Child Finds Hope Studying by Lamplight

Quick Smiles:

• Kenyan refugee photographer captures resilience in challenging settings
• A child learning by lamplight symbolizes hope and safety
• Community art inspires children to share their stories

In Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, a powerful photograph shows a child deeply focused on studying, lit only by the glow of a small oil lamp.

The backdrop may be humble—corrugated tin walls and weathered books—but determination to learn shines brightly amid adversity.

Dennis Taban Okeny, who both lives in the camp and took the photo, believes safety goes beyond physical protection to include belonging, emotional wellbeing, and the courage to dream.

“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.

Through his organization, Fly Bring Smile, Okeny encourages refugee children to express their journeys through art, capturing humanity and hope in each story.

The photograph was part of a global project that asked young people, “What does safe mean to you?” and highlighted how children persevere with optimism in uncertain circumstances.

Okeny’s vision is clear.

“We are more than just refugees; we are survivors, dreamers, and fighters,” says Okeny.

His work serves as a reminder to the world that every child deserves a life free from fear, violence, and loss, and calls us to support their dreams for a brighter tomorrow.

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