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Kakuma interview Series Part 1: Meet Obang


Obang is one of our new DIP students in the Kakuma Refugee Camp. Obang is a refugee from Ethiopia who is determined to show her home community what you can achieve by investing in your own education. 



​This new cohort includes 35 female refugees from diverse backgrounds, who started their freelancing journey April 25th. We asked our new students to share a little about themselves. This is the first interview in a series of four. 



Obang’s interview has been lightly edited for clarity and accuracy. 



Q1: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.


My name is Obang Ochala. I am from Ethiopia. I live here in Kenya as a refugee, in Kalobeyei [an informal settlement adjacent to Kakuma refugee camp]. I grew up in a family of six siblings. I grew up with my mom and dad, so now we stay here. My education level is up to high school, I graduated in 2018. I am 26 years old, and I am a single mother of two. 



Q2: What drew you to digital upskilling programs? Why is digital skills training important?


I want to do something more with myself. I want to do something different. In our community, girls are more looked down upon than boys. Like [they say] “girls cannot do this, girls cannot do that.” I want to prove to them that I can do better. And I believe that I can do better, I believe in myself, and I work hard. 


In our community, we have a group on WhatsApp. If the admin comes across any job advertisements they let us know, and this is how I found out about the program. 



Q3: What profession would you like to focus on?


I want to be able to work from home. If I have a business then I can also work from home using a laptop or a phone. I am interested in starting a shop. Career wise, I am not sure. But my dream is one day to become a doctor, maybe in my country back home, because there is a lack of doctors there. 


Q4: How do you see the Digital Inclusion Program benefiting communities in the Kakuma Refugee Camp?


It will have a great impact. I am the only girl [in the DIP] from Kalobeyei. I am the only one who applied. I want to show them that it is possible. Nothing is impossible, you can make the impossible possible by working hard. Whatever a boy can do a girl can do better, so I want to show them that, and be a good role model to the ladies. 


Q5: What do you hope to achieve from this program?


I will have greater skills and knowledge. I will be learning so many things here. 

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