Empowering Refugee and Host Communities Through Visual Art
Centre for Research on Peace and Development
Year: 2024, Tangaza University
Image: Djuma Philip and Mudadi Saidi during Art Yetu Competition, 2023, (picture Sounds for Life)
Abstract
This study examines the Art Yetu initiative's role in empowering refugee and host communities through visual art to address the unemployment crisis and extreme poverty among refugee populations and marginalized youth in Turkana West County, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei settlement camps. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) data, 68% of refugees in
Kakuma and 72% of Turkana hosts live in poverty, with both populations experiencing high levels of food insecurity.
Refugee household surveys, comparable to national and host community measures in Kenya, are crucial for policy planning and linking humanitarian and development efforts. Refugees in Kenya are excluded from national surveys, resulting in insufficient comparable socioeconomic data on forcibly displaced people (FDP) and host communities at national and county levels. This limitation hinders efforts to design inclusive policies and programs addressing vulnerable populations' needs, particularly during socioeconomic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image: Mudadi S. during the Art Yetu cohort 1 graduation at Jitegemee Centre, 2021, Abel R. Justin Photographer.
This case study demonstrates that visual art programs like Art Yetu not only provide refugees and community members opportunities to learn new skills but also offer tools for reflection, environmental understanding, and community improvement through artistic expression.
Keywords: Empowerment, Visual Art, Refugee, Healing, Community Development
1. Introduction
1.1 Background and Context
Art Yetu operates within refugee and host communities where access to educational and creative opportunities remains limited. Kenya currently hosts approximately 836,907 refugees and asylum seekers as of February 2025, with 51% residing in Dadaab Refugee Camp, 36% in Kakuma Refugee Camp, and 13% in urban areas. This initiative aims to empower individuals and foster positive social change by providing visual art training and organizing exhibitions and competitions.
The socio-economic challenges facing refugees in Kenya are multifaceted. Current statistics indicate that 37% of Kenyans live in poverty, representing approximately 20.5 million people. For refugees, the situation is even more dire, with limited access to employment opportunities and basic services. Documentation barriers further exacerbate these challenges - out of approximately 300,000 refugees, only one refugee possesses a work permit, representing merely 0.0003% of the refugee population having legal authorization to work.
1.2 Program Vision and Objectives
Art Yetu collaborates with various agencies for joint projects, expanding its impact and reach beyond local boundaries. The program's outcomes extend internationally, reaching audiences across multiple countries through online competitions and exhibitions. Participants showcase their artwork, engage with diverse perspectives, and receive recognition for their talents. This model facilitates personal growth, cross-cultural understanding, and practical visual art skill development, contributing to individual and community empowerment.
The initiative employs art as a catalyst for positive change, engaging various stakeholders with the ambitious goal of reaching 5,000 youth by 2030. This target reflects the program's commitment to scaling impact and addressing the widespread need for creative and economic opportunities among displaced populations.
1.3 Theoretical Framework
The program operates under the premise that creative expression serves as both a therapeutic intervention and an economic empowerment tool. Drawing from community development theory and trauma-informed care principles, Art Yetu addresses multiple dimensions of refugee experience: psychological healing, skill development, economic opportunity creation, and community integration.
Image: pencil work by Jean Paul Itembya, class of 2021 2. Literature Review
2.1 Art Therapy and Trauma Recovery
Research consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of art therapy in addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which represents the most common mental illness in Kakuma, particularly among new arrivals from South Sudan fleeing ongoing conflict. Visual art provides a non-verbal medium for processing traumatic experiences, allowing individuals to express emotions and experiences that may be difficult to verbalize.
2.2 Creative Economy and Refugee Livelihoods
The creative economy presents unique opportunities for refugee economic participation, as artistic skills are often transferable across cultural contexts and can be developed with minimal initial investment. However, market access and skill development remain significant barriers that programs like Art Yetu aim to address.
2.3 Community Integration Through Arts
Arts programming has been shown to facilitate social cohesion between refugee and host communities by providing shared creative spaces and collaborative opportunities. This is particularly relevant in the Kakuma context, where tensions between communities can arise due to resource competition and cultural differences.
