Empowering older persons in Kenyan refugee camps

Dear Donors and Friends,

We write to update you on our Q3'2025 activities in refugee households in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps.

Due to limited donor support, AgeWatch Africa was not able to engage in much project implementation activities either within the refugee camps or the host community. We have however been engaged in initial research work to establish specific livelihood needs within these camps. During this period AgeWatch Africa enrolled group members within the camps as follows: youth members, women members and older persons members of AgeWatch Afruca, totalling 162.

Through the above groups, AgeWatch Africa is using the focus group discussion approach AgeWatch is finding out their specific needs as we continue to approach various donors for support. In most cases, the three age groups are from same households where living conditions continue to deteriorate due to dimished donor support. The following needs earlier highlighted  in our previuos report continue to worsen within the refugee camps:

• High youth and women unemployment 
• High dependency on humanitarian aid.
• Limited access to skills training, markets, and digital tools.
• Increased poverty, food and income insecurity, and psychosocial stress.

The AgeWatch Africa team remains optimistic of your ongoing support to be able to continue working with and for this vulnerable group of persons.

In deep gratitude,

Richard Waindi, Founder & CEO.  

Dear Donors and Friends,

We write to sincerely thank you for supporting our work with the marginalsied and vulnearble refugee community in Kakuma Refugee Camp in North-Western Kenya, Turkana County.

Despite the fast-changing donor landscape from early this year, we have maintained our engagement with the refugee households in Kakuma. In the foregoing, the AgeWatch Africa Foundation Team has decided to re-focus its beneficiary attention from exclusively older persons to working with entire households including youth, women, and the seniors. This shift in approach has been occasioned by:

• High youth and women unemployment in Kakuma refugee camp.
• High dependency on humanitarian aid.
• Limited access to skills training, markets, and digital tools.
• Increased poverty, food and income insecurity, and psychosocial stress.

The overarching objectives of the project, which mainly targets youth and women, include:

• Providing market-relevant skills in poultry farming, gardening, soap making, and freelancing.
• Establishing and supporting Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) for business growth and savings.
• Mentoring youth and women-led businesses to scale and sustain.
• Improving food and income security and reducing economic dependency.

The overall expected impact is to strengthen community building and reliance.

The sustainability plan includes:

• Peer-led training (Train-the-Trainer model).
• Business reinvestment through VSLAs.
• Linkages with county government and private sector.
• Digital learning materials for continuity.

We are confident that this srategic shift in our approach to working with refugee community will be more impactful and should yield geater result in the coming months.

On behalf of the entire AgeWatch Africa Team, I take this early opportunity to thank you for your continued generous donations and support in the remaining part of this year.

In deep gratitude,

Richard Waindi, Founder & CEO.