Kakuma is a refugee camp situated in north-western Kenya. The camp hosts a population of over 285 000 registered refugees and asylum seekers as of May 2024. It is a multinational and multi-ethnic refugee camp, hosting refugees from different backgrounds and countries: D.R. Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, among others. Kakuma is semi-arid, with frequent dust storms and temperatures reaching 40 degrees C. regularly. Malnutrition in the camp is a problem, especially among children under five years of age. Insufficient food diversity and low crop production does not meet the need of refugees of Kakuma. Farmers in Kakuma do not plant enough vegetables like corchorus olitorious, cowpeas leaves, spinach, amaranth, ocra, and as result the price of vegetables in the market is very high, resulting in refugees eating more affordable vegetables - mostly yellow peas. Outbreaks of malaria, pneumonia and cholera are frequent, with high stress, trauma, excessive caffeine in-take and substance abuse further compounding problems in the camp. At the end of each month, the refugees receive food rations such as peas, sorghum, maize or rice, and sometimes beans (depending with the family size) from the World Food Program. In addition, refugees receive soap and a small amount of money, which they can use to buy fish, meat, vegetables, salt, etc. in Kakuma’s 3 main markets. Due to a variety of ongoing climate change-induced shocks, conflicts and economic pressures in the region, rations have been dramatically reduced in recent months, with current food rationing only suppling 60% of the recommended quantity of 2100Kcal/person.
High prices and poor supply make it difficult to buy fresh fish and meat in the camp. To overcome these challenges, we decided to set up Vijana Twaweza Club (VTC) so we can work together to ensure better nutrition for everyone in our community. Through VTC we have managed to increase food availability and variety and reduce the high cost of food in the market by selling our produce at reduced prices.
VIJANA TWAWEZA CLUB (Youth We Can) is a refugee community cooperation initiative of young people living in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camp . It began life in 2018 as an effort to work together to solve some of the basic problems we face in our community – in particular the problem of inadequate access to nutritious diet. Our aim is to improve nutrition by increasing the diversity of domestic animals and crops farmed here so we can better withstand the negative effects of under nourishment and increase food availability for everyone. Currently, VTC includes 40 refugee young people: 18 women and 22 men.
We are located in Kakuma 1, Zone 4, Block 4,
Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya.
Vijana Twaweza Clubs’s vision is to create an inclusive and caring society that puts the biodiversity of animals and crops at the heart of increasing food availability in a sustainable environment.
1. The mission statement of VTC is “Maintaining the environment and producing adequate food".
2. The mission of VTC is to ensure that a biodiversity of flora and fauna is well-managed in the community and that all residents of the community have adequate access to sufficient nutrition.
1. We respect and care for each other and do not discriminate against anyone.
2. Everyone works together to promote and ensure that the nutritional needs of the people of Kakuma are being met by making biodiversity a reality.
3. We put sustainability at the heart of what we do.
4. VTC members and supporters work together with the spirit of INSPIRATION and COOPERATION
1. Raising fish, turkeys, rabbits, ducks, chickens, and crickets and growing a variety of vegetables to improve food availability and diversity in Kakuma.
2. Distributing plants and vegetables to different communities in the camp so they can start their own farms.
3. Training refugee women to become independent chicken farmers so they can support their families.
4. Carrying out nutritional needs assessments for people living in Kakuma.
5. Mapping the current state of agricultural production in the camp.
6. Introducing a system of water management for agricultural activities.
7. Teaching sustainable agriculture practices and permaculture principles to primary school students in Kakuma.
8. Manufacturing and selling affordable and ecological soap.
