Resources & Materials : Kakuma Refugee led project - LSBF

CURRENT FUNDRAISING FOCUS:

[This is an ongoing fundraiser, as the needs of LSBF changes in an ever-evolving political and climatical landscape].

1. Improving water access – Installing water pipes, tanks and a reliable irrigation system to address ongoing water shortages and sustain our permaculture gardens.

2. Expanding permaculture training – Equipping and training more community members and developing a local trainer team to ensure long-term resilience.

3. Constructing a semi-permanent iron sheet classroom – Building a dedicated space for permaculture learning, training sessions, and community workshops to replace the temporary outdoor setups currently used.

4. Supporting two social enterprises:

Green Flame Briquette – Turning agricultural waste into eco-friendly charcoal, reducing deforestation and creating jobs.

Hope Poultry Farm – Producing eggs while training families in poultry keeping for food and income security.

5. Support with tools and training materials – Including garden tools, seeds, training guides, and educational resources to support community education.

6. Help with accessing funding and grant writing – Mentorship and assistance in this area will strengthen LSBF’s ability to sustain and grow its programs.

7. Volunteer support – Light engagement such as communication assistance, proposal proofreading, or social media support—even just a few hours a week—would make a big impact.

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Our story begins when I was contacted at the beginning of 2024 by a remarkable man called Polydord Wasokye; seeking out fellow Permaculturalists to learn and collaborate with. (I am creative director of Shift Bristol, a social enterprise that teaches skills on resilience, regeneration and sustainability).

Polydord, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now a refugee in the Kakuma Refugee Camp - one of the largest camps in the world, located in the North-western region of Kenya. The camp is home to more than 200,000 asylum seekers and refugees, cohabiting in some of the harshest and unforgiving climate and living conditions, contending with high temperatures and dramatic flooding. The camp communities attempt to meet their needs with very few resources - with limited rations of food and water, and very little power/rights (if any) to make changes to or leave the camp.

(You can read more of Polydord's story here).

Polydord is the co-founder of a refugee led project called Life Skills for Better Future, a project which aims to:

Since Feb 2024 I had been collaborating on a monthly basis with Polydord and his team, to help assist in these regular workshops. Together we danced, stretched, drew, sung, breathed, played, and teached - I had the joy of witnessing the team support and encouraging each child and young person to lean into the joy and the safety that these workshops provided.

As things changed on the camp more and more of our sessions were disrupted due to intermittent internet, political unrest, and LSBF needing to use different spaces to gather people together (some which were quite cramped and unsuitable for the lessons plans). We decided it would be best for everyone if we stopped running the sessions, and instead I used my capacity in more of an admin role - supporting them with funding bids and document creation, as well as coaching Polydord in his role as community builder.

Since collaborating with Polydord and LSBF I have been mindful of the power dynamics as a white westerner, and wish to avoid falling into the trap of acting like a 'white saviour'. My role is to support Polydord and his team in their goals, offering encouragement, ideas for activities to do with the children, topics for them to learn about agriculture/permaculture/nature connection, and sharing news of his work throughout my networks. It is also to help him raise funds to buy the materials and resources that they need and ask for.

LSBF are also being supported by others in the Permaculture community: See here to read more.

So far, money raised from this fundraiser has paid for a large television screen (so that the children and the team can connect with others via zoom, and connect to resources via the internet), easels to be built for each child so that they may draw/create without having to rest their paper on the floor, paper / coloured pens & pencils (previously children were using charcoal from the fires), and most recently some new shoes for children who had been walking barefoot or with inadequate footwear.

Words from Polydord, about the latest shoe appeal:

A Heartfelt Thank You for Your Generous Support for Children in Kakuma Refugee Camp

We are deeply grateful for your generous donation of children’s shoes for the kids at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Thanks to your support, we were able to purchase 23 pairs of shoes at 250 KES each, providing comfort and dignity to children who were previously walking barefoot or wearing old, worn-out shoes.

Your contribution has made a real difference, allowing these children to walk with confidence and pride. The smiles on their faces reflect the profound impact of your kindness.

We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this cause. Together, we are helping these children step towards a brighter future.

With gratitude,

Polydord Wasokye

LSBF-Kakuma