In 2020, our Take Action Global team built two Innovation Lab Schools in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. Five years later, we returned—not just to check in, but to launch something new: a project where students would create solar-powered lamps. While being joined by a Swiss-French-Kenyan film crew, powerful stories came from the classrooms, the communities, and the quiet moments in between.
Here are three things I learned from refugees about climate education:
1. Dignity, Even When Survival Is the Focus
Life in Kakuma is incredibly tough. With daily challenges like extreme heat, malaria, cholera, and the lack of electricity, simply getting through the day is already an achievement. And yet, what struck me most was the grace, pride, and determination people showed. Students showed up with clean uniforms and focused minds, ready to learn, ready to help each other.
When 56 students built their own solar lights during a three-hour class, the energy was incredible. They were guiding each other, cheering each other on, and celebrating every small success. One student had been stung by a scorpion the night before. With no proper medical care, he treated the wound with toothpaste—but still came to school to build his lamp. There was no complaining, only quiet determination. They want to move forward. They support each other. That’s dignity.
2. Sustainability Means Something Different Depending on Where You Live
At first glance, students in Belgium and Kakuma were doing the same thing: learning how to build a solar light using small panels, batteries, and upcycled materials like plastic bottles. But the impact was worlds apart.
In Belgium, it was a STEM project. In Kakuma, it meant light in homes without electricity—allowing students to study at night, reducing risk of accidents, and giving families more time together. A simple light becomes a powerful change-maker.
Over the past five years, the Innovation Labs have grown: fast internet, laptops, solar panels, a school garden, trees, and water tanks. But nothing lit up the students’ faces quite like seeing their homemade lamp switch on for the first time.
3. Real Connection Changes Everything
After building the lamps, the students in Kakuma and Belgium connected through Zoom. What started as small talk about hobbies and school turned into something bigger. They showed each other their solar lamps. They compared how they use light. And then—they started singing and dancing together, right there on screen.
It became a true intercultural celebration. Belgian students realised that while they take light for granted, their peers in Kakuma were using it to change lives. The project turned into something much more than science—it became a shared story, one that inspired empathy and respect on both sides.
Why It Stays With Me
We were followed by a film crew. But what they captured goes far beyond a project—it’s about what happens when you bring education, innovation, and human connection into the same space.
Kakuma is often described as a place without a future. But we saw the opposite. We saw joy. We saw resilience. We saw students taking the lead—learning, creating, helping each other. Climate education is not about teaching facts. It’s about lighting the way—together.
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There is strength in being different, and while people often fear what looks or feels unfamiliar – there’s real power in embracing those differences as opportunities for connection and growth.
✌️ Koen
