Working with Refugees: What an Enriching Experience

July 2024, Nairobi. Re:BUiLD research staff participate in a safeguarding training. Photo Credit: Edgar Otieno for The IRC   

When I joined the International Rescue Committee’s Re:BUiLD program, I expected it to be a job, like any other. Instead, the journey became deeply personal and transformative. My interactions with refugees—now colleagues, clients, and friends—have profoundly reshaped my understanding of resilience, purpose, and rebuilding a life against all odds.

As I began my work and interacted with refugees in the communities and among colleagues in Nairobi, my perspective changed. Refugees are often viewed as individuals needing assistance rather than capable of making significant contributions. However, I encountered people who managed to endure displacement and showed remarkable determination to contribute, grow, and succeed.

Among them were professionals whose qualifications from their home countries were not recognized due to accreditation challenges and intense competition in the job market. Others had entrepreneurial spirit and business experience but encountered legal, financial, and cultural obstacles in starting anew. These individuals had retained their purpose in life despite all the loses they had faced. Even in unfamiliar territory, they sought to fill labor gaps, start businesses, and contribute to the economic activities of their host countries.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role has been observing the impact of the Re:BUiLD program. Beyond financial support, Re:BUiLD offers hope and restores dignity. Through business grants, mentorship, and networking opportunities, our clients acquire the resources to take control of their future. These ventures are not simply economic activities; they are pathways to self-reliance. They allow parents to educate their children, create stability at home, and build lives grounded in purpose and pride.

I have observed that even modest support such as a small grant, job opportunity, or platform for connection can unlock potential that might otherwise remain untapped. Refugees supported through Re:BUiLD have launched businesses that not only sustain their families but also create employment, foster innovation, and build relationships between refugee and host communities. These stories are examples of what can be achieved when we choose to invest in people rather than addressing problems alone.

Working alongside refugee colleagues has provided valuable professional experiences. Their professionalism is complemented by empathy, and their resilience is demonstrated through leadership. Having firsthand experience, they offer unique insights that enhance our work beyond what training manuals can provide. Many have taken on leadership roles, mentoring others, shaping strategies, and highlighting the importance of lived experience. They contribute significantly to our organization and drive positive changes.

In reflecting on this journey, I have come to understand that self-reliance encompasses more than just financial independence or stability. It involves having the freedom to make choices, the capability to provide for one's family, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the community. Additionally, it entails reclaiming one's identity and rebuilding one's dignity.

I have observed the essence of rebuilding, which extends beyond policies or programs into daily acts of courage, determination, and subtle success. From these experiences, I have learned that, with appropriate support, every individual regardless of their background possesses the potential not only to endure but to excel.