3. Methodology
3.1 Program Design and Implementation
Art Yetu's visual arts program aims to facilitate practical skill acquisition for economic self-reliance and employment opportunities among refugee and marginalized youth. The program provides comprehensive support throughout participants' artistic journeys, enabling self-reliance through commissioned artworks and improving employability for sustainable economic growth.
The program operates through multiple delivery mechanisms:
- School-based training sessions
- Community workshops
- Mentorship programs
- Exhibition and competition platforms
- Online engagement opportunities
3.2 Partnership Approach
The partnership with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) began when they recognized the program's value and requested services for learners in the Accelerated Education Programme (AEP) under the Better Learning Programme. This collaboration specifically targets learners experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress, helping them develop artistic skills to support their well-being. Heritage Handcraft leads this partnership as part of Art Yetu's Refugee-Led Initiative in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
3.3 Training Methodology
The program conducted five sessions across 12 schools in host and refugee communities including Kakuma and Kalobeyei, training 820 students. Schools were selected based on capacity, focusing on primary education levels, with learners chosen by their Better Learning Programme facilitators. Participants learned basic drawing concepts using the five principles of Recovery Box methodology:
1. Safety and Stabilization: Creating secure creative spaces
2. Remembrance and Mourning: Processing experiences through art
3. Reconnection: Building community through shared creative practice
4. Skill Development: Technical artistic competency building
5. Economic Integration: Pathway to livelihood opportunities
3.4 Data Collection and Analysis
The study employed mixed-methods approach combining:
- Quantitative metrics (participation rates, completion statistics, employment outcomes)
- Qualitative assessments (participant interviews, stakeholder feedback)
- Portfolio analysis (artistic development tracking)
- Community impact measurement (social cohesion indicators)
4. Results and Findings
4.1 Participation and Completion Statistics
A total of 820 students received training across 12 schools, demonstrating significant improvements in self-expression, cross-cultural understanding, and practical visual art skills. The initiative successfully organized two exhibitions and competitions, creating positive changes within refugee and host communities. International participation included online voting from countries such as England, Egypt, United States, Sudan, Nigeria, Uganda, India, and Italy.
From the 2021 cohort, 11 artists graduated out of 17 enrolled participants, representing a 65% completion rate. After completing the first cohort, participants advanced to higher levels and continue practicing self-reliance. The second cohort trained 47 youth, with two participants securing paid internships for one to two months, representing a 4.3% immediate employment rate.
4.2 Success Stories and Individual Outcomes
Notable program beneficiaries include participants in Kakuma Got Talent, such as Djuma Philipp, winner of the first Art Yetu Competition in 2021. Top nominees (best male and sketch artists) have become leaders of art clubs in their schools, demonstrating the program's capacity to develop local leadership.
Jean Paul Itembya, the 2022 first cohort winner, now participates in an international art club in Australia, utilizing knowledge and skills gained through Art Yetu. This represents the program's potential for creating global opportunities and connections for participants.
4.3 Community Impact Indicators
These graduates actively engage with other camp youth through their independent artistic groups, applying skills and knowledge gained from Art Yetu. The multiplier effect is evident as trained participants become peer educators and community organizers, extending the program's reach beyond direct beneficiaries.
4.4 Economic Outcomes
While comprehensive economic impact data requires longer-term tracking, initial indicators suggest positive trends:
- 2 participants secured paid internships (4.3% of second cohort)
- Multiple participants report income from commissioned artwork
- Establishment of 3 independent artist collectives
- Increased participation in local creative economy initiatives
5. Discussion
5.1 Therapeutic and Healing Outcomes
Findings indicate that Art Yetu effectively supports individuals experiencing trauma, depression, and stress, utilizing art as a healing and transformation tool. The initiative engages various stakeholders, facilitating personal growth and community enrichment. Comparative analysis between the first and second cohorts, which initially focused solely on visual art skills without addressing stress and depression, reveals consistent benefits of art in trauma recovery and skill development.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represents the most common mental illness in Kakuma, particularly among new arrivals from South Sudan fleeing ongoing conflict (IRC, 2023). This initiative specifically addresses the needs of those experiencing stress and trauma, providing healing opportunities through visual art engagement.
5.2 Economic Empowerment Analysis
The program's economic impact, while modest in immediate terms, demonstrates significant potential for scaling. The 0.0003% work permit access rate among refugees highlights the critical importance of alternative livelihood strategies.
Art Yetu provides a pathway that circumvents traditional employment barriers while building marketable skills.
5.3 Social Cohesion and Integration
Evidence suggests that joint programming between refugee and host communities through Art Yetu contributes to improved inter-community relations. Shared creative experiences provide neutral ground for interaction and mutual understanding, addressing some of the social tensions that arise in protracted refugee situations.
5.4 Scalability and Sustainability Considerations
The program's current reach of 820 direct beneficiaries represents significant progress toward the 2030 goal of 5,000 youth. However, achieving this scale will require:
- Diversified funding streams
- Enhanced partnership networks
- Strengthened local capacity
- Policy advocacy for refugee rights
- Market development for creative products
5.5 Challenges and Limitations
Several constraints limit program effectiveness:
- Limited market access for refugee-produced artwork
- Restrictive policy environment regarding refugee economic participation
- Funding uncertainties affecting program continuity
- Limited advanced training opportunities for skill progression
- Geographic isolation limiting market connections
6. Policy Implications and Recommendations
6.1 Policy Reform Needs
The research highlights critical policy gaps that limit refugee economic participation:
- Work permit accessibility (currently 0.0003% access rate)
- Market access restrictions
- Limited freedom of movement
- Exclusion from national economic surveys and planning
6.2 Programming Recommendations
Based on findings, the following programmatic enhancements are recommended:
- Integration of business skills training with artistic development
- Development of online marketplace platforms for refugee artists
- Expansion of mentorship and advanced training opportunities
- Strengthened linkages between creative programs and formal education
- Enhanced psychosocial support integration
6.3 Partnership Development
Strategic partnerships should focus on:
- Private sector engagement for market development
- International cultural exchange programs
- Technology platforms for global reach
- Academic institutions for research and evaluation
- Government agencies for policy advocacy
7. Conclusions and Future Directions
7.1 Program Impact Summary
Art Yetu promotes art, design, and creativity while encouraging innovative solutions to contestant challenges. The program empowers well-trained youth from refugee and host communities in visual art, enabling emotional expression and communication of displacement experiences through artwork. The initiative organizes exhibitions, art competitions, and supports local talents, resulting in positive community changes including increased youth employability and opportunity creation within refugee and host communities.
7.2 Contribution to Knowledge
This research contributes to understanding of:
- Art-based interventions in humanitarian contexts
- Community-led development approaches in refugee settings
- Integration strategies for displaced and host populations
- Creative economy potential in constrained environments
7.3 Future Research Directions
Further research should explore:
- Long-term economic outcomes of art-based programming
- Comparative effectiveness of different creative interventions
- Scaling strategies for community-led initiatives
- Policy impacts on refugee creative economy participation
7.4 Call to Action
The program calls upon national and international organizations and stakeholders to support these initiatives to reach at least 5,000 youth by 2030. This ambitious goal requires coordinated efforts across sectors and sustained commitment to refugee empowerment through creative expression.
8. Acknowledgments
We extend gratitude to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Kakuma Office, participating schools, and dedicated trainers and volunteers. Special appreciation goes to all participants and stakeholders for their cooperation and support in making Art Yetu successful, including Sounds for Life, Kakuwud for project documentation, Kitale Multimedia for visibility branding, and other supporters who provided art materials for winners and awards (Season of the Times Media Production, BKE Creatives, Youth Initiative for Development).
Additional recognition goes to the refugee and host community members who participated in this research, sharing their experiences and insights to advance understanding of creative programming in humanitarian contexts.
References
Mudadi Saidi, Refugee Advocate
Conflict of Interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.
Data Availability Statement: Data supporting this research is available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, subject to ethical approval and participant consent protocols.
