From Kakuma to the world: refugee athletes' journey of hope at the WU20 Lima 24

“In life, nothing is easy, but you have to keep trying to overcome it,” said James Lomoi Lochauluka after competing in the 400m at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24.

A few years ago, Lochauluka could never have imagined competing against the best athletes of his generation, much less accessing a quality education programme or seeing the Pacific Ocean with two of his close friends from Kakuma, a refugee camp in northern Kenya housing 240,000 people.

Originally from South Sudan, Lochauluka (19), Lokoro Dario (18) and Zinad Joseph (17) were part of the Athlete Refugee Team, an initiative of World Athletics. But beyond being teammates, they were friends who supported one another throughout their adventure in Peru’s capital.

The experience in Lima wasn’t just about improving their personal bests, which all three did, but also about sharing a human experience with other athletes, exploring the city, and witnessing the ocean for the first time in their lives.

“It’s so big! Is that a ship over there?” Lochauluka asked in awe, gazing from the cliffs at surfers who looked like tiny dots. “What are they doing? Is that surfing? Oh yes, I’ve seen that in movies,” he added.

Throughout their journey in Lima, they often held hands when they were impressed by something or when they feared one of them might get lost in the big city. Their bond had grown through hours of training together before and after their classes in Kakuma.

The team had two coaches: Arcade Arakaza from Burundi, who also resides in the Kakuma camp, and Kenyan 2007 world champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei, who joined this mission to pass on her invaluable experience.

Arakaza, 40, eagerly captured the visit on his mobile phone, where he also kept all the stats for his athletes. “Look at this! Thirty seconds faster than in Kakuma. This is incredible progress!” he exclaimed with a bright smile. Reflecting on his own journey since fleeing Burundi, he added: “After so many years on the move, I’ve learned to appreciate the present and not worry too much about what’s next.”

Accompanying them on their tour of Lima were Alice Annibali, World Athletics’ Community Relations & Public Affairs Senior Manager; representatives from the UNHCR; Barbara Moser Mercer, coordinator of the African Higher Education in Emergencies Network; and two journalists from the World Athletics Media Development Programme.

Their first stop was the Gran Hotel Bolivar, a national monument located on Plaza San Martin, once frequented by famous guests like Ernest Hemingway and Charles de Gaulle. Lochauluka was excited to recognise the Amazon River on an old map of Peru, a topic he had studied in class. A 1930s Ford T also caught their attention.

While exploring Lima’s historic centre, and after trying churros for the first time, they marvelled at the intricate 1600s balconies and visited the San Francisco Convent and Catacombs Museum, where they learned about the intersections of religion, art, commerce, and the afterlife during colonial times.

After a lunch tasting some of Peru’s diverse dishes, their next destination was the Parque del Amor, situated on the cliffs of Costa Verde, offering an unforgettable view of the ocean.

Throughout the journey, the young athletes showed an eagerness to learn a few words in Spanish, pronouncing ‘gracias’ almost perfectly. They also practised their English, particularly when conversing with fellow athletes.

“It’s really hot where we come from, and it’s challenging for us to train three times a day. We only get mornings and evenings to train. We spoke about this with runners from Jamaica and Australia. It was very interesting,” said Lochauluka, a big Manchester United football fan.

The next day, they met with local children and other refugees at the sports complex Complejo Deportivo N°1 in Chorrillos, where they were greeted with “karibu”, Swahili for “welcome”. In coordination with the Peruvian Athletics Federation, many local children – including some Venezuelan refugees hosted in the country – participated in fun activities that emphasised the value of resilience.

Combining sport and education to save lives

The collaboration between World Athletics, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the African Higher Education in Emergencies Network (AHEEN) enabled Joseph, Lochauluka and Dario, along with their coach Arakaza, to compete at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima after a three-year journey.

Annibali, Senior Manager of Athletics for a Better World, elaborated on the connection between UNHCR’s Refugee Programme and World Athletics: “Sport serves as a pathway for refugees to find meaning, belonging and hope, offering them opportunities like scholarships. We all know that sport has the power to heal. Through our programme, we also provide education, so even if the athletes don’t win medals, they can become PE teachers, coaches, or pursue other opportunities that offer hope.

“This event in Lima is the first we’ve held for the U20 team under our programme. The coaches have been trained by World Athletics, and I believe it has helped the athletes realise the vast opportunities available to them. This experience also contributes to healing scars, restoring dignity, and helping them feel like human beings,” she added.

Annibali hopes other sports will join World Athletics in providing opportunities for refugees: “It’s tough for refugees to compete. Sometimes, even if they win, they aren’t allowed on the podium. But now, members of the World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team (ART) know they are part of a “country”, just like any other team. We’ve given them a country to represent, and we’ll always support them whenever possible.”

Laura Almirall, UNHCR representative in Peru, echoed these sentiments. “For years, UNHCR has supported sport initiatives because we’ve seen its positive effects on physical and mental health,” she said. “Sport also fosters friendships and breaks down stigmas. Globally, we’ve seen that while it’s difficult to address issues like racism and xenophobia directly, sport brings together people from different nationalities, fostering teamwork and companionship.”

Mercer-Moser, coordinator of the AHEEN Refugee and Displaced Persons Pathway, explained: “Education is critical for athletes. To become a great athlete, you need to further your education. In this programme, these athletes attend refugee schools in the morning and train on a nearby track. They also receive nutrition support, and after school they have household responsibilities. On Saturdays, they attend a learning centre for online classes covering English, science and geography, with gym sessions beforehand to build strength and flexibility.”

Athletics is not just about running, jumping or throwing – it’s about so much more. The experience in Lima proves the transformative spirit of sport.

Vanessa Galvan (Venezuela) and Rodrigo D’Angelo (Argentina) of the Media Development Programme for World Athletics