Since ORAM’s Digital Learning Center opened in October, there have already been two successful sessions of the Digital Freelance Training for LGBTIQ refugees in Nairobi. In both sessions, nearly half of the participants found and secured online jobs during the training period.
The goal of the Center, managed by Team No Sleep, an LGBTIQ refugee-led community-based organization, is to “improve self-reliance through online freelancing and digital skills training.” To achieve this goal, Team No Sleep and ORAM envisioned offering Social Media Marketing training for LGBTIQ refugees to help grow and expand their businesses or places of employment.
Together with Team No Sleep and a trainer at the Center, we developed a one-week Social Media Marketing training curriculum for 48 members of the LGBTIQ refugee community in Nairobi. Participants were encouraged to be interested in using social media platforms to grow their existing businesses and online work.
Pictured: Winfred Wangari (left), ORAM's East Africa Program Manager, and Steve Roth (right), ORAM's Executive Director, visiting ORAM's Digital Learning Center for LGBTIQ refugees in January 2023.
During the training, participants learned essential tools, tips, and technical skills to use social media marketing to help grow their businesses. ORAM recently connected with three Social Media Marketing trainees to hear about what skills they learned and how they hope to implement them for their businesses or services.
Dean (they/them) is a nonbinary refugee from Rwanda who operates an online business selling shoes and beaded jewelry, in addition to freelancing online job opportunities through platforms like Remotasks. Dean wanted to participate in social media marketing training to improve their skills to help their online business reach a larger audience.
“I appreciated that the [training] covered various topics, including creating engaging content, using analytics to track success, and building relationships with clients through social media,” they shared. One technical tool Dean was glad to pick up was Canva, an online platform for graphic design. “The skills I learned during the training will help me take my online business to the next level,” they said.
Kamau (he/him), a Ugandan refugee specializing in transcription and virtual assistance, was inspired by stories from people earning money marketing their services on social media platforms.
“It was eye-opening [to] realize you don’t have to have a degree or advanced equipment to market your services on social media,” he said. In addition to increasing visibility for his services, Kamau wants to utilize social media marketing to advocate for issues close to him. “I want to start creating ‘talk shows’ based around gender-based violence and the stigmatization of sexual minorities in Africa on YouTube,” he shared.
For a Ugandan refugee who would prefer to remain anonymous, the trainer who facilitated the training helped her quickly learn as many skills as possible.
“[The training] was so engaging, especially since the trainers went the extra mile to make sure we covered what was meant to be covered in such a short time,” she said. A critical piece of knowledge she mentioned learning was staying safe online. “[I look forward] to earning a living and improving my living standards,” she shared.
ORAM and Team No Sleep are excited to continue the success of the Social Media Marketing training and are looking forward to offering it to more LGBTIQ refugees throughout Kenya.
The Digital Learning Center's initiative has proven impactful for LGBTIQ refugees in Nairobi, offering valuable work from home jobs opportunities. With nearly half of the participants securing online jobs during the training, it highlights the power of flexible job opportunities. The Social Media Marketing training curriculum equips refugees with the skills needed to expand their businesses or secure online work. By focusing on digital skills, Team No Sleep and ORAM are empowering the community to achieve greater self-reliance through online freelancing.