Our second cohort begin their Amala journey on the High School Diploma in Kakuma, Kenya
We can’t quite believe that there are now 125 Amala students on the High School Diploma in Kenya! We have expanded the team, built more classrooms and entered into an exciting long term partnership with our friends at Faulu Productions, who host the Diploma Programme within their centre. This has allowed us to welcome 75 new students to our space this month to form our second cohort of the Diploma Programme in Kakuma camp.
We have split the cohort into three classes, each joined by two facilitators who will lead them through the 15 month programme. We have students from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda; many of whom have been cut off from accessing education due to years in displacement. The majority of our students have had to prioritise getting a job to provide for their families, others are unable to pay school fees, or are now over the age required to join national Kenyan schools. “I am applying to Amala because I would love to continue with my High School studies. I was in form two back in my home country before coming to Kakuma. I was not given access to the camp high schools and was told to go back to primary school. After some years I went back to look for a private high school but I was unable to finish because I couldn't afford school fees.” - Sheila, Cohort 2, Kakuma
The flexibility of the Amala programme allows these students who are currently out of school to complete their secondary education whilst still being able to maintain other life commitments such as jobs or caring for families. Many of our Kakuma students are further drawn to the programme because of its competency-based learning approach that supports learners to take action for positive change. “The students are very curious to learn new concepts and sometimes shocked to undergo an unusual and novel learning culture.” Glory, Amala Facilitator, Kakuma
During their two weeks of induction, our Kakuma facilitators have been enraptured by this cohort’s energy and eagerness to get started - even the heavy rains that deluged Kakuma last month have not deterred these young students from starting their Amala learning journey! "Within the few weeks we interacted with the students, we were able to develop a sense of belonging to Amala's learning community. The students have shifted from a teacher-dependent mindset to become curious independent learners and problem solvers." Holli, Amala’s Learning Lead, Kakuma
“I believe taking part in Amala’s programme will not only be a game changer to me but to all the refugees around me since we need to educate ourselves on how to be self-reliant.”
Students will now focus on the first two courses of the programme, Ethical Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship, before embarking on the other eight Amala courses, a Personal Interest Project (PIP), and pathways advising programme to prepare them for opportunities post Amala.
“Amala is good school for me because I need to learn the education to be a peace maker in South Sudan. I need to learn about human rights and how to make positive peace for everyone in my community.”
We look forward to following the progress of this cohort as they get to grips with Amala’s style of documenting learning, actions and experiences, through both asynchronous and synchronous activities. With the first cohort of Amala High School Diploma students entering their final courses, and classrooms now full of new students, there is no doubt these next few months in Kakuma will be our best ones yet.
