ICT Student Spotlight: Mary Aluel

Mary Aluel, a 22-year-old South Sudanese refugee, has found new hope and direction through RefuSHE's digital skills program. Her story begins in 2008 when she arrived in Kenya as a refugee. Mary was the third of eight children raised by a single mother in Kakuma refugee camp and life was full of challenges.  

Despite completing high school and working as an incentive teacher in Kakuma secondary school, Aluel's dreams of higher education seemed out of reach after multiple scholarship rejections. However, her inquisitive nature led her to a LinkedIn advertisement for RefuSHE's digital skills program. 

Mary Aluel, a 22-year-old South Sudanese refugee and ICT student

"Since my refugee status is based in Kakuma, I didn't know if I would qualify, but I decided to give it a chance," Aluel shares. This decision marked a turning point in her life. 

Upon selection, Aluel relocated to Nairobi, diving into the program with enthusiasm. "I had a little background in computers, but the classes at RefuSHE helped me expand on that knowledge," she explains. The program introduced her to various digital skills, with Excel becoming a favorite. "I loved doing the calculations, learning the formulas, and the functions. It was a little bit challenging sometimes, but it was rewarding to research more after class to do it better." 

Beyond technical skills, RefuSHE has opened doors to the world of online work for Aluel. "Before I came, I heard a lot about freelancing, but no one really shared where to start. Being here at RefuSHE has exposed me a lot to the freelancing world, the work that goes into building proposals for Upwork, among other skills." 

Aluel’s decision to join the program has had a significant impact on her life. "RefuSHE has kept me on my toes and kept me focused. If I had nothing to do, I would be back in Kakuma stressed out since I would be idle," she reflects. Now, she looks to the future with optimism: "I now know that when I go out there with the new skills, I will use them to search for work." 

Mary Aluel during a group presentation

Aluel's dreams extend beyond personal success and she aims to pass down her newfound skills to young people in Kakuma camp. “Most young people in Kakuma once they are done in high school, they have nothing to do. So, when I go back, I will partner with other small organizations which I am a part of to teach them digital skills.” 

She also plans to find work online and plans to use her earnings to support her siblings' education, and eventually pursue her lifelong dream of studying law. "My siblings need to receive the opportunities I have gotten," she says. 

Through RefuSHE, Mary Aluel has not only gained valuable skills, but also renewed hope and a clearer path towards her goals.