Gatwitch Hub
Kakuma Refugee Camp, NW Kenya.
What We Provide
- Crucial extra primary school classes for Years 5 & 6 before entry to Secondary School.
- A Living library space with specialised library sessions for the whole community, which encourages reading from a young age.
- IT facilities with fast internet access for research and online learning.
- Social spaces for creative and physical wellbeing, including Yoga and Dance.
- Early Years classes and focused play activities to support women and young children in the community.
- Art workshops during school holidays.
- Teacher and Safeguarding training.
- Meals and refreshments for our young children from an onsite cafe and shop.
Vision
Our inaugural Gatwitch Hub is a refugee led project space at the heart of the South Sudanese community in Kakuma Refugee camp, Kenya. We aim for the hub to become a fully self- sufficient and inclusive educational, wellbeing and not-for-profit enterprise space. Gua Africa has been committed to developing it as a safe space with two large classrooms, an onsite cafe, shop, running water and toilet facilities. We are currently working on connecting the hub to an electricity grid and developing the garden area; to offer shelter and reprieve from the harsh physical environment. Our hub supports the youth with their wide ranging skills, talents and creativity.
Goals
We are committed to developing diverse leaders across the community who will in turn put back into the community they serve. https://www.mylifeisart.org/youthretreat
To develop an educated body of leaders who will in turn lead and embed the AIA program. Core aims include developing how to be empathetic ally? How to work together towards equality and respect across gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, tribes, race, and ethnicity.
AIA is supported by our educational partners in Kenya and Dulwich College London, UK.
To develop opportunities and programs for women to support their specific needs educationally and wellbeing. To ‘level up’ leadership within the community and Hub.
Workplace gender diversity helps increase productivity, creativity, improves performance, and as established, boosts collaboration throughout the community.
We are committed to providing education and holistic care for the most vulnerable children in Kakuma within the South Sudanese community. We offer extra primary school classes for have been orphaned and are in need of full-time care and support.
This additional learning is crucial as children finalise their primary school education and embark on secondary school.
To provide opportunity for start-up enterprise we offer small and flexible space in the hub as a testing ground with minimal overheads and support.
Small business models will apply for the program through the leaders and a member of Gua Africa board. Non-For Profit Gatwitch Club hotel and shop. The Hotel (café) will provide food and light refreshments at low cost and as part of educational and wellbeing workshops. This is a zero waste zero alcohol establishment with health, culture, and wellbeing central to its food philosophy. The hotel is an integral part of the wellbeing ethos of the hub and linked directly to the living Library kitchen garden.
The hub and workshops are initiated and developed by community leaders under the guidance of our founder Emmanuel Jal, with support from the Gua Africa team Kenya and UK, and in collaboration with My Start and partners. We provide a blended learning network, both virtual and visiting specialists who mentor, teach and train hub leaders and members of the community. They further support on specialist areas of academic, creative, and vocational learning as well as holistic and wellbeing practices.
How You Can Help?
- New resurfaced floors for our classrooms (to reduce the issues of dust and air pollution.)
- Trees for shelter from the harsh weather conditions, as well as seeds and plants to cultivate a garden space.
- Outside seating spaces and shelter for outdoors activities
- More tables and chairs for learning and social activities.
- Yoga mats for our classes.
- More laptops for our ICT classes.
- More Early Years toys and ‘play’ materials.
- Art materials