How Manahil empowers women and girls in Kakuma Camp

Manahil is the Assistant Programme Lead and Administrative Officer at Solidarity Initiative for Refugees, a community-based, refugee-led youth organisation in Kakuma Camp, Kenya. Originally from Sudan, Manahil first became involved with Amala whilst an educator for our Ethical Leadership course in 2023. After being recommended by a friend, Manahil decided to participate in Amala’s Social Entrepreneurship course herself, delivered by partner URISE Initiative for Africa. Manahil had always envisioned running a business, and the course - which was not just about generating income - surprised her. 

How did you come to join Amala?

I facilitated the Amala Ethical Leadership course in 2023, based on the knowledge I acquired from the JWL Peace Leadership course. It wasn’t easy, but having that background helped me facilitate the Ethical Leadership course. When I wasn’t working with that organisation anymore, I wanted to continue making a difference in the refugee community. That’s when a friend of mine, who was working at URISE Initiative for Africa introduced me to Amala’s Social Entrepreneurship course. I decided to join the course because I’m someone who has always thought of running a business in my community. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for me to learn how to run a business in a rural area like Kakuma, and that’s what pushed me to learn. I took the course, and all my expectations were captured - it turned out to be really amazing.

What did you expect the social entrepreneurship course to be about before you started?

I had an overview of what entrepreneurship was, so I thought the course would focus on how to start a business and make money, managing risk, and marketing. But it turned out to be about how to bring solutions to the community and to the people around you, how to deal with your own issues, and how to strengthen me as a leader. I didn’t expect to learn all these things.

Did the course inspire you to start any projects in your community?

During the course, all the students pitched ideas, and I had this idea that had been on my mind for a while—empowering the girl child in the community by campaigning against period poverty. Even though my project wasn’t selected for funding, I thought I had to do this anyway through my own side hustles. I mobilised a small number of girls, about 15 to 20, and started donating sanitary towels and providing education on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This is how I brought solutions to my community. I felt empowered. Not just in entrepreneurship, but it gave me the space to think about my community and especially the refugee community, which is diverse. My project was creating space for women and girls who are not able to share their issues because of their culture or family.

Are you continuing this project now?

I’m continuing it, though I can’t fully fund the programme on my own. I raise funds from friends, relatives, and other supporters from the community who believe in the cause. Every two to three months when I have funds, I conduct sessions where girls share their stories and we go through SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health) programmes. The sessions are accompanied by distributing sanitary towels and other basic needs like soap. Some girls can’t afford these necessities.

It’s incredible that you’re making such a difference despite the challenges. Did you find anything challenging during your time on the Social Entrepreneurship course at Amala?

Yes, there were challenges, especially with transportation. The centre was far from where I lived, and there’s a lot of insecurity in the camp. I couldn’t walk alone from home to the centre, and sometimes I couldn’t attend classes because of transportation issues. It was especially difficult when we had group work or presentations that required physical attendance.

What motivated you to keep going with the Social Entrepreneurship course despite these challenges in the camp?

I’ve always wanted to run a business in my community, so when I heard about the Social Entrepreneurship course, I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn how to start and run a business, especially in a rural area like Kakuma. But as I mentioned earlier, the course taught me so much more than that, including leadership and community solutions.

What’s your vision for the future? 

The institution I’m currently working with is a refugee led institution. In the refugee context there are sometimes very limited opportunities. Solidarity Initiative for Refugees connects youth in Kakuma to further studies, getting scholarship opportunities and advocating for you. I want to secure an opportunity for myself for further studies and expand my educational capacity. 

My dream is to secure further studies, in Kenya or abroad. I want to become a researcher who deeply understands refugee issues and finds solutions to their problems. There are so many problems in the refugee community, and I want to be part of the solution.