The ‘Flight’ to Smiles and Opportunities
Sadiq Mahmud, founder of ‘Fly Bring Smile’ shares his journey of setting up an organisation to bridge the gap between education and employment in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
By Tanya Kathuria and the Samuel Hall Research Communications Team
The world is currently facing an unprecedented refugee crisis, with millions of people being forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and other factors. While humanitarian organisations have played a critical role in providing emergency relief and support to refugees, there is growing recognition that community-driven solutions are necessary for the long-term well-being of refugee communities.
In recent years, refugee-led organisations (RLOs) have emerged as a powerful force for change. By empowering refugees to take ownership of the solutions to the challenges they face, RLOs provide a platform for refugees to work together, advocate for their own needs, and access resources to support their communities.
To better understand how RLOs are bridging the gap between inaccessibility and support for refugees, Samuel Hall’s Digital Communications Assistant, Tanya Kathuria interviewed Sadiq Mahmud (22), the founder of Fly Bring Smile: a RLO providing education, skills training and mentorship to empower individuals to succeed in the workforce.
Fly Bring Smile (FBS) runs various programs promoting resilience and empowerment among refugees. With a diverse team from different countries, nationalities, and genders; their programs are inclusive, addressing cultural and linguistic gaps to ensure full participation and benefit.
Sadiq, 22, is an alumnus of Amala Education and currently a student at Xavier University JWL (Jesuit Worldwide Learning) who had to flee the conflict in his home country in Somalia. He arrived in Kakuma in 2007.
He is passionate about addressing critical issues like education, poverty, and environmental sustainability. He believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Let’s aim to turn our lofty ideals into concrete realities through commitment and collective actions.” — Sadiq
1. Why the name Fly Bring Smile?
SM: We named the organisation “Fly Bring Smile” to symbolise our youthful and audacious spirit.
The term ‘Fly’ reflects our tendency to tackle challenges that are considered beyond the reach of our generation. The widespread perception that young people are incapable of creating real change, is as rampant as the fact that humans are not capable of flying on their own.
‘Bring’ symbolises the effort and sacrifices we make to bring about positive change in our communities.
‘Smile’ represents the fruits of our labour, which are the solutions and improvements that our efforts bring to the challenges faced by our communities, ultimately leading to a happier and freer community.
2. How did FBS start, what was the eureka moment for you?
SM: As a refugee, I saw our community facing challenges like inadequate access to basic needs like food, shelter, and medical care that external organisations didn’t address. We realised we needed to take control and become the solution to our problems. A few of us, digital freelancers trained by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), were discussing these challenges, especially the lack of education and employment opportunities and it was then that FBS was born.
With the support of NRC on registration, we established Fly Bring Smile in 2020 in Kakuma Refugee Camp. The organisation now has four partners: Cohere, Norwegian Refugee Council, Global Refugee Youth Network, and Hope for All Humanity. Our operations are funded through local and international partnerships, as well as team and peer fundraising.
Today, the FBS team has 16 members (13 refugees and 3 from host communities): 9 males and 7 females, from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, including Sudanese, Somalis, Sudanese, Ugandan, Ethiopian, and Kenyans reflecting our commitment to unity and collaboration.
3. What kind of programs and initiatives do you currently run? Are they gender-inclusive and do they address cultural and linguistic gaps?
SM: FBS runs various programs promoting resilience and empowerment among refugees. These include:
- A fine arts programme for self-expression
- Workshops for high school graduates transitioning to the next phase of their lives
- A social entrepreneurship program for self-sufficiency and economic independence
- Digital literacy program
- Vocational training programs to equip refugees with practical skills to secure employment or start their own businesses
- We break down barriers and promote equal opportunities, empowering refugees to take control of their lives and pursue their dreams. All programs are gender-inclusive, addressing cultural and linguistic gaps to ensure full participation and benefit.
4. How would you describe your impact on the refugee community?
SM: At FBS, we are proud of the impact we have had on the lives of refugees and the communities in which we operate. We have a number of success stories and case studies that highlight the tangible results of our programs and initiatives.
Chuol, a young refugee from South Sudan, discovered his passion for art through our Kakuma Art and Exhibition program, which provided a supportive environment for self-expression. His paintings and drawings give us a glimpse into life in a refugee camp.
Another example that I would like to share is about high school students attending FBS’s ‘Life after Secondary School’ workshop. They gained a new perspective on further education and became motivated to pursue their dreams despite their circumstances as the workshop helped change their perspective on opportunities for higher education and gave them the determination to overcome refugee challenges. The workshop has given them hope and a sense of direction, as well as practical advice on how to pursue their chosen career paths. It had a positive impact on the students’ outlook and potential for success, by providing guidance and support in a challenging environment with limited resources.
