1. Since its establishment in 1992, the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya has become one of the largest and oldest humanitarian settlements in the world. For decades, the camp was primarily funded by international donations – in particular from the US, the European Union, and individual European countries such as Germany.
2. However, global attention has shifted in recent years. New crises, political priorities, and economic pressures have led many countries to significantly reduce their contributions to the UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP).
3. As a result, support for refugees in Kakuma has been massively cut back.
4. In this situation, many people in the camp began to look for their own ways forward. They founded:

• CBOs (community-based organizations)
• SHGs (self-help groups)
• Small initiatives and learning centers

These groups arose out of genuine need and a desire to not just wait passively, but to take action themselves. Many hoped that their own projects would help them find international partners, receive donations, or at least bring about small local improvements.

But the reality is harsh:

• The international community is overwhelmed.
• The major donors have shifted their priorities.
• Many programs have been cut back or discontinued.
• Even established organizations are struggling to survive.

As a result, small CBOs and SHGs are often left without support today, even though they are the only structures that could still bring about real change in the camp.

Nevertheless, one thing remains: the people in Kakuma are not giving up. They organize themselves, they educate themselves, they help each other—and they show that independence and dignity are possible even under extreme conditions.