Every shilling powers sports, sustainability, and empowerment programs that transform lives across Africa.
Story Matters Entertainment (SME) is a registered Community-Based Organization established in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya — harnessing the transformative power of storytelling, performing arts, digital media, and sport to empower young people and strengthen community resilience.
Founded in 2019 by two visionary refugee youth and officially launched in 2020, SME is youth-led and comprises 18 active members — 15 refugees representing diverse nationalities and 3 from the host community — creating pathways for talent, protection, and peaceful coexistence.
Young people design, lead, and evaluate every SME programme themselves.
Media and digital storytelling that reshape narratives of refugee communities.
Rooted in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, built by and for the community it serves.
Comprehensive programs designed to uplift communities through sports, environmental action, and sustainable development.
Performing Arts
Safe spaces where young people build confidence, express themselves, and engage communities on important social issues through theatre, music, dance and comedy.
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Media
Equipping youth with modern communication skills while documenting positive refugee stories, achievements and community innovations.
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Protection
A flagship initiative supporting adolescent girls, young mothers and vulnerable youth through education, mentorship, health promotion and protection services.
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Creative Learning
Nurturing creativity among children through art as a tool for education, healing and awareness creation.
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Health
Promoting women's health, dignity and access to essential reproductive health information and referral services.
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Sports
Using sport as a powerful tool for social inclusion, safeguarding, peacebuilding, psychosocial support and youth leadership.
Learn MoreRegistered CBO
Founded 2019 · Launched 2020
Story Matters Entertainment is led day-to-day by a small, youth-led leadership team drawn from the very communities it serves — refugee and host-community youth who turned their own experience of displacement into a platform for storytelling, protection, and empowerment.
Founded in 2019 by two visionary refugee youth and officially launched in 2020, SME continues to be shaped by young leaders who design, run, and evaluate every programme themselves — proof that displacement does not limit vision or leadership.
An evening of stand-up comedy and creative entertainment giving Kakuma's young comedians a stage to …
A community sports league bringing refugee and host-community youth together on the pitch to build f…
A hands-on training in photography, videography, journalism and social media management for youth in…
A celebration of confidence, leadership and positive cultural engagement, promoting talent and commu…
Your generosity powers programs that transform communities, nurture talent, and build a more sustainable future through the universal language of sports.
News
SME's new comedy platform gave young performers their first real stage — and the community a reason to laugh together....
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News
Hundreds of young people took part in a sports festival celebrating child rights and protection across Kakuma and Kalobe...
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Report
A new cohort of young storytellers completed training in photography, videography, and social media management....
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To build inclusive, peaceful, and resilient communities where every refugee and vulnerable young person has the opportunity to realize their full potential through creativity, education, leadership, and sport.
To empower refugee and host-community youth through storytelling, performing arts, digital media, education, and sports by creating opportunities for learning, leadership, protection, economic empowerment, and community transformation.
"Every Story Matters. Every Voice Inspires. Every Talent Transforms Lives."