The ARISE Story
Advocacy & Renaissance Initiative for Society Enlightenment — a refugee-led community-based organization born from the shared vision of three refugee scholars at Somali Bantu Secondary School in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.
Born in Kakuma Refugee Camp
On September 5, 2022, three incentive teachers at Somali Bantu Secondary School felt a collective urge to address the persistent challenges facing their community in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya.
What began as conversations between colleagues evolved into a powerful movement. Asafu Mamlaka Etandala, Ismael Hamza Ismael, and Santino Musa Salina envisioned an organization that would restore hope and unleash the untapped potential within the refugee community.
The name ARISE — Advocacy & Renaissance Initiative for Society Enlightenment — embodies our mission: to awaken and elevate communities through education, innovation, and collective action.
— The ARISE motto, reflecting our belief that transforming one life creates ripples of change throughout society.
Our Three Co-Founders
Refugee scholars and educators who transformed their shared frustration into a movement for change.
Asafu Mamlaka Etandala
Co-Founder
International Relations Student, USIU-Africa
Passionate about crafting well-designed initiatives to accelerate societies out of stagnation and create lasting systemic change.
Ismael Hamza Ismael
Co-Founder
Physics Student, University of Alberta
Driven by the mission to unleash exploited potentials hidden by existing social models and empower youth through STEM education.
Santino Musa Salina
Co-Founder
B.Ed Graduate, Kenyatta University
A dedicated educator committed to restoring hope through resilient initiatives and building a better future for refugee youth.
Why ARISE Was Needed
The refugee community in Kakuma faces unique challenges: limited educational opportunities, lack of mental health support, minimal livelihood options, and a disconnect between youth potential and available resources.
As teachers witnessing these challenges daily, our founders recognized that the community possessed incredible untapped potential. What was needed was not charity, but empowerment — an organization built by refugees, for refugees, that could provoke and improve aptitudinal capabilities.
ARISE targets secondary school students specifically, believing that investing in youth education creates generational change. By focusing on this critical demographic, we aim to break cycles of dependency and build self-reliance.
Our Vision
To become a beacon of Enlightenment for a dynamic, vibrant, and enlightened society where every refugee has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our Mission
To leverage the potential of publishing, media, and technology to ignite fresh ideas among youth and foster innovation, self-reliance, and collaboration within the refugee community.
Our Seven Pillars of Impact
Strategic areas where ARISE creates transformational change in the Kakuma refugee community.
Education
Academic support, tutoring, scholarships, and educational resources for secondary students.
Advocacy
Amplifying refugee voices and advocating for rights, policies, and opportunities.
Media & Publishing
Community storytelling, digital platforms, and a publishing house for local voices.
Innovation
Tech literacy, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving skills for the digital age.
Mental Health
Psychosocial support, counseling, and wellness programs for trauma-affected youth.
Livelihoods
Vocational training, skills development, and economic empowerment programs.
Sports
Athletic programs promoting teamwork, discipline, health, and community building.
IP Protection
Securing intellectual property rights for community creators and innovators.
Core Values
Integrity
We uphold the highest ethical standards in all our community initiatives, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Inclusivity
Equal opportunities for all to participate and benefit, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or background.
Hope
Cultivating resilience, collective aspirations, and belief in a brighter future for all community members.
From CBO to NGO
ARISE began as a Community-Based Organization (CBO), operating within Kakuma Refugee Camp with limited resources but unlimited determination. Our work has been entirely volunteer-driven and community-funded.
As our impact grows and our programs expand, we are now in the process of transitioning to full NGO status. This will enable us to access more resources, establish formal partnerships, and scale our initiatives to reach more refugee youth across Kenya and beyond.
Our location in Kakuma — one of the world's largest refugee camps — positions us uniquely to understand and address the real needs of displaced communities. We are refugees serving refugees, and that authenticity is our strength.
2022
Founded
3
Co-Founders
7
Focus Areas
∞
Potential
Join the Renaissance
Whether you're a volunteer, donor, partner, or supporter — your contribution helps us Impact One and Awaken Society.