These young people’s stories are a testament to the importance of education in empowering refugees and the transformative impact of our programs. Due to the impact we have had so far, FBS won a half-million Kenyan shilling grant in 2022.
5. How does FBs ensure gender-inclusivity in your programming and training?
SM: At FBS, we believe in the importance of gender inclusivity and strive to ensure that all of our programs and training initiatives are accessible to individuals of all genders. To achieve this, we actively recruit participants of all genders and work to ensure that our programs are accessible and welcoming to everyone. We do this by being mindful of any implicit biases that might affect interactions with different genders and work to overcome those biases by treating everyone equally and giving everyone a fair chance to participate and contribute.
We also strive to ensure that our program materials and curriculum are gender-sensitive and take into account the unique needs and experiences of different genders. For example, we have an arts and culture expression program, in which the language is created in an inclusive way so as to not hurt any participant’s sentiments. The programme provides a safe space for attendees to share their experiences, imaginations, thoughts, ideas and perspectives and fosters gender, leadership, and a culture of mutual respect and inclusivity.
6. What challenges have you faced so far in your operations, especially as a refugee-led organisation?
SM: As a refugee-led organisation, registering with the Kenyan government has been a challenge due to bureaucratic hurdles and delays, limiting our ability to partner with organisations and fundraise online. One of the most prominent hurdles is the delay in registration. For an organisation like FBS to legally operate and gain access to various resources and partnerships, it must first be registered with the Kenyan government. However, this process has been slow and inefficient, often taking years to complete. For instance, Fly bring smile submitted registration documents three years ago, but the processing still has not ended.
This has forced us to rely on individual donors and our own resources, making it difficult to scale up our operations.
Even though NRC supported the organisation with documentation and presentation to the government registrar’s office, the government's lack of recognition of refugee identity remained a significant obstacle. The NRC's ICLA (Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance) program advocates and addresses the issue for the organisation in collaboration with other lawyer departments of INGOs. But still, the process is long-awaited and the discussions continue. We are patiently waiting for the government to approve the legal registrations of refugee initiatives.
As for current policies or programs addressing these issues, to my best knowledge, there might not be specific programs directly targeting these bureaucratic hurdles. However, initiatives such as NRC and other non-governmental organisations are working on advocacy and legal assistance.
7. How difficult is it for refugees to secure formal employment opportunities? Is alternate education a viable solution?
SM: For refugees, securing formal employment opportunities can be very difficult, primarily because they often lack the necessary legal documentation, such as work permits, to be able to work in their host country. Additionally, refugees may be restricted in their freedom of movement outside of refugee camps, further limiting their ability to search for employment opportunities. At FBS, we believe vocational training and apprenticeships could be an alternative for those who do not have access to traditional education. It can provide refugees with practical skills to secure employment or start their own businesses and is a viable solution for those who may not have access to traditional education systems.
8. In your opinion, what better policies and programs can be employed by the government to support refugees?
SM: In my opinion, one of the most important policies that the government could implement to better support refugees is to allow for greater freedom of movement within the country through their Refugee ID. In addition, the government could also invest in programs and initiatives that are specifically designed to support refugees and their integration into local communities. This could include programs as well initiatives aimed at promoting social and cultural integration between refugees and the host community.
The current Refugee Act in Kenya is under review, and changes are expected to occur after the parliament drafts the necessary policies. The director's visit to Kakuma in March 2023 seems to have influenced the decision-making process, although the exact outcomes remain unclear at this point.
9. How can humanitarian actors and other stakeholders better support RLOs like Fly Bring Smile?
SM: I believe that humanitarian actors and other stakeholders can better support RLOs by providing capacity building support to them. Humanitarian actors and stakeholders can also advocate for the recognition and support of RLOs at the local, national, and international levels. This support can help RLOs like Fly Bring Smile to gain visibility, access to resources, and opportunities for collaboration with other organisations and stakeholders.
Specifically, we at FBS require:
- Advocacy support: Raising awareness about our activities and influencing the community, partners, and policy-makers.
- Legal support: To ensure we are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. This may involve legal certification, advice, or representation in matters related to the organisation’s operations, contracts, and partnerships.
- Partnerships: We need equal partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and private sector companies.
- Funding: Financial support or resources is essential for FBS to carry out its programs and initiatives.
