Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya: A Photo Essay
Photo Essay by Alex Palmer
In the summer of 2010 and winter of 2011, Alex Palmer, a Harvard University student, volunteered and conducted research in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kakuma, Kenya. Set in the barren desert of northwestern Kenya near the Sudanese border, Kakuma was established in 1992 to accommodate refugees from across east and northern Africa. Today, Kakuma is home to almost 80,000 refugees from countries like Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Central African Republic. During his time volunteering in Kakuma, Alex set out to document the strength and resilience of those who call Kakuma home--many of whom have lived their entire lives in the camp and see little hope of ever leaving.
Three siblings in the market outside Kakuma Refugee Camp.
In the preschool classroom at Echami Learning Centre, a student pauses for a moment amid his classmates.
A student at Echami enjoys his recess by playing a game of peekaboo with the photographer
A student takes a drink of water near the end of the school day in Kakuma
A preschool student leads the class in reciting numbers
Two students hold hands as they walk home after school.
A mother stands with her two sons along Kakuma's only paved road.
A young boy plays with his family in their home in the refugee camp.
In Kakuma Town, a young boy takes a break from searching for friends to play with.
A group of preschoolers enjoy their scheduled afternoon nap.
While the rest of the students nap, one child has trouble falling asleep.
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Hi,
I am happy to see this i was in Kakuma and i know it very well, this year i went back to kakuma and i saw some changes, mainly in weather, it was not toooooo hot as it used to be last year.
the worst moment i hate in kakuma is the day of collecting Dry Ration(food)...oooh my God...but all in all Refugee life is not easy.
many challenges in kakuma but this helped me to know how to associate with mixed nationlities.
i will stand on my two legs and start volunteer work...with the xperience i have from Kakuma.
Thanks for this heart of volunteering.
keep it up.