I am a 20 years old young man from Ethiopia. I originally come from South Sudan but currently residing in Kenya. I am a very optimistic person in life and I believe being a refugee does not limit me to anything –  I still have the power to create the best version of myself.

I am an energetic, committed, self-driven, determined, hard-working, and enthusiastic young man who can never disappoint when given an opportunity. Try me for a week and witness that yourself!

I use social networks to advocate and create more awareness about refugees. I would like to change the perceptions of the world about refugees and shape the narratives around the Refugee Crisis. Refugees have many skills and talents and if they are permitted to work, run businesses or participate in other ways, they can contribute economically and culturally to the host communities and the world in general.

I am passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals as a key to transform our world. I championed Global Goal Four – Quality Education. Education enables refugees to secure a more hopeful and better future, not only for themselves but also for their communities.

My area of expertise and experience keeps growing every day. I have a burning desire to further my studies. I would like to proceed to a university and study International Relations/Journalism. I want to be a voice to the voiceless. I will use my voice to call the world attention to the people at a great distance from the real world, people the world know little about, people who are suffering and dying in silence, people who need humanitarian assistance, people who need our love, compassion, generosity, and solidarity. I want to be an active Global Citizen working towards creating a more just, peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, secure, and sustainable.

My Portfolio of Projects

Personal Information

Bahana Hydrogene is a youth advocate with Strong commitment to innovative approaches to education and livelihood opportunities for the underserved population, girl’s empowerment and leadership.

Champion of the SDG4, he is the founder/ CEO at Solidarity Initiative for Refugees, a community based organization that help and mentor young refugees through provision of skills in ICT, web technologies and app development. He is also an IT coach at Instant Network Schools, a joint program run by UNHCR and Vodafone foundation supporting teachers and students integrate ICT into teaching and learning process. He strongly believes in the power of Technology to enhance quality Education and boost youth Empowerment and Employment to attain the sustainable development.

My Portfolio of Projects

I am currently taking a Diploma in Liberal studies at Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) and work at IRC as a GBV Community Worker. And also previously worked as a facilitator in schools of a project, My Health, My Choice aimed at creating awareness HIV/AIDS for the teenagers in schools which skilled them about how to be responsible and protect their lives.

I was born in Somalia in 1995 and my parents decided to migrate to Kenya due to the civil wars in Somalia in 1996, I am raised here in the refugee camp of Kakuma, where I got education right from kindergarten.

Experiences I have been working as a Somali Interpreter with the International Organization of Migration in the year 2016 and received a certificate, also worked with International Rescue Committee in creating awareness among the teenagers in school where I received a certificate and currently working as a Gender-Based Violence community worker in spreading the word in violence against women and girls.

I want to change the perceptions of the world about refugees and shape the narratives around the Refugee Crisis. I would like the world to see refugees as people they can collaborate and work together with to achieve common goals, not only as victims of violence and war.

My Portfolio of Projects

I am 23 years old, a refugee originally from South Sudan. I use social media networks to increase awareness of health issues on a global context for the everyday activity, I want to do humanitarian assistance service because I am passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals as a key to transforming the world, and I’ve successfully done Global Health with collaboration with Inzone and the University of Geneva.I’m currently doing research projects for Inzone on Biomass Grinders on charcoal production and on Malaria project.

I aspire to become a photographer. Photography will allow me to embrace and practice environmental portraiture, nature, and landscape. I want my subjects to create not only a likeness of people’s faces but to capture a sense of their inner being, and to be an artist capable of beautifully arranged still life, soulful portraits and moving landscape. 

My Portfolio of Projects

I am originally from Congo and am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Southern New Hampshire University in Business Communication and has a diploma in Business Administration from Regis University. I have also completed Film Production Training and am a Co-founder and Chairperson of the Refugee Artists and Authors (RAA) initiative in Kakuma. I also worked as a Communication Coordinator at Jesuit World Learning Kakuma.

I am also currently working on a research project around children’s rights and customary laws with the University of Geneva in the camp. I am the CEO of a youth organization called Refugee Artists and Authors (RAA) which aims at the promotion of talented youth in Kakuma Refugee Camp. I believe in the power of the story and how people use their talent to tell their stories.

Women and young girls being at risk of violence and discrimination in refugee camp settings due to the lack of energy for both cooking and lighting is my motivation to advocate on their behalf. I support organizations that focus on providing energy access to those who are looking in fragile contexts with the object of increasing security, decreasing inequality, and boosting the economy for both displaced communities as well as the hosting country. 💡

At Stepup.One, for the last 2 years, I have followed a step-by-step approach to deliver real business impact regardless of the size of their business or the audacity of their hope. 🌱