Skill Path in Kenya: from Nairobi to Kakuma
Skill Path and RSSP Students in Nairobi for the Duolingo University Access Program pre-departure workshop
Skill Path joined Duolingo in Kenya last month to meet students about to travel to Australia through the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway. It was a week of many firsts…
After months of communicating via Zoom and looking at headshots online, I finally got to meet some of our incredible Refugee Student Settlement Pathway (RSSP) Awardees in person!
The week began in Nairobi at the Duolingo University Access Program’s pre-departure workshop. Duolingo brought together refugee students from across Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe for a jam-packed two days of pre-departure preparation sessions. It was the first time they convened their University Access Program cohort together in person, combining students on the global track, as well as those in the RSSP.
It was a week of many firsts for the students: the first time meeting fellow students from other locations, flying on a plane, meeting Skill Path in person and the first time sitting together without being separated by a screen.
During the two days in Nairobi, Duolingo prepared an extensive agenda, covering academic topics like AI ethics and academic integrity alongside more personal ones like culture shock, identity, and Imposter Syndrome. For the RSSP students, I also had the great pleasure to host an RSSP breakout session, where we discussed key preparation prior to traveling to Australia and what to expect once on campus in their final destinations. We also took in the special moment together right before embarking on their studies to write letters to their future selves, which will be shared with them next year.
Bagalwa, who will begin a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University in June, presenting at the pre-departure workshop in Nairobi
RSSP Students writing letters to their future selves
Day 1 of Duolingo’s pre-departure workshop in Nairobi
RSSP Students in Nairobi following the RSSP breakout session
Studying in Kakuma Refugee Camp
After a quick two days, I said my goodbyes to the RSSP students in Nairobi, and caught an early flight to northern Kenya with two of our Duolingo colleagues, to visit some recently selected 2026 RSSP Awardees in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
In Kakuma, we were welcomed by four of our recently selected 2026 RSSP Awardees, Andrew, Susan, Yohana and Adhel, who are former students at Elimisha Kakuma. Elimisha is a program that provides access to higher education opportunities to senior secondary school graduates in Kakuma Refugee Camp. The students organized a tour of Kakuma and Kalobeyei, which was an eye opening experience. We had the privilege to see firsthand where our students come from, under what conditions they study and the barriers they must consistently overcome, to pursue their education.
Skill Path and Duolingo with 2026 RSSP Awardees in Kakuma, Kenya
Left to right: Dev (Duolingo), Yohana (2026 RSSP Awardee), Susan (2026 RSSP Awardee), Adhel (2026 RSSP Awardee), Andrew (2026 RSSP Awardee), Tessy (Duolingo), Bailey (Skill Path)
Prior to arriving, I had been told Kakuma was a big place. However, it wasn’t until I was there, driving many kilometres to get from one area to another, that I realised how far people must go to access basic necessities. It was also there that I finally understood the distance (both physically and psychologically) some students must travel to access education. To put it further in perspective, Elimisha provides boarding accommodation to some of their students as the distance between some areas are too far to walk and are too costly to drive daily.
On our second day, both RSSP Awardees and family members joined us at Elimisha where we discussed the RSSP and life in Australia in more detail: we discussed the higher education landscape, how university matching works, how students fund their studies through an Australian Government loan (HECS-HELP), and crucially, what makes the RSSP different: it's a permanent settlement pathway, not just a educational opportunity.
A comment from one family member will stay with me long after this trip:
“We are proud of him. Through this pathway, he can prove to others in our community there is hope and opportunity through education.”
2026 RSSP Awardees showing Duolingo and Skill Path around Kakuma
The new Elmisha Learning Centre in Kakuma Refugee Camp
Left to right: Tessy (Duolingo), Deirdre (Elimisha), Anika (Elimisha), Yohana (2026 RSSP Awardee), Andrew (2026 RSSP Awardee), Adhel (2026 RSSP Awardee), Susan (2026 RSSP Awardee), Bailey (Skill Path)
Ending the visit with a nice Kahoot game in the Elmisha Learning Centre
A huge thank you to our partner, Duolingo, for inviting Skill Path to join this incredible week in Kenya and making this trip possible. Another huge thanks to Deirdre and Anika at Elimisha Kakuma for providing the on-the-ground support in Kakuma and sharing your learning centre with us while there. And of course, thank you to the RSSP Students and Awardees for taking the time to spend with Skill Path. We can’t wait to see you in Australia.
For more information on Elimisha Kakuma and their work, checkout their website.
