American Students Partner with Kenyan Refugees to Create Manufacturing Jobs in World's Largest Camp
Kakuma, 8 April 2026
High school students from Utah are revolutionising refugee economics by helping Kakuma’s 300,000 residents manufacture water filters and jewellery for American markets. The innovative partnership addresses a critical gap where 80% of refugees lack employment opportunities, transforming the camp into a production hub that could generate sustainable income streams whilst reducing manufacturing costs for humanitarian products previously imported from China.
Engineering Solutions for Water Access
The collaboration centres on addressing two critical challenges facing refugee communities: access to clean water and sustainable employment opportunities. Matt Blood and Hayden Heimburger from Wasatch CAPS’s engineering department are spearheading the development of pre-water filters in partnership with Water for Life Charity, with manufacturing planned to take place within Kakuma itself [1]. The project emerged from practical economic pressures, as Heimburger explains: “They were originally getting their pre-filters out of China, but because of the tariffs and stuff, it’s been too expensive…So we’re hoping to be able to start creating them in the refugee camp, where they can outsource it directly from Kakuma Co, and that would be able to basically generate cheaper products and generate revenue for those refugees” [1].
From Refugee Camp to Global Marketplace
The Kakuma Refugee Camp, established in 1992 and housing approximately 300,000 residents primarily from Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, has long struggled with limited economic opportunities [1]. The partnership with Wasatch CAPS students Gavin Daley, Matt Blood, Hayden Heimburger and Sadie Omer represents a fundamental shift in approach, working through Kakuma Co, a Salt Lake City-based company that aims to provide income for refugees in a community where 80% struggle with employment due to lack of resources and marketplaces [1]. The initiative leverages existing skills within the camp, where refugees already demonstrate remarkable craftsmanship by creating items like chairs and soccer balls by hand [1].
Creative Collaboration Across Continents
Beyond water filtration technology, the partnership extends into creative industries through jewellery design and production. Gavin Daley from CAPS’s business and marketing department and Sadie Omer from graphic design are working directly with Kakuma refugees to develop jewellery designs that can compete in international markets [1]. The collaboration involves extensive correspondence between the students and refugees to coordinate designs and materials, creating a truly collaborative creative process that spans continents [1]. Matt Blood articulates the broader significance of this work: “We’re trying to sell to U.S. markets, trying to expand their market, because they’re actually getting a pretty good source of income within the refugee camp, but there’s just not a lot of means of purchasing” [1].
Building Sustainable Economic Impact
The project represents more than a temporary aid initiative; it aims to establish permanent economic infrastructure within the refugee camp. By creating direct manufacturing capabilities for products previously imported from overseas suppliers, the initiative could generate sustained revenue streams for camp residents whilst reducing costs for humanitarian organisations [1]. The personal motivation driving these young entrepreneurs reflects a deeper understanding of global responsibility, as Blood emphasises: “It just feels so important to help these people. I feel like we’re actually making a real impact in some of these people’s lives and really trying to help them develop the means to have a better life” [1]. For students like Daley, the project provides valuable business and marketing experience whilst simultaneously addressing urgent humanitarian needs [1].