Learning By Lamplight, Against The Odds: Photo Depicts ‘Safety’ For Child Refugee

What does safety mean when home is a refugee camp? A Kenyan refugee photographer captures a child who is learning, dreaming and hoping, despite fear

Sprawled on a mattress, a child studies by the light of a dusty oil lamp in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp.

The dog-eared books, corrugated tin walls and flickering flame suggest a fragile existence. Yet despite scraping by in makeshift homes cobbled together from tarpaulin and sheet metal, children display a remarkable determination to learn.

To photographer Dennis Taban Okeny – himself a resident of the camp – his image symbolises safety and resilience in the face of the most challenging conditions.

“In my community, safety is not just physical security: it encompasses emotional wellbeing, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to dream without fear,” he says. 

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Besides being a dab hand behind the lens, Okeny has founded a refugee-led art organisation, Fly Bring Smile, encouraging children to express their stories through artwork.

He captured this image for a global photography project devised by youth agency Restless Development, which posed the question: ‘What does safe mean to you?’

Organised as part of the World Health Organization’s campaign to end violence against children, the resulting 10 photo essays bring to life remarkable stories of vulnerability and hope.

“We are more than just refugees; we are survivors, dreamers, and fighters,” says Okeny. “Through my pictures, I hope to shed light on the humanity that unites us all, reminding viewers that in the face of adversity, love and hope can still thrive.

“I want these images to be a powerful call for global action, showing the world why every child deserves a life free from violence, fear, and loss.”

Main image: Dennis Taban Okeny