Across the globe conflicts are becoming increasingly protracted, new escalations of violence are occurring, climate disasters are more frequent, and humanitarian crises are worsening. Such realities are displacing more children than ever before and for longer periods of time. Many children are now spending their entire childhoods displaced, and for some, their entire childhoods in refugee camps. A growing population of refugee children in protracted displacement contexts demands concrete action from the international community to ensure that, even if displaced, all children have access to essential services, have their basic needs met, and their rights upheld.

In August and September 2023, USCRI Policy Analyst Victoria Walker travelled to Kenya to visit both Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps and Kalobeyei Settlement with an aim to better understand the experiences of refugee children in the camps and to examine access to education and child protection services within the camps. The following section of a forthcoming report presents key findings from the field visits as it relates to access to education for refugee children, including the unique challenges faced by refugee girls.

If you want to learn more about the education and protection needs of refugee children in Kenya, read our Policy & Advocacy Brief: Her Dreams to Achieve: Ensuring Protection and Education for Refugee Girls.