Migration Summit 2024
19.07.2024
On July 19th, 2024, Samuel Hall and Kumbatia Africa Peace Festival hosted an exciting in-person event at the Samuel Hall office in Lavington, Nairobi as part of the Migration Summit 2024 follow-up. ” Organised by MIT ReACT (an initiative of Emerging Talent) , Na'amal, and Karam Foundation, the summit entailed two panel discussions that brought together diverse perspectives to drive meaningful dialogue and action to address the urgent need for innovative solutions that empower refugees and IDPs in the evolving job market.
The first panel, 'Digital Economy Pathways for Refugees' focused on transforming digital skills into employment opportunities and developing actionable policy recommendations. The session began with the screening of the documentary "E-Refugees: Crafting New Futures," directed by Dr. Marie Godin. Through its vivid portrayal of the experiences of refugees navigating the digital economy - it set the stage for an engaging panel discussion amongst Frida Mwangi - Executive Director, iWorkers Kenya , Stephen Mwangi , National Project Coordinator, Digital Jobs International Labour Organization , Ghislain BAHATI Chairman for Refugee Led Organization Network (Refugee-Led Organization Network of Kenya (RELON-Kenya) Julius Muriuki - Client Engagement Officer , The The Amahoro Coalition, Bonnus Bright - Quality Assurance Annotator; moderated by Samuel Hall’s Research Programmes Coordinator, Lisa Pfister.
The second panel, ‘Music and its Impact on Livelihoods,’ delved into how music can serve as a source of income and a platform for cultural expression, especially for refugee artists. The session began with an inspiring story of an artist who used his musical talent to escape political unrest, highlighting music's power to create networks and open doors. Panellists Joseck Asikoye, Band Leader at Jabali Africa; Muhonja Mujega, Musician; Ian Gwagi H, Director at Creative Spills Collective; and Nikoye Ommeh, Spoken Word Artist, led an engaging discussion on various challenges and reccomendations surrounding music as a sustainable livlihood.