African in America
has mixed feelings
about Kakuma!
I was not able to go to school in refugee camp Kakuma because of hunger. I got beat up by the teachers and that scared me from going to school. I am now an author, living in the USA. I want to go back to Kakuma for vacation and see if I can build educational programs. I am Nini Mohamed, 27 Kenyan, Somali Bantu, single and founder of the African in America movement. I don't know the exact year I escaped from Somali with my parents. I was a baby and my parents said, we left because of the none stop civil war and other things that was happening in the country. I arrived Kakuma in 2002 - 2003 something in between and I believe we were on a school bus or should I say, one of those track traveling busses. While in Kakuma, I was a bad kid, I never went to school, I was in fights all the time. I stole pots and pans and resold them to make money to watch movies or buy food that I couldn't get at home. I got beat up by Turkana people many times because I always went to their territory to collect fire woods so my mother could make fire to cook food for us. I also hunted a lot of pigeons and it was dangerous because there were big dogs that chased us all the time. Food and water was very hard for me in Kakuma sometimes we ran out of water, and was forced to travel hours to find clean water. School was there but the education didn't suit me and that is why I did not go to school in Kakuma. I was not able to go to school in Kakuma because of hunger. I used to be hungry and the cup of porridge provided in the refugees school was not enough for me. I also got beat up by the teachers and that scared me from going to school. Well, I don't know about now because I have not been to Kakuma for decades but before the only thing that I liked about Kakuma was the people and how connected everybody was. I also like the little movie theater track that used to come by the soccer field sometime and played Tom and Jerry movie for us at the camp and that was my favorite because it brought people together. And as a kid that was an opportunity for me to have fun. However, while in Kakuma, the most disgusting things for me was the bathroom. It always smell bad, I hated and also did not like some of the Turkana people who used not to shower for weeks and months. But most importantly, I have now improved on my attitude and perceptions towards others. I have now learned that the lifestyle of the Turkana people was their culture and that should not make them less important. I left Kakuma in 2005 and went to Nairobi. My family and I stayed in Nairobi for one year. My mother gave birth to my little sister, and she was very tiny and that is when we were told, she was too little to go on an airplane which cost us to wait for seven months before we began our process of coming to the United States. We arrived in the United States July 2006. The United States is a beautiful country and I love staying in the USA. If it wasn't for this country, I wouldnt be the person that I am right now. But, on the contrary, life in the United States isn't easy at all because this is a capitalist country and when you are used to socialism as back home, things can be really tough out here. Many people come here and get lost because they could not understand the system and can't figure out how things work in this country. But in the United States, you have unlimited opportunities about everything and every where you go. You can become whatever you want to become, for instance, doctor, nurse layer, teacher, engineer, a business man or women anything and that is the best thing about this country. The American dream is there for everybody. No one can stop you from pursuing your dreams. But to accomplish your dreams, it's all about hard work consistency. I like everything about the United States. The people, the States and cities are beautiful. I feel safe here. But what i like mostly about this country of the United States is the unlimited access to all kinds of opportunities and public education is my number one. I am a writer, an author of the books, 'African in America' and 'I must succeed'. I'm also a motivational speaker, business owner, fashion designer, African community leader, a teacher and coach, mental health counselor and lastly, and mentor. My main goal is to inspire others. Besides, I have a college degree in psychology and I work as a mental health counselor. My profession is helping me grow to become a strong leader in my community and help my family and people. It is also helping me work hard everyday, create opportunities and build positive environment in my community. Moreover, Many people in my community are going through so much stress and are overwhelmed by work. That is where I came in to help some of them. I tutor a lot of families to help students with school work. I teach them the coping skills that they need to manage their lives better. I also have the African in America movement where I am working hard to bring my people together through sports and education. The big difference between Kakuma life and USA is opportunities. In the USA, there are unlimited opportunities and education unlike in Kakuma where there is limited access to such opportunities. Nevertheless, in terms of missing Kakuma, I don't know if I am going to use the word missing because I do not miss Kakuma but I miss my people. I wanted to go back to Kakuma for vacation and to see if I can build a educational programs. I hope to visit Kakuma soon probably towards the end of 2021. I owe Kakuma education and I want to give back to my people and share my knowledge with them.
