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 Lorraine Charles, this conversation features Emmanuel Trinity, social entrepreneur, creative director, and founder of Era92, a Ugandan creative agency and impact organization that equips young people from underserved communities with digital and creative skills.
Growing up in the slums of Kampala, Emmanuel experienced firsthand the cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity. Out of that experience, he launched Era92 as a mission-driven agency that not only delivers world-class branding and design for global clients, but also funds training for youth through its Elevate program. To date, Era92 has trained and placed hundreds of young people into dignified digital jobs, and with the #HireAfrica campaign, Emmanuel is working toward creating 10,000 jobs by 2025 and 100,000 by 2032.
This episode dives deep into Emmanuel’s journey, the Era92 model of combining business with impact, and why Africa’s “youth bulge” represents not a crisis but a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position the continent as a global hub for creative and digital labor.
About Our Guest
Emmanuel Trinity is the founder of Era92, a social enterprise and creative agency in Uganda equipping disadvantaged youth with digital skills and connecting them to meaningful work opportunities. Through initiatives like the Elevate program and the Choose Africa campaign, Emmanuel is reimagining how Africa’s young talent can meet global demand for digital services. He has been featured by outlets like BBC Africa for his pioneering role in building dignified employment pathways for young creatives.
About Our Co-Host
Lorraine Charles is the co-founder and Executive Director of Na’amal, leading efforts to connect refugees and underserved youth to dignified employment in the digital economy. A researcher and thought leader on the future of work and displacement, she works with governments, NGOs, and businesses to design inclusive systems for digital livelihoods.
Episode Highlights
Introducing #HireAfrica
Global Labor Trends & Africa’s Youth
Challenges & Opportunities
Closing Reflections
Discussion Topics
Connect with Our Guest
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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
Breaking Barriers in Displacement
Remote Work as Africa’s Next Big Leap
A Vision for Africa’s Future of Work
Advice and Inspiration
Discussion Topics:
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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 Lorraine Charles, this conversation features Nick Murphy, CEO and Co-Founder of Kutana Pay, a fintech company reimagining payments across Africa and other emerging markets. Nick shares how his decade of experience helping UK and EU companies expand into Africa revealed a massive problem, slow, expensive, and inaccessible payments, and why removing that friction is essential for unlocking economic opportunity.
About Our Guest:
Nick Murphy leads strategy, growth, and mission at Kutana Pay, which is working to build a world where financial borders no longer hold people or businesses back. Kutana Pay’s platform enables companies in the Global North to send payments into emerging markets, while giving African SMEs and individuals access to global currencies in a secure, cost-effective, and compliant way.
About Kutana Pay:
With a focus on robust compliance, smart treasury systems, and financial inclusion, Kutana Pay addresses the two-way challenge of moving money into and out of African markets. Their mission is rooted in creating payment infrastructure that supports trade, digital work, and the participation of marginalized communities in the global economy.
Episode Highlights
The Payments Barrier and Why It Matters
The Role of Compliance and Documentation
Kutana Pay’s Model and Innovations
Systemic Solutions for Financial Inclusion
Discussion Topics:
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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.
In this powerful episode, we are joined by Sherrifa, a resilient learner originally from Sudan, now based in Ethiopia. Her story is one of determination, heartbreak, and healing, a journey shaped by years of systemic exclusion from education and reignited by a single opportunity to learn again.
Hosted by Clay Lowe, this conversation highlights the emotional and practical realities of navigating displacement, and how trust-based learning and community support can help restore confidence, purpose, and dreams once thought lost.
About Our Guest:
Sherrifa arrived in Addis Ababa six and a half years ago with a dream to continue her education. But she was repeatedly denied access due to bureaucratic barriers and expired academic documents. Despite the setbacks, she found ways to survive, tutoring, taking informal jobs, and confronting depression and self-doubt.
Everything shifted when she joined Na’amal. The program reconnected her to learning, introduced her to digital skills and remote work, and most importantly, helped her reclaim her sense of worth and possibility.
Episode Highlights
Fighting for Education in Exile
Healing and Rebuilding Through Learning
Skills, Growth, and a New Beginning
Advice for Others
Discussion Topics
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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 take a closer look at the world of digital remote jobs, through the eyes of refugees living and working in Kenya.
