Development and Empowerment of Society
Creating a better life for the residents of the United Nations Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, Africa / Karibu katika Maendeleo na U wezeshaji wa Jamii, shirika la jamii linalofanya mabadiliko huko Kakuma.
Dear Partners, Friends, and Supporters of Development and Empowerment of Society, Warm greetings from Kakuma Refugee Camp. Best wishes to you all for peace, prosperity and health in this new year. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to volunteers' financial motivation, as they helped them a lot and encouraged them to continue working …
Continue reading "Support Kakuma’s Food Security Amid Water Shortage"
Refugees count on donations from outside UNHCR camps to supplement the currently reduced food assistance programs. However, money is not the only form of support that can be given. Over the past few weeks, we have been working with people who share their skills, creativity and knowledge. This week, Kadjosi tells us about the contribution of two allies from India: Ranjeet Shabag and Mrinalini Nigde.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of NGOs. Since arriving at the Kakuma UNHCR camp, Kadjosi Matabishi Mzaliwa has worked tirelessly to improve the life and self-reliance of his fellow refugees. However, according to human rights organizations, funding for refugee projects such as those offered by DES is currently facing significant challenges. There is a projected drop …
Continue reading "Volunteers Secure Futures: Financial Aid for Kakuma Refugee Helpers"
Nine days without food, shelter, or even a blanket—this was how Kadjosi Matabishi and his family began their life in Kenya. They slept on the cold floor of an unfinished building, clinging to hope while the wind pierced their bones. Then, a kind stranger led them to the UNHCR office, where they discovered that humanity could still shine even in the darkest of times. Today, that same hope is fading in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Funding cuts have left thousands of families—children, mothers, and the elderly—without enough food to survive. Hunger is spreading despair, violence, and exploitation. Yet, just as one woman’s compassion changed Kadjosi’s life, your support can change theirs. Together, we can restore Kakuma as a true place of refuge—where hope grows instead of hunger.
Since the late 1990s, over 7 million people have been displaced within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to ongoing conflict. Kadjosi Matabishi Mzaliwa, only 19 years old, experienced this turmoil firsthand. This is part 2 of his story, which illustrates not just resilience but also the importance of our identities. What does your name mean? How do you contribute to the world?
Kadjosi Matabishi Mzaliwa’s powerful refugee story sheds light on the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the ongoing challenges in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp. Fleeing militia conscription at 19, Kadjosi now leads a grassroots refugee advocacy initiative focused on food security, self-reliance, and sustainable aid. Discover how community-led humanitarian efforts like the DES Food Forest are transforming lives in exile.