Discover the story, vision, and people behind Story Matters Entertainment's mission to empower refugee and host-community youth through storytelling, arts, media, and sport.
Story Matters Entertainment (SME) is a registered Community-Based Organization established in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya. Founded in 2019 by two visionary refugee youth and officially launched in 2020, SME harnesses the transformative power of storytelling, performing arts, digital media, and sport to empower young people.
Today, SME is a youth-led organization comprising 18 active members — 15 refugee members representing diverse nationalities and 3 members from the host community — providing inclusive opportunities for youth, women, children, and other vulnerable groups to develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to society.
Recognizing that displacement often limits access to education, employment, creative expression, and leadership opportunities, SME utilizes arts, media, education, and sport as powerful tools for social transformation — nurturing talent, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating pathways toward sustainable livelihoods. We believe every story has the power to inspire hope, transform perceptions, and create lasting social impact.
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.
We uphold honesty, accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership.
We provide equal opportunities regardless of nationality, gender, disability, religion, or social background.
We embrace creativity and continuously develop innovative solutions to community challenges.
We are committed to delivering high-quality, professional, and impactful programmes.
We believe sustainable development is achieved through partnerships, teamwork, and community ownership.
We serve communities with empathy, dignity, respect, and humanity.
We enable individuals and communities to build confidence, develop skills, and create sustainable futures.
A youth-led team from Kakuma and Kalobeyei, leading the programmes they themselves helped design.
Coordinator & Media and Digital Storytelling Lead
Sports Lead
Performing Arts Lead
Two visionary refugee youth establish Story Matters Entertainment in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Story Matters Entertainment is officially launched as a registered Community-Based Organization.
Launched to support adolescent girls, young mothers, and vulnerable youth through education, mentorship, and protection.
Two signature initiatives launched — a comedy platform for youth talent, and a women's health and dignity programme.
Identify, nurture, and promote youth talents in performing arts, media, visual arts, and sports.
Equip young people with creative, digital, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills that enhance employability and sustainable livelihoods.
Promote positive refugee narratives through storytelling, digital media, and strategic communication.
Foster peaceful coexistence, intercultural dialogue, and social cohesion between refugees and host communities.
Promote gender equality, child protection, safeguarding, and women's empowerment.
Increase community awareness on SGBV, reproductive health, drug and substance abuse, crime prevention, and mental wellbeing.
Strengthen youth participation in community development through volunteerism, civic engagement, innovation, and meaningful entertainment.
Utilize sports as a platform for protection, peacebuilding, psychosocial support, behavior change, leadership development, and inclusion.