Co-hosted by Clay Lowe and Gerawork Teferra (Gera), this conversation features Daniel, a digital entrepreneur and Na’amal alumnus who grew up in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Together, they unpack the complexities of accessing and sustaining remote digital work while navigating life as a refugee in Kenya.
About Our Guest:
Daniel is a South Sudanese refugee, digital entrepreneur, and graduate of the Na’amal program. Raised in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Daniel carved out a path in the online freelancing world, becoming not only self-reliant but a role model and resource for others in his community.
About Our Co-Host:
Gerawork Teferra (Gera) is an Ethiopian refugee who has lived in Kakuma since 2011. He is currently a Resident Research Fellow at Columbia Global Nairobi, where his work focuses on refugee-host dynamics, mobility, and belonging. As co-host, Gera brings firsthand understanding and thoughtful inquiry to this conversation.
Episode Highlights:
Finding Opportunity Amidst Displacement
What Digital Work Looks Like for Refugees
Barriers, Protections, and Power
Building a Digital Future That Includes Everyone
Discussion Topics:
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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.
In this episode, we are joined by Seid and Maria, two individuals whose lives have been reshaped through meaningful work after displacement. Co-hosted by Clay Lowe and Amber, this conversation goes beyond headlines and statistics to center the lived realities of refugee communities, reminding us of the humanity, resilience, and ambition often left out of mainstream narratives.
About Our Guest:
Seid is a refugee and digital worker currently based in East Africa. Originally displaced from his home country due to conflict, Seid rebuilt his life through digital skills training and remote work. Today, he supports others on similar journeys.
Maria Vale is a forced migrant from Venezuela. Her story is one of reinvention, from surviving displacement to building a career that gives her independence, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Episode Highlights
A Journey of Transformation
The Power of Dignified Work
Barriers and Enablers
Owning the Narrative
Words of Hope
Discussion Topics
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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.
In this episode, we explore one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion: connectivity. Without access to infrastructure and the internet, displaced individuals are excluded from the very systems meant to empower them.
Join host Clay Lowe and co-host Tessa Davis as they speak with two inspiring leaders who are tackling this issue head-on:
Episode Highlights
Why Connectivity Matters
Barriers to Access
What’s Working
Big Ideas for Bold Change
In the second half of the episode, the group tackles key questions:
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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.
In this compelling episode, we sit down with Sharmi Surianarain, Chief Impact Officer at Harambee, to explore why the future of work is not just in Africa, but is African. Sharmi shares her two-decade journey connecting young people to meaningful work across the continent and makes a powerful case for Africa's demographic dividend as a global solution.
About Our Guest: Sharmi Surianarain is the Chief Impact Officer at Harambee, a youth employment accelerator operating in South Africa and Rwanda. Born in India and raised partly in Nigeria, Sharmi has lived across West, East, and South Africa, bringing a continental perspective to youth employment challenges. She previously worked at African Leadership Academy, where she founded Africa Careers Network. Sharmi also chairs Rwanda's Global Business Services Growth Initiative and serves as a part-time jazz singer.
Episode Highlights
The Demographic Opportunity
Making the Business Case for Africa
Redefining Africa's Global Position
Harambee's Impact
Innovation in Adversity
The AI Conversation
Redesigning Institutions
Cultural Renaissance
Discussion Topics
About Harambee: Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator operates as a labor market matching platform, connecting young people to work opportunities while breaking down barriers to employment. Based in South Africa and Rwanda, they've pioneered the concept of "impact sourcing" - demonstrating that hiring young Africans delivers both business value and social impact.
Connect with Our Guest
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The future of work isn't just changing - it's African. Join us in reimagining what's possible when we recognize Africa's youth as the solution the world needs.
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.
We're thrilled to welcome Elvis, a renowned researcher and consultant specializing in the future of work in Sub-Saharan Africa. He's joined by our fantastic co-host, Lorraine, as they explore the transformative power of AI and its implications for employment, skill development, and cross-border collaboration.
Episode Highlights
Connect with Us:
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.
This episode of Voices of Resilience delves into the evolving landscape of work in Africa, particularly focusing on the role of digital transformation and the unique contributions of forcibly displaced people. The hosts and guests discuss the concept of "the future of work in Africa" – whether it's a distant concept or already a present reality, and explore the opportunities and challenges within this burgeoning digital economy.
