From War to Tech: How Two Refugee Women Are Bridging the Digital Divide in Kakuma Camp

KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP — Of the more than 47 million refugee children worldwide, more than half are out of school, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). While 60% of refugee children attend primary school—compared to 90% globally—only two in ten refugees advance to secondary school, compared to more than eight in ten worldwide. For many, the chances of progressing to higher education diminish with each passing year.

But in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya, two young women are determined to reverse this trend. Nyakuar Yiech and Bakita Ismail, both refugees from South Sudan, have turned the obstacles of displacement into opportunities for transformation, using technology as a tool to empower themselves and other young women in the camp and the host community.

Nyakuar Yiech, 24, was born in Malakal, South Sudan, a region deeply affected by civil unrest. Growing up in a conflict-ridden environment, she witnessed the devastating effects of war firsthand. “Every day felt uncertain,” she recalls. As violence escalated, Nyakuar and her family were forced to flee. In 2014, they arrived at Kakuma Camp, a place she describes as “overwhelming yet safe.”

“When we arrived, we didn’t know how life would unfold in the camp. We left everything behind—our home, our dreams,” she says. “It was a feeling of hopelessness, especially as a young girl. I didn’t know what would come next or if I’d ever get a chance to pursue an education.”

But Kakuma offered something that South Sudan didn’t: stability and the promise of education. Nyakuar enrolled in a local school, beginning her education journey.

“I’ve always been curious about computers,” Nyakuar says, her face lighting up. Her love for technology was solidified when she joined high school in Kakuma and took her first formal computer class.

“It was the first time I felt like I had found something I was truly passionate about. Computers became my favorite subject, and I began to see a future in tech. It wasn’t just about learning—it was about finding a path to build something meaningful.”

Inspired, Nyakuar pursued every tech-related opportunity, eventually earning a scholarship to study Information Technology in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

For Nyakuar, the journey wasn’t just about education—it was about challenging societal expectations. She faced unique hurdles as a young refugee woman in a male-dominated field. 

“Growing up in a culture where women’s roles are often limited, it was a struggle to be taken seriously,” she tells More to Her Story. “People questioned my interest in technology and doubted my ability to succeed. But to me, technology was more than just a field—it was a tool for change, a way to turn the imagined into the possible,”

Nyakuar’s tenacity paid off when she joined Learning Lions, a program offering digital skills training to young people in underserved communities. There, Nyakuar delved into software development, UI/UX design, and project management. She also learned the power of community, working alongside other young refugees who shared her aspirations. “Learning Lions opened my mind to the potential of technology to not only transform my life but to empower others,” she says.

With her skills honed and her ambitions clarified, Nyakuar returned to Kakuma Refugee Camp—not as a student, but as a tech trainer. She joined Resilience Action International, an organization dedicated to empowering refugees and host communities in Kenya. As a digital skills trainer, Nyakuar now works with young women in Kakuma, many of whom are experiencing formal education for the first time.

“When I see these women in front of computers, I’m reminded of myself,” she tells More to Her Story. “Some are mothers; others have never touched a computer before. But they’re curious, want to learn, and see the opportunities that technology can provide. It’s deeply fulfilling to pass on the skills that changed my life and watch these women transform before my eyes,”

One of her students, Fridah Mustafa, speaks about the impact of Nyakuar’s teaching. “I never thought I would be able to understand technology, let alone use it to earn [money],” Fridah says. After her first month in Nyakuar’s classes, Fridah began doing freelance online jobs, earning an income she says sustains her family. “Nyakuar showed me that I could break free from the limitations of this underserved area,” 

Across the room sits 25-year-old Bakita Ismail, a fellow tech enthusiast who, like Nyakuar, knows the unrelenting weight of displacement. A refugee in Kenya since 2011, Bakita has dedicated her life to empowering women in Kakuma, a commitment rooted in her journey of survival and determination. 

“I’ve been in Kenya for over a decade now. Helping others find stability and purpose through technology is my way of giving back to my community,” she tells More To Her Story. “Kakuma gave me safety when I had none, so now I want to give hope to the young girls and women. 

Bakita’s journey into education began shortly after she completed high school in 2017. Recognizing the language barriers that prevent many refugees from accessing essential services, she volunteered to teach English and Swahili in Kakuma. These classes quickly became more than just language lessons; they were building blocks of empowerment. “Being able to communicate means you can advocate for yourself, access resources, and help your family,” says Bakita. “Language is a bridge to dignity and respect.”

