From Refugee Camp to Remote Work: Africa’s Future Is Already Here

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Voices of Resilience

Na'amal

31 episodes

1 month ago

The number of people who have been forcibly displaced continues to increase alarmingly; as of mid 2022, the UNHCR has reported that for the first time on record, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has surpassed 100 million. This is a staggering figure in itself, but another tragedy of the enormity of this number is that it often overshadows the fact that every one of those 100+ million is a distinct individual who has had their life irrevocably altered and their inspiring story tends to be buried under the statistics. During the first edition of the Migration Summit in 2022, we hosted various storytelling sessions where we heard from displaced individuals, with the aim of humanising these statistics. Similar to these sessions, we are looking to amplify the voices of some incredible individuals who have overcome obstacles far beyond our imagination. The aim of this podcast is to share the journeys of six individuals striving for the dignified life they deserve. Given that education and employment are often a pivotal part of the road to a financially stable, dignified life, this podcast will share insight on their journeys, with a focus on their education paths and livelihoods. In this podcast, we hope to contribute to the shift in the narrative of refugees across the world and encourage stakeholders and listeners alike to take action. We do not want the label of refugee to define these individuals as powerless victims, instead, we intend to portray them as the determined individuals that they are with full agency to succeed in any way they desire, given the right resources. This podcast series will consist of seven episodes. It will be released in January, in the run-up to the Migration Summit 2023 which will explore the theme “Co-creating pathways to learning, livelihood, and dignity”.

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Documentary

Education,

Society & Culture

From Refugee Camp to Remote Work: Africa’s Future Is Already Here

Voices of Resilience

51 minutes

2 months ago

From Refugee Camp to Remote Work: Africa’s Future Is Already Here

Welcome to Voices of Resilience Season 3, brought to you by Na'amal, a non-profit and social enterprise dedicated to empowering forcibly displaced individuals through dignified remote work. In this episode, we delve into the exciting and sometimes challenging landscape of AI and Africa's digital future.

Co-hosted by Clay Lowe and Camila Massa, this conversation features Vestine Ihimbazwe, a business development leader, digital strategist, and youth tech mentor who grew up in Kakuma Refugee Camp and has lived there for over 16 years. Vestine shares her journey from navigating limited educational opportunities to leading initiatives that equip young women with coding, AI, and remote work skills, proving that refugee talent is not just employable but a driver of Africa’s digital future.

About Our Guest:
Vestine Leila Ihimbazwe is known for bridging global clients with African refugee talent. Through her work with refugee-led hubs like the Solidarity Initiative for Refugees (SIR), she mentors young women in tech, opening pathways into coding, AI, and freelancing. A proud Pan-Africanist, she is dedicated to shifting the narrative from refugees as aid recipients to innovators and changemakers in the digital economy.

About Our Co-Host:
Camila Massa is the Program Coordinator for MIT Emerging Talent and the MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT), where she develops education-to-employment programs for underserved communities worldwide. She also supports the MIT Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) and coordinates the Migration Summit, a global event bringing together stakeholders to address challenges faced by refugee and migrant communities. With a background in business and a passion for social development, Camila brings both global perspective and practical experience to the conversation.

Episode Highlights

From Kakuma to the Global Digital Economy

Vestine’s life growing up in Kakuma and the turning points that made remote work seem possible
The steep challenges of accessing quality education and career pathways in a refugee camp
Early steps into digital skills training and securing her first remote clients

Breaking Barriers in Displacement

Overcoming limited internet access, scarce technology, and gender-based barriers
How family and community perceptions of “remote work” have shifted over time
The role of mentorship, peer networks, and online communities in building confidence and expertise

Remote Work as Africa’s Next Big Leap

Why remote work is reshaping traditional ideas of employment for African youth, especially in displacement
The digital skills Vestine believes will be most in demand for the next generation
How companies and platforms can design systems that include talent from refugee camps and rural areas

A Vision for Africa’s Future of Work

Predictions for what digital work in Kakuma and similar contexts could look like in 5–10 years
Practical steps governments, NGOs, and global businesses can take to scale digital inclusion
How storytelling can shift mindsets and influence policy

Advice and Inspiration

Vestine’s message to young Africans who feel “stuck” in their current circumstances
The crucial role mentorship and networks play in turning skills into opportunity
Why the world should see refugee camps not just as humanitarian spaces, but as hubs of innovation and talent

Discussion Topics:

Bridging the digital divide in displacement contexts
Gender equity in remote work
The role of refugee-led hubs in digital skill development
How policy and infrastructure shape access to remote opportunities
Global collaboration for inclusive future-of-work systems

Connect with Us:

Na'amal Website: namal.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/naamal/posts/?feedView=all
Instagram: _naamal_