Key Themes:
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In this compelling episode of Voices of Resilience, host Clay Lowe sits down with Daniela Alba, an advocacy and communications specialist at Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome. Daniela shares her powerful personal story as a Mestizo woman from Colombia who experienced forced displacement as a child and has since dedicated her career to fighting for the rights of forcibly displaced people worldwide.
Together, they unpack the evolving landscape of labor rights in the digital economy, the increasing exploitation of vulnerable workers, and the systemic challenges facing forcibly displaced individuals. Daniela provides insight into the post-pandemic shift in labor policies, the lack of protection for climate migrants, and the grassroots advocacy efforts driving change.
In this episode, host Clay Lowe speaks with Giselle Gonzalez, Founder and CEO of EqualReach, and Susan Achiech, Founder of Tech-Femme Algorithms and a full-stack developer from Kakuma refugee camp. Together, they explore how transitioning from traditional freelancing to team-based project work can create meaningful opportunities for displaced talent. Giselle shares how EqualReach connects skilled refugee talent with global businesses through streamlined processes, while Susan discusses her journey as a South Sudanese leading Tech-Femme Algorithms, a platform training refugees in tech skills.
The two guests delve into the challenges refugees face in freelancing, including steep competition and limited visibility, and highlight how team-based models foster shared learning, collaboration, and better outcomes.
Susan also reflects on her mentorship experience with Giselle through Na’amal, gaining critical skills in client management and confidence. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of building trust, addressing systemic barriers such as platform access and payment systems, and fostering collaboration across sectors to unlock the digital economy for marginalized communities.
With actionable insights for businesses, displaced talent, and the broader ecosystem, this episode is a powerful reminder of the potential for resilience and transformation. Don’t miss Giselle’s and Susan’s inspiring takeaways: “Trust is our most valuable currency,” and “There is no shame in not knowing; that’s the only way you can learn.”
In this episode of Voices of Resilience, we explore the transformative potential of Jobtech in fostering inclusivity for refugees. Guests Brenda from the Jobtech Alliance and Simon from the African Youth Action Network, share their expertise, highlighting innovative approaches to reducing barriers, empowering displaced individuals, and integrating them into the digital economy. Key topics include scaling tech-enabled skilling platforms, bridging gaps in digital literacy and advanced training, and addressing systemic challenges like asset access and ecosystem fragmentation. They also discuss the importance of mentorship, mindset shifts, and collaboration between private and humanitarian sectors. Tune in to discover how job tech is reshaping the future of work for refugees and creating sustainable pathways to economic resilience.
In this episode of Voices of Resilience, host Clay Lowe speaks with Rai Friedman, founder and CEO of Global Rights Defenders, about the impact of government policies on refugee employment, using Kenya as a key case study. Rai shares her journey into refugee advocacy and highlights the importance of migration governance in creating sustainable solutions for refugee integration. The discussion explores Kenya’s innovative policies under the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), such as transitioning refugee camps into settlements, which have fostered economic growth and social harmony for both refugees and host communities.
Key topics include the barriers to refugee employment, such as restrictive work policies and limited access to formal jobs, and the potential of digital work to empower refugees, despite challenges like lack of ID recognition and banking access. Rai emphasizes the need for inclusive policies and grassroots efforts to bridge gaps between law and practice, enabling refugees to contribute economically and socially. This episode underscores the importance of collaboration among nations and organizations to address the global refugee crisis and unlock opportunities for integration and self-reliance.
In this episode, we delve into the opportunities offered by digital platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Appen, as well as specialized platforms like NaTakallam and Step Up One, which leverage refugees' unique skills in areas such as language tutoring and cultural exchange. Emerging platforms like CrowdGen by Appen are also highlighted for their adaptability in supporting refugee workers.
The episode emphasizes the importance of soft skills for digital success, including communication, time management, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity. We also address the significant challenges faced by refugees, such as digital literacy gaps, payment barriers, and legal obstacles, while exploring emerging trends like platform cooperatives, microtasking platforms, blockchain technology, and AI integration.
Our guests share actionable tips for building strong client relationships, such as delivering high-quality work, maintaining clear communication, and focusing on professionalism. Key messages include the transformative power of digital skills, strategies to overcome systemic barriers, the critical role of soft skills, and freelancing as a viable career path leading to professional growth and entrepreneurship.
In this episode, we focus on education and skill development for the future of work, with guests Laura Jardine Patterson, founder of CONCAT, and Justin Justin Paluku Mbunzule, a data analyst and Kenyan refugee involved in supporting other refugees in Uganda.
Justine founded UP With Africa and supported MIT ReaCT in opening their Hub in Uganda at a center where he taught other refugees about IT. Justin, a refugee in Uganda, emphasizes the need for access to advanced education and technology to empower refugees to pursue self-sufficient careers in tech.
Laura's company, CONCAT, employs refugees and women in web design, promoting inclusive employment in tech. She highlights the importance of non-traditional education paths and personal development over formal degrees for sustainable employment in marginalized communities.
Both guests discuss the challenges faced by refugees, including limited resources like internet access and technology and barriers to traditional education. They advocate for more holistic support in skill development, combining education, technology access, and financial stability. The episode also explores the benefits of remote work and the importance of community-building for displaced individuals.
This episode explores the intersection of AI technology and refugee employment, featuring Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO of Upwardly Global, and Blein Alem, a network admin and IT support professional. The discussion delves into the potential of AI to empower refugees and immigrants in their career journeys, as well as the challenges they face in accessing and utilizing AI tools for career development. Jina and Blein share insights on the impact of AI on workforce programs, the need for inclusivity in AI design, and the potential for AI to enhance human potential. They also discuss the importance of upskilling and leveraging AI for career development, emphasizing the role of organizations in providing guidance and resources for individuals from underrepresented communities.
Jina's emphasis on the need for AI to be designed with and for refugee communities, ensuring that the data used to train AI models is representative of diverse backgrounds, sheds light on the challenges faced by refugees in accessing and utilizing AI tools for career development. Blein's personal experiences as a refugee and IT professional provide a firsthand account of the barriers encountered in accessing AI tools and knowledge, particularly in regions where such resources may not be readily available. Hearing from these two perspectives sheds light on the importance of inclusive AI design and the potential of AI to empower refugees through upskilling and accessing relevant resources. Their voices address the existing challenges and barriers to ensure that AI tools are inclusive and beneficial for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
In our latest podcast episode, Chris Maclay, Program Director at Jobtech Alliance, explores the changing landscape of work in Africa, highlighting the transformative role of "Jobtech" platforms.
He shares how digital platforms are now a necessity to connect people to job opportunities, including those from marginalised groups like refugees and women. Chris also discusses the importance of digital upskilling and adaptability as critical components for a workforce increasingly influenced by AI and remote work.
The episode explores questions like how can job tech platforms facilitate access to jobs? Can they start connecting workers to both local and global markets? And finally, are jobtech platforms offering alternative routes to income? The conversation tackles these questions while examining the challenges and opportunities AI brings to the job market in Africa.
Tune in to discover all the insights that reflect a nuanced vision of the future of work, where platforms not only provide employment but also foster community, innovation, and resilience in the African workforce.
Season 2 of the Voices of Resilience podcast themed 'The Future of Work for Refugees' dives deeper into the intersection of technology and remote work, specifically focusing on how these factors impact forcibly displaced individuals and refugees. In Season 1, the podcast amplified the voices of refugees, sharing their personal journeys, challenges, and successes in securing dignified livelihoods. This season builds on that by bringing in experts from the fields of migration, technology, and the future of work paired with individuals experiencing displacement to discuss how innovations like artificial intelligence and digital tools can transform access to work for refugees and displaced communities.
Throughout Season 2, listeners will hear from a range of guest speakers who explore critical themes such as the role of technology in creating inclusive employment opportunities, the impact of digital economies on refugee workforces, and the future of freelance work. The season aims to shift the narrative around refugees, highlighting their potential as skilled contributors to the digital workforce while exploring practical solutions for long-term, sustainable employment. This season will also examine key issues like education, policy development, and how to ensure that remote work is truly accessible to refugees across the globe.
In this teaser for Season 2, Na’amals’ Executive Director Lorraine Charles, highlights Na’amals’ work over the past year, including the release of their impact report and the launch of two new projects in Kenya and Ethiopia. These initiatives support refugees and host communities in accessing remote employment. She also shares news about an exciting new research project, funded by the World Bank, which aims to explore the impact of training and support for refugees to secure remote work. Stay connected with Na’amal on social media for more updates and insights!
