Elimisha Kakuma
Deirdre Hand is currently serving as a Community Engagement Specialist for the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies and the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech since February 2023. In addition to this role, Deirdre has been the Academic Director for Elimisha Kakuma since March 2021. Previous experience includes positions as an English Second Language Instructor at the Galway Cultural Institute (February 2022 - February 2023) and as an English Second Language Teacher with the District of Columbia Public Schools from August 2020 to January 2022. Deirdre also held the role of English Department Coordinator at Education for the Children Foundation in Guatemala from January 2019 to July 2020, overseeing curriculum development and reporting data for bilingual and ESL classes. Prior teaching roles include Lead Teacher at Bridge2Rwanda and Teaching and Research Instructor at Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute. Deirdre’s background also includes serving as an ESL Teacher with DCPS and an English Language Fellow with the U.S. Department of State. Deirdre holds a Master's of Education in TESOL and a Bachelor of Arts in History, both from Virginia Tech.
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Elimisha Kakