community.

When the youth come together, communities grow stronger.

During the 16 days of Gender Activism, Ukech Charity Foundation organised a 4 days girls mentorship session in collaboration with 5 other women led organisations at the camp aimed at empowering young girls and raising awareness about gender equality and protection.

The mentorship session brought together young women from Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kaloboyei settlement.

The program created a safe and supportive spaces where girls could learn, share experiences and gain knowledge that will help them navigate the challenges they face in their daily lives.

The 4 day session was design to address the key issues affecting young girls and women in the community including gender based violence, personal development and menstrual hygiene and care.

Facilitators led interactive sessions, discussion and activities that encouraged girls to speak openly about their experiences and challenges.

The session also focused on building confidence, self esteem, and leadership skills among the girls. These conversations were important in helping girls understand that their voices matter and they have the power to make positive decisions for their lives.

By bringing together girls from different communities, the program strengthened collective understanding about the rights of young girls and women.

Through programs like this, Ukech Charity Foundation and partners remain committed to empowering girls, promoting gender equality and creating safer communities for young girls and women.
Investing in the education and leadership women is a crucial step towards building resilient communities where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

Nadhifa is a single mother of 5 children living in Kakuma Refugee Camp for years without safety and stability of a proper home. With no one to rely on, she does her best to make sure her children are able to eat everyday, go to school and provide anything they need. They lived in a severely detoriated house that offered little protection from rain, wind and harsh weather conditions.

Nadhifa’s old house.

Her house structure was small, fragile and unsafe making it a challenge for the family. Nadhifa did not have any idea of what the future was for them incase their only house fell to the ground at last.

Through the intervention of Ukech Charity Foundation, her story has taken a new direction. We successfully constructed a safe secure home for her and her children. A place where they can now live with stability, dignity and hope.

Nadhifa’s new house.

This project is a restoration of hope and opportunity for a mother who never gave up despite the overwhelming challenges.

Watch her full interview here.

https://youtube.com/shorts/EWfWHESHaEY?si=0i_oKDsWm9sEtOLq

Meet Chelina and her family, 6 siblings who lost their parents and are living together with no guardian.

Chelina and her sibling live in Kakuma Refugee camp with no external help. Just surviving from what’s provided by UNHCR. Recently, the situation at the camp has become challenging making life harder for many families including Chelina’s family.

Chelina is the second oldest after her brother but she to take the role of a mother and take care of her younger sibling. Both Chelina and her brother have to make sure their siblings have eaten, they have books , clothes, shoes and a safe home.

We found the family living in a small old house. The walls couldn’t hold the house anymore and the roof was rusty and it leaked whenever it rained. They lived in this house for years and they didn’t have any hopes of help coming from anywhere.

Luckily, we were able to change this for Leon’s family. We constructed a new house for them, somewhere they can be safe. Now, they don’t have to worry about the rain. They can live and sleep peacefully and comfortably.

We appreciate all the kind donors that help us change the story for families like Chelina’s and many others.

Watch her full interview here.

https://youtube.com/shorts/sMeHKJ4tzyY?si=cBMJOz-fCOe927NW

We donated wheelchairs to individuals with disabilities in Kakuma Refugee Camp to improve their mobility, independence and daily comfort. We had the opportunity to meet school children, a father and other individuals who were in need of assistive devices.

Baba is one of the individuals that we had the opportunity meet and also assist with a wheelchair. He takes training at a centre called Don Bosco, which is about an hour away from his home. Before getting the wheelchair, he used to struggle a lot when we he needs to go for his classes but now that he has gotten a wheelchair, he can be able to comfortably attend his classes without any struggle.

Prosper is a strong father that we also had the opportunity to meet. As the sole giver to his family, he has to wake up everyday, go to works and back home. And with his disability, and no assistive device, he had to go through a lot of challenges but he still managed to push through each day. With the wheelchair that we gave him, he can be able to perform his daily activities, work and move round without having any trouble.

These wheelchairs are more than just mobility support, they mean inclusivity and independence. These individuals are now able to work, go to school, and perform other activities without being left out.

We remain dedicated to creating a meaningful impact through acts of compassion and support.

Watch the full vedio here.

https://youtube.com/shorts/T53J-FyO9JE?si=SDB4cqd6cCAiIKg_

In Kakuma Refugee Camp, there is no access to power or electricity. This mainly affect the school children. When they are given homework at school, most of them cannot complete it after sunset when they get home due to lack of power. For many girls, when they get home from school, they have to immediately do home chores and during the night, they can no longer do revision. This often affects students academics and limits their ability to keep up with their studies.

Our kind donor Mr Christopher Miller donated portable solar lamps to be given to school children to address the challenges that leaners face due to the lack of electricity. 60 leaners were able to receive the Solar lamps with much gratitude.

With these solar lamps, they will be able to complete their homework and their evening revision at home, creating a better environment for studying. This in return will make them stay committed in their educational goals. Not only will the lamps help the leaners, but their families as well as it will be used at home for many other activities at night. This provides a safe and sustainable source of light.

Thank you soo much Mr Christopher Miller for your kindness and for remembering the leaners in Kakuma Refugee Camp. This support creates opportunity and hope for young leaners striving for a better future despite challenging circumstances.

Esther’s story is one of the resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges. A single mother, for many years, she lived in an old house given to her by a friend. ‘This house is a very old house was was constructed around 2011’ She tells us.

The house had deteriorated badly, most part of the walls were washed away by rain leaving on the verge of collapsing.
For many nights, she went to neighbours begging if her children could sleep in their homes. They have never been able to sleep in their own house for a long time due to the fear that it will collapse on them anytime.

Today, that changed for Esther. We built Esther a brand new house, safe and stable for her and her children, easing their worries and giving her children the security every family deserves.

Every family deserves to have a safe house, somewhere they can live peacefully and with no fear.

At Ukech Charity Foundation, we are committed to making sure no family is left homeless or without proper shelter.

Thank you to the kind donors that help us make this possible. You donation helps a family get a safe house of their own. Thank you for your kindness.

Watch her full interview here.

https://youtube.com/shorts/5rpAO2sUAEQ?si=YsjQcSV5bWVunma3

Dida is a strong single mother who have been living in years of hardship. Dida and her children have been living in an old fragile house that leaked whenever it rained and shook when there was wind. The house began to fall apart making the living conditions worse.

During rainy seasons, she stayed up all night trying to cover her children and also to cover the leaking roof. The house will be filled with rain water and this has been her situation for years.

Through the support of Ukech Charity Foundation and generous partners, we were able to change her story.

Dida now has a safe and secure home, a place where she and her children can live peacefully and without worrying about rain or wind.

This is more than just a house for Dida, it is a fresh start for her family.

Watch her full interview.

https://youtube.com/shorts/gSv5yIpTLrQ?si=jNfDZ9_KSxDX8yB2

In collaboration with LWF Kakuma, we successfully conducted an under 15 football tournament that brought together young talents from across the communities. The event aimed at empowering young refugees through sports and creating a safe place for children to showcase their skills, build teamwork and strengthen friendships while promoting positive engagement through football.

In a time where many families at the camp are facing signifant challenges, activities such as this tournament provides more than just recreation. They offer hope, emotional relief, and a sense of normalcy for young children who are growing up in difficult circumstances.

Sports create a critical role in supporting mental wellbeing reducing idleness and protecting the young children from negative influences by channelling their energy into constructive and inspiring activities.

At Ukech Charity Foundation, we believe in empowering youth people by naturing their talents and create opportunities that inspire hope and unity.

We are proud to partner with organisations that share our vision of supporting and uplifting the youth people.