Bakita’s commitment to uplifting her community led her to another role as a data collector for the UNHCR, where she gathered vital information about the needs of residents in the camp. This work opened her eyes to the impact of organized community support, but Bakita felt called to do more. “I saw a gap, especially for women,” she recalls. “I wanted to do something creative that could create real, lasting change.”

In 2021, a new door opened when Bakita won an all-female tech scholarship. This opportunity marked a turning point, expanding her vision for what she could accomplish. “That scholarship wasn’t just about learning tech,” she says. “It was a sign that someone believed in my potential and that I could bring that belief to others.”

When she returned to Kakuma, Bakita became a digital skills instructor at Resilience Action International with renewed determination. As in Nyakuar's classes, her students learn everything from the basics of computer literacy to more advanced skills like coding and artificial intelligence. But their lessons go beyond the technical: they’re about teaching women how to think independently, find their voices, and realize their potential.

“For many women here, turning on a computer for the first time is like discovering a whole new world,” Bakita says. “You see their faces light up when they realize they’re capable of learning these skills, and I am happy to see them reclaiming their futures.”

Both women know that their journey will be long, but they don’t envision returning to South Sudan, a country whose name alone brings memories of turmoil and loss. “The only thing left in South Sudan is its name,” says Bakita with a mixture of sadness and conviction. “There is nothing for me there. I was born into war, and that’s all I’ve known. But here, through education and technology, I can create something meaningful.” Her classes, like Nyakuar’s, serve as more than lessons; they are a means of breaking the cycle of dependence and giving refugee women tools to create their futures.

Their students range from teenage girls to mothers learning new skills to support their families. Each lesson breaks down barriers, empowering women who may feel sidelined or forgotten. “Technology is the great equalizer. It doesn’t care where you’re from or what you’ve been through. It just opens doors.” Nyakuar says.

The impact of Nyakuar and Bakita’s work reverberates across the camp. In a place where over 200,000 refugees live with limited resources and opportunities, these digital classes have become a beacon of hope for many. Several of their students have found ways to earn an income by offering freelance digital services remotely, tapping into global markets that were previously inaccessible. For others, these classes represent a new path, a way of reshaping their lives through skills that can transcend the confines of the camp.

Globally, women are excelling in higher education, yet significant gender gaps persist. According to UN Women, while young women now surpass men in tertiary education enrollment, they account for just 35% of students in science, technology, engineering, and math—and only 3% in information and communications technology (ICT). These gaps are even starker among refugees, where limited resources and entrenched cultural norms further restrict access to these fields. Nyakuar and Bakita are challenging these barriers, forging critical pathways for women to enter spaces where they’ve long been excluded.

The importance of their work goes beyond individual empowerment. A World Bank report shows that when women in marginalized communities have access to education and employment, it has a ripple effect, improving the welfare of their families and, by extension, their communities. Nyakuar and Bakita understand this impact intimately. By teaching these skills, they’re not only helping individual women but also contributing to the stability and resilience of Kakuma’s community at large.

For both women, the road to becoming educators and mentors has been long and fraught with challenges. Yet, they remain driven by a vision of change—a world where refugee women can thrive, where technology is not a distant dream but a practical tool for self-determination. “We may be refugees, but we are not without potential,” Nyakuar says. “Technology is a bridge for us to reach beyond these borders, to show that we are capable of so much more.”

Their students, too, carry forward this message of resilience and hope. Many have started dreaming of once unimaginable futures. Some hope to continue their education, while others plan to start businesses that could support their families and the camp’s economy. The ripple effects of Nyakuar and Bakita’s work are slowly reshaping what is possible for women in Kakuma.

Nyakuar radiates quiet determination and sees her students as agents of change. “I tell them that their future is their own to shape,” she says. “I don’t want them to feel limited by what they’ve been through or where they are now. Technology is their way to say, ‘I can be more than my circumstances.’”

Bakita echoes this sentiment: her classes are not just technical sessions; they’re affirmations of strength and possibility. “The women here are hungry for change,” she says. “They don’t want to be dependent on international NGOs for handouts. They want the tools to shape their lives, to support their families, to create something meaningful out of the circumstances they were given.”

While neither envisions returning to their war-torn homeland, they share one dream: to create a digital product that will empower refugee women and girls, not just in Kakuma but in camps worldwide. Through digital skills training, they want to unlock opportunities for education, employment, and self-sufficiency, bridging a gap that exists in communities deeply affected by conflict.

“We want to build something that reaches every girl and woman in [refugee] camps,” Nyakuar says. “We want to show them that even in the toughest places, they can rise and succeed.”