Building Community and Confidence in Kakuma
- Kyle Kvamme
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Omar’s* smile lights up the Zoom screen. It’s been almost a year since we last spoke — when he was about to embark on a life-changing journey. After nearly two decades in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Omar and his family were resettled to Germany in February 2025.
Originally from Sudan, Omar spent most of his life in Kakuma after fleeing civil war with his family in 2006, when he was around seven years old. “I don’t remember too much during that time,” he shared. “Only some things stuck with me.”
As he grew older in Kenya, Omar began to struggle when he came to understand his bisexual identity. “I didn’t know where to go or who to open up to,” he said. “As a Muslim, you’re trying to be open to your family or to your community. It’s something everyone will be so scared of.”
For a brief period, Omar left Kakuma for Nairobi with his partner, hoping to find safety and stability. Instead, life became even more difficult. After the relationship ended, Omar found himself without housing and spent months living on the streets. With nowhere else to turn, he eventually returned to Kakuma alone.
It was there that Omar began connecting with other LGBTIQ refugees, many of whom were Ugandan. “There were many Ugandan people coming out, showing themselves, and helping others know about the LGBTIQ community,” he recalled. “I joined them, and they helped me a lot. They made me feel like I was one of them. I started gaining confidence.”
Around that same time, Omar learned about ORAM’s work supporting LGBTIQ refugees in Kakuma. He remembers early conversations with ORAM staff — including Steve Roth, ORAM’s Executive Director — who met with community members to listen and learn about the challenges they were facing in the camp.
“We talked a lot,” Omar recalled. “About what we were facing in the camp, how things were going, and what support we needed.”
“In the beginning, we were very few,” Omar explained. “But we started organizing — meeting, talking, and trying to support one another.”
“We started projects, and soon ORAM began supporting us,” he shared. Over time, more people felt safe coming forward. “The group kept getting bigger and bigger,” Omar said. “People started opening up.”
As the community grew stronger, Omar became more deeply involved — eventually serving as an ORAM Field Assistant. In this role, he supported direct communication with community members and helped ensure ORAM’s programs reflected the community’s most urgent needs.
“I gained a lot of experience from ORAM,” Omar said. “I got to know my rights. I learned how to interact with different organizations. Before ORAM, I didn’t even know how to use a computer. It made me a stronger guy — and I felt at peace.”
Today, Omar is marking ten months since his resettlement to Germany. He’s beginning to rebuild his life in Berlin and reconnect with ORAM through local workshops. “Reuben, ORAM’s Program Officer in Kakuma, and Steve linked me up with the ORAM team here in Berlin,” he shared. “I attended a few workshops, but once I started school, it became harder to balance everything.”
Omar currently lives in a reception center with a family member. While his situation is stable, it comes with limitations. “You feel like you’re being controlled,” he explained. “If you meet friends, you can’t bring them over.”
Looking ahead, Omar hopes to continue working in social services and dreams of becoming a translator. He’s focused on completing his language courses and having his professional certifications from Kenya formally recognized in Germany.
As he reflects on his journey, Omar is clear about what made survival — and growth — possible. “Without ORAM, the LGBTIQ community would not be strong in Kakuma,” he said. “The people still there are existing because they have hope. Without ORAM, it would be very tough for the community to be in Kakuma.”
Stories like Omar’s are possible because of supporters like you. Your generosity helps ensure that ORAM can continue to provide safety, opportunity, and hope to LGBTIQ refugees in Kakuma and around the world.
Donate today to support ORAM’s life-saving work.
*Omar’s name has been changed to protect his safety.