From Refugee Camp to Remote Work: Africa’s Future Is Already Here

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 delve into the exciting and sometimes challenging landscape of AI and Africa's digital future.

Co-hosted by Clay Lowe and Camila Massa, this conversation features Vestine Ihimbazwe, a business development leader, digital strategist, and youth tech mentor who grew up in Kakuma Refugee Camp and has lived there for over 16 years. Vestine shares her journey from navigating limited educational opportunities to leading initiatives that equip young women with coding, AI, and remote work skills, proving that refugee talent is not just employable but a driver of Africa’s digital future.

About Our Guest:
Vestine Leila Ihimbazwe is known for bridging global clients with African refugee talent. Through her work with refugee-led hubs like the Solidarity Initiative for Refugees (SIR), she mentors young women in tech, opening pathways into coding, AI, and freelancing. A proud Pan-Africanist, she is dedicated to shifting the narrative from refugees as aid recipients to innovators and changemakers in the digital economy.

About Our Co-Host:
Camila Massa is the Program Coordinator for MIT Emerging Talent and the MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT), where she develops education-to-employment programs for underserved communities worldwide. She also supports the MIT Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) and coordinates the Migration Summit, a global event bringing together stakeholders to address challenges faced by refugee and migrant communities. With a background in business and a passion for social development, Camila brings both global perspective and practical experience to the conversation.

Episode Highlights

From Kakuma to the Global Digital Economy

• Vestine’s life growing up in Kakuma and the turning points that made remote work seem possible
• The steep challenges of accessing quality education and career pathways in a refugee camp
• Early steps into digital skills training and securing her first remote clients

Breaking Barriers in Displacement

• Overcoming limited internet access, scarce technology, and gender-based barriers
• How family and community perceptions of “remote work” have shifted over time
• The role of mentorship, peer networks, and online communities in building confidence and expertise

Remote Work as Africa’s Next Big Leap

• Why remote work is reshaping traditional ideas of employment for African youth, especially in displacement
• The digital skills Vestine believes will be most in demand for the next generation
• How companies and platforms can design systems that include talent from refugee camps and rural areas

A Vision for Africa’s Future of Work

• Predictions for what digital work in Kakuma and similar contexts could look like in 5–10 years
• Practical steps governments, NGOs, and global businesses can take to scale digital inclusion
• How storytelling can shift mindsets and influence policy

Advice and Inspiration

• Vestine’s message to young Africans who feel “stuck” in their current circumstances
• The crucial role mentorship and networks play in turning skills into opportunity
• Why the world should see refugee camps not just as humanitarian spaces, but as hubs of innovation and talent

Discussion Topics:

• Bridging the digital divide in displacement contexts
• Gender equity in remote work
• The role of refugee-led hubs in digital skill development
• How policy and infrastructure shape access to remote opportunities
• Global collaboration for inclusive future-of-work systems

Connect with Us:

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