Art crossing borders. A single canvas sparked a movement bringing materials, workshops, and dignity to refugee artists at Kakuma Camp.
One Painting, One Conversation
Boat the painting that started all of this led Tara Dominick and Hubert into a conversation about the existence of art in the Kakuma Refugee Camp. What followed was the founding of the Kakuma Art Project (KAP).
Once committed to the project, it was as if everything started to align. Tara initially offered two hours a week, but the project now occupies three or four days of her week and her thoughts constantly.
From conception, Tara sold 10 limited edition signed prints of Boat to fund Phase 1 getting paints, brushes, palette knives, paper, charcoal, and canvasses into the camp.
Bob Brimson, one of the first believers in the project, coined the phrase that became the project’s tagline “the power of one painting” capturing the spirit of how a single artwork catalysed an entire movement.
The project provides artists at the camp with education, visibility, and opportunity, supported by a continuing series of workshops run through the Generation Aid Centre in Kakuma Camp.
Mwangi, a 52-year-old artist living at the Kakuma Camp, creates beautiful images of his homeland. Yet for years he was limited by resources no canvas, no paint, no brushes.
His passion to paint meant salvaging old t-shirts from the dump, washing them, and coating them with glue to create a makeshift canvas. His ingenuity and passion moved Tara deeply when she first saw his work.
His work has given the root of the program and now well recognised.
Many refugees in Kakuma come from rich cultural backgrounds with strong artistic traditions in beading, weaving, tailoring, and wood carving. However, limited market access prevents them from turning these skills into sustainable businesses. To address this, Generation Aid established the Refugee Artisan & Handicraft Cooperative, a platform that supports refugee artisans in producing and selling their handmade products to both local and international markets.
This initiative provides specialized training in various handicrafts, helping artisans improve product quality, develop unique designs, and scale their production. It also connects them with buyers, NGOs, and online marketplaces where they can showcase and sell their work. Through storytelling and branding workshops, artisans learn how to share their journey and cultural heritage, making their products more valuable in global markets.
To further support artisans, Generation Aid is developing a cooperative model, allowing artisans to pool resources, access small business loans, and collectively invest in materials and equipment. This ensures that even those with limited financial means can participate and grow their businesses.
The Refugee Artisan & Handicraft Cooperative not only preserves cultural heritage but also creates sustainable jobs and economic opportunities for artisans, particularly women and youth. By giving them a platform to monetize their skills, this initiative empowers refugees to build independent and dignified livelihoods beyond humanitarian aid.
The The First ever Art Gallery has been built becoming a beacon of hope, a place for refugees to express themselves, to inspire one another, and to stand proud alongside each other as they move forward with their lives.
KAP is run by Tara Dominick, a fine artist from Devon, together with Hubert Senga and Generation Aid who manage delivery of the art programmes on the ground in Kakuma.
Through running Art worshops Generation Aid is eble to learn the real challenges the community is facing and how come up with a community based solutions.
Through running workshops the refugees community in Kakuma come togeter and advocate for the peace and unity and talents among refugees. this is unique program to give a platform to refugees to be able to provide and show what’s hiden in their cultures that can be important to other to learn.
Expression & Identity
A safe space where refugee artists can give form to memories of home, stories of journey, and visions of tomorrow.
Solar-Powered Gallery
Solar panels will ensure there’s always light to see the artwork making the gallery viable and sustainable long-term.
Community & Solidarity
Artists stand alongside one another, building pride and connection within a community that has lost so much.
Global Visibility
Through exhibitions like the one in Wiltshire, refugee stories reach new audiences bridging worlds through art.
Ths Gallery in inclusive to promote creativity among refugees
