At Life By Music, we’ve seen firsthand how music can transform a young person’s confidence, creativity, and sense of belonging. But the power of music isn’t limited to classrooms or studios, it reaches across borders, languages, and circumstances. And right now, that power is making a meaningful impact in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwest Kenya.
Kakuma is home to nearly 200,000 refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Burundi, and beyond. Many of them are children and teenagers who have spent most of their lives there. Daily life is shaped by overcrowded schools, limited resources, and scarce opportunities for creative expression. Yet, despite these challenges, the camp is full of resilience, bright curiosity, and young people eager to learn.
One of those young leaders is Samuel Asongo, a musician who grew up in Kakuma. Over the past few years, Samuel has been building something extraordinary: a small but growing music education program inside the camp. With only a handful of instruments and endless determination, he has been teaching children and adults how to play, sing, and create together.
Students show up with excitement, sometimes practicing for hours under the shade of nearby trees. For many of them, music offers more than just a fun hobby, it provides emotional support, community, and a rare chance to imagine a future filled with possibility.
When Samuel reached out to Life By Music for support earlier this year, we immediately felt aligned with his mission. His work echoes everything we believe in: that learning an instrument can change a life, and that everyone, no matter where they are, deserves access to the tools that make that possible.
Why Instruments Matter in Kakuma
In Kakuma, instruments are incredibly hard to come by. Families often arrive in the camp with little more than necessities. Funding for arts education is minimal, and replacement parts or repairs are nearly impossible to access. Still, the desire to learn is huge. Students borrow the same acoustic guitar, share one keyboard between a full class, or gather to sing when there are no instruments to practice on.
By providing reliable instruments, we’re not just giving them tools, we’re giving them space to dream, grow, and express themselves.
Our Fundraiser for Kakuma’s Music Program
To support Samuel and his students, Life By Music is launching a dedicated Instrument Donation & Fundraising Campaign.
We’re raising funds to purchase additional instruments, repair gear, and provide solar panels and batteries that allow the music program to function consistently. Many parts of Kakuma experience limited electricity access, and power is essential for keyboards, sound systems, and recording equipment.
How You Can Help
Give a Monetary Donation
All donations through our PayPal/Ko-fi link will go directly toward purchasing new instruments, accessories, and power equipment, as well as covering any shipping costs.
Every guitar string, drumstick, and keyboard key moves this program forward.
Why This Matters
For many young people in Kakuma, music is not just a pastime, it’s a source of joy, a way to cope, and a window into opportunity. It builds confidence, community, and emotional resilience in a place where stability can be hard to find.
We’re honored to stand beside Samuel as he grows this music school from the ground up. With your help, we can ensure that every student who wants to learn has an instrument in their hands.
Music brings hope everywhere it goes and together, we can bring that hope to Kakuma.