Refugee Returns to Transform the Camp Where He Grew Up
Kakuma, 20 May 2026
A remarkable journey comes full circle as Makol Chuol, who lived in Kakuma Refugee Camp from age twelve, returns with a $10,000 peace grant to address ethnic tensions through education. His ‘Voices of Amani’ project will train teachers as peace ambassadors, reaching over 300 students in the same camp where he once queued for water and food.
From Survival to Service
Chuol’s personal connection to Kakuma runs deeper than most development initiatives. Having lived in the camp without his family since age twelve, he intimately understands the daily challenges facing residents [1]. “I remember long lines for water and food that was never enough, and classrooms where learning often meant listening closely and making sense of what you could,” Chuol reflects on his formative years [1]. Despite these hardships, he found strength in community bonds, explaining that “even in those moments, there was laughter and community, and those experiences shaped me into someone who values resilience and purpose” [1].
Building Bridges Through Education
The Voices of Amani project, launching this summer, represents a strategic approach to conflict resolution within refugee communities [1]. By training teachers as “Peace Champions,” the initiative will equip educators with skills in empathy, dialogue, and conflict resolution [1]. The project’s ambitious scope aims to reach over three hundred students, fostering cross-cultural understanding across ethnic lines that have occasionally created tensions within the camp [1]. This educational framework recognises teachers as pivotal figures who can influence young minds during critical developmental years.
A Global Programme’s Local Impact
The Davis Projects for Peace Grant, established in 2007 by philanthropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis, has supported more than 2,200 projects across 150 countries since its inception [1]. This year’s cohort comprises 142 projects spanning 59 countries, demonstrating the programme’s global reach [1]. Chuol’s £8,000 award represents more than financial backing—it validates the potential for refugee-led solutions to complex community challenges [1]. The programme specifically empowers college students to design grassroots initiatives addressing systemic challenges in regions facing conflict [1].
Continuing Connections Across Continents
Even whilst studying computer science at Macalester College and competing on the track and field team, Chuol has maintained his commitment to education in Kenya [1]. He currently teaches children in Kenya online, bridging thousands of miles to maintain connections with his community [1]. “It feels like a full circle moment, but not the end of the story; it feels like a beginning,” Chuol explains about returning to Kakuma with the grant [1]. His perspective reflects a profound understanding of his role: “I am returning not as someone who escaped the story, but as someone ready to help rewrite it” [1]. This summer’s project will allow him to expand his educational impact significantly, working directly within the camp where his own educational journey began under challenging circumstances [1].