Between community development and humanitarian communication in protracted encampment: young refugees, aid agencies, and Facebook

This article sheds light on how Facebook is used by young refugees through data collected in Kakuma camp: insights on the reasons and purpose of its use, in particular, are presented. Through the discussion, the paper provides an understanding of how humanitarian organisations are making use of this platform to exchange information with the youth in contexts of protracted encampment. Findings from 17 semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 to 29 year olds living in Kakuma, Kenya, not only reveal why young refugees access Facebook; they also elucidate how this social media platform is utilised by humanitarian actors to pass on important messages to the youth in the camp. Ultimately, the findings presented are useful for humanitarian organisations to re-shape current online communication models and connect meaningfully with young refugees, both to convey critical information and to support community development in the camp.