Joint launch of ECHO funded projects in Kakuma

Joint launch of ECHO funded projects in Kakuma

LWF and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) held a joint launch of their projects funded by ECHO on 11th July 2016 in Kakuma Refugee Camp at the Teachers Resource Center. LWF’s partnership with ECHO is a 2 year project to support conflict affected children through improved education and psychosocial support while the NRC project will focus on improvement and maintenance of water supply, sanitation and hygiene conditions in the camp and at the new Kalobeyei settlement.

The event was attended by representatives from ECHO, LWF Country Representative together with the NRC Country Director, UNHCR Head of Sub Office Kakuma, Government representatives, representatives from IRC, JRS and World Vision. Community leaders, school communities, teachers, learners and LWF staff members were also present.

The LWF project aims at improving protection for the most vulnerable children through increasing their access to education and strengthening the protective environments provided by schools. The launch aimed at informing the community on the details of the project, activities to be carried out and areas for transparency, ownership and accountability.

The event began with a tree planting session by invited guests, after which entertainment was provided by Burundian cultural dancers, Special Needs Education learners and Angelina Jolie students who recited a moving poem with this punch line:  Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.

The school president of Shambei Primary Mr. Bona Bol Mawien appreciated the support from ECHO and assured the mission that the funding directed to schools will go towards enhancing quality.

The community’s WASH committee representative echoed the need and importance of hygiene within the camp. “The assistance we have been receiving from UNHCR has made us live free of contagious diseases. However, there are still gaps to be addresses such as lack of latrines for persons with disabilities,” he said.

LWF Country Representative Lennart Hernander appreciated ECHO’s support and expressed hope that at the end of the two year grant, the lives of many refugees will have been touched positively. “On behalf of the refugee community that we are here to serve, LWF is very excited with the program supported by ECHO which we are here to launch today,” he remarked.