FilmAid: The Power of Film • 03.04.08

These unwanted acres of baron land are filled with the dry smell of dirt, drifting through each makeshift shelter with a cool breeze. As each year passes, hope of returning home is slowly overtaken by a more primal instinct: survival. The 86,000 refugees of Kakuma camp, located in the northern desert of Kenya, are forced to live with destitution. Even with the generous efforts of host communities and relief organizations the most basic of human needs are often in short supply. In a time of such heightened vulnerability wanting anything more seems inconsiderate. Yet, as time passes, the absence of mental stimulation and hope-lifting diversion begins to create a void. Social norms and sense of community erode away as the outside world becomes increasingly disconnected. For some, this is a life of displacement. For others, like children born in these camps, it’s the only life they’ve ever known.

