Master of Social Work (MSW) student Nicole Baldonado and recent graduate Anna Gwiazda ’21, ’26M presented at the sixth annual Ecological Justice and Social Work Symposium, hosted by Adelphi University and the Institute for Social Work and Ecological Justice (ISWEJ).
The virtual event focused on the theme, “World Transformation Fatigue: Social Work and Ecosocially Just Futures,” and featured Baldonado and Gwiazda’s presentation, together with colleagues from Kenya, “Building Livelihoods Within Fragile Ecosystems: Economic Empowerment in Kakuma.” Their work examined the economic and environmental challenges facing refugees in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp.
“As macro social work students with global humanitarian experience, our Social Innovations class equipped us with practical, timely skills for social work in a turbulent humanitarian sector. Through excellent readings, challenging assignments, and informative guidance from faculty, we developed critical skills of deep listening, cultural humility, and co-creation with populations most affected by the economic crisis we focused on,” Baldonado and Gwiazda said.
The researchers also discussed their collaboration with The Discover, a community-based, nonprofit, refugee-led organization in Kakuma, and its co-founders Seth Mugenyi and Joseph Nduwimana. Together, they developed the Discover Economic Empowerment Program (DEEP), which promotes economic mobility by providing refugee entrepreneurs with financial literacy training and access to a community savings and loan program.
DEEP’s innovative model aims to contribute to economic growth, poverty-reduction, and opportunities for decent work in Kakuma, creating steppingstones toward thriving and well-being. Through seed funding and member investments during the DEEP pilot, 30 refugee entrepreneurs will develop financial skills, gain access to credit for business ventures, and strengthen their self-sufficiency in a turbulent market.
“Nicole and Anna exemplify the ethos of the School of Social Work’s commitment to practicing human rights-based social work. Working transnationally—from the U.S. to Poland to Kenya—they utilized their community practice experience and knowledge from the program to develop a social innovation in partnership with Discover,” Professor and Interim Director of the Doctor of Social Work Program Anne Deepak said.
Baldonado and Gwiazda added, “We would like to recognize and thank Seth Mugenyi, Joseph Nduwimana, and The Discover staff for their committed perseverance as they live and work in Kakuma, amidst extreme humanitarian crises. Their dedication to develop self-reliance among refugees is remarkable, and a tribute to the resilience of refugees worldwide … We feel honored to work alongside our Discover partners and grateful to Monmouth MSW program for supporting our journey from class to global work in reality.”
ISWEJ strives to advance social work’s ethical obligation to address social justice, and racial and gender equity while mitigating impacts of climate change. The symposium serves as a space to reconnect with purpose and cultivate care, connection, and collective resilience on the path toward more just and livable ecosocial futures.