KISOM

This is the campus of the Kakuma Interdenominational School of Mission (KISOM) in Kakuma, Kenya.

Refugees founded KISOM in 1997 in response to the need to train Christian leaders. The teachers are from the refugee and surrounding host community.

For many years, the school met in refugee primary schools after classes were out. Naturally they dreamt and prayed for a place of their own one day.

IAFR has had the privilege of participating with God in God's answer to their prayers. First, we helped them buy land just outside of the camp so it truly belongs to them, even if the camp closes down some day.

We then helped them build the KISOM meeting hall (right side of photo), two offices, a latrine, a guard house, and a fence around the parameter. The building was powered by solar energy. That was completed in 2019.

We are thankful we were able to complete building 3 classrooms in September this year (2022). They were also able to add an elevated water tank and solar pump to fill it from the cistern (that is filled with rain water by the building gutters). We were also able to help the campus get connected to Kenya Power grid to help bridge gaps when solar fails.

We are meeting for theological training in one of the classrooms as I write.

KISOM offers a 1 year certificate program and a 3 year diploma.

We are also consulting with them as they develop their own curriculum. We believe it is important for them to develop a program that is informed by their experience with God as refugees and diverse African backgrounds.

KISOM still needs a kitchen (a space dedicated for preparing food during gatherings) and a library (a quiet space with study resources) before IAFR's part in the building project is complete.