In the hustling corners of Nairobi, in the sprawl of Kakuma refugee camp, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Refugees who have been forced to flee from their homes, often denied so much that many take for granted, are rewriting their stories with laptops, internet access, and an unshakable resolve to learn. 

This transformation is made possible through the partnership between Jesuit Refugee Service Kenya, Southern New Hampshire University, and the Global Education Movement. All these have come together to introduce pathbreaking ways of higher education, providing internationally recognized, accredited degrees to more than 200 displaced learners in the year 2024 alone. 

Elias Minani, a Rwandese refugee, knows this journey all too well. “The SNHU program has been life-changing,” he shares, reflecting on his experience. “As a refugee in Kenya, pursuing higher education felt impossible. However, with the scholarship, I experienced incredible personal and professional growth, improved my communication skills, and secured a job at RefugePoint—an opportunity I never imagined.” 

Elias currently works as an IT Support Assistant at RefugePoint, balancing his job responsibilities while continuing to work toward completing his Bachelor’s Degree at SNHU. But that’s not all: Elias has also founded a digital business-a photography and videography start-up-which he is avidly building. 

But amidst the busy schedule, Elias has yet another responsibility to shoulder: being the breadwinner for his mother and sister. “It’s not easy,” he said, “but education has given me the tools and the confidence to be able to support my family.” From paying the rent to the family, providing food, to medical support, Elias really embodies the ultimate goal of the program, which is aimed at empowering refugees to rebuild their lives and continue uplifting those around them. 

Elias’s story is one among many that speaks to an 85% success rate since the program’s inception. The academic benefits translate into a more systemic support system: mental health, psychosocial services, rent, transportation, medical needs, and food-things necessary for education not to be an unreachable dream but to be sustainable. 

The alumni of the program have been performing miracles. In the last two years, 14 students won scholarships to study master’s degrees-a feat of determination by the students and testimony to the program’s efforts for women’s empowerment. Others stepped confidently into the global job market, bolstered by internships that provide invaluable professional experience. 

 It is more than just the degrees, though; it’s dignity and hope restored. Student clubs and associations help students develop a sense of community and belonging, and the education gives a way to self-sufficiency and toward a better future. 

As JRS Kenya looks to the future, the vision is clear: expand access to quality education and empower refugees to rebuild their lives. In a world that often overlooks their potential, programs like SNHU-GEM remind us that every refugee has the capacity to thrive when given the tools and opportunities to succeed. 

Education is not just learning; it is about unlocking potential, building resilience, and creating pathways to contribute meaningfully within communities. With the support of committed partners, JRS Kenya continues to shine as a beacon of hope, lighting the way for refugees to reclaim their futures and transform their lives.