Digital Remote Jobs from A Refugee Perspective

Welcome to Voices of Resilience Season 3, brought to you by Na’amal, a non-profit and social enterprise dedicated to empowering forcibly displaced individuals through dignified remote work. In this episode, we take a closer look at the world of digital remote jobs, through the eyes of refugees living and working in Kenya.

Co-hosted by Clay Lowe and Gerawork Teferra (Gera), this conversation features Daniel, a digital entrepreneur and Na’amal alumnus who grew up in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Together, they unpack the complexities of accessing and sustaining remote digital work while navigating life as a refugee in Kenya.

About Our Guest:

Daniel is a South Sudanese refugee, digital entrepreneur, and graduate of the Na’amal program. Raised in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Daniel carved out a path in the online freelancing world, becoming not only self-reliant but a role model and resource for others in his community.

About Our Co-Host:

Gerawork Teferra (Gera) is an Ethiopian refugee who has lived in Kakuma since 2011. He is currently a Resident Research Fellow at Columbia Global Nairobi, where his work focuses on refugee-host dynamics, mobility, and belonging. As co-host, Gera brings firsthand understanding and thoughtful inquiry to this conversation.

Episode Highlights:

Finding Opportunity Amidst Displacement

•  Gera and Daniel share their personal journeys from Kakuma to digital careers
•  Reflections on the absence of digital training in refugee camps, and how they filled the gap
•  Moments of breakthrough, self-teaching, and growing digital confidence

What Digital Work Looks Like for Refugees

•  Daniel walks us through a day in his life as a remote worker in a refugee setting
•  Benefits and trade-offs: digital work vs. traditional jobs in and around the camp
•  What dignity in work means when you're working across borders, but living with limited infrastructure

Barriers, Protections, and Power

•  Freelancing challenges: client relations, job security, and fair payment
•  Why digital work needs to be shaped with refugee perspectives at the center
•  How Daniel protects himself as a digital entrepreneur—and advice for others doing the same

Building a Digital Future That Includes Everyone

•  The role of gender, peer networks, and community support in the remote work space
•  What the private sector and tech platforms can do to close the digital divide
•  Big ideas for creating inclusive infrastructure, especially in under-resourced camps like Kakuma

Discussion Topics:

• Bridging the digital skills gap in displacement contexts
• Redefining professionalism from a refugee lens
• Labor rights and ethical concerns in the gig economy
• Representation and refugee-led storytelling
• Community trust, family perceptions, and social shifts
• Structural changes needed to support digital inclusion

Connect with Us:

• Na'amal Website: namal.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/naamal/posts/?feedView=all 
• Instagram: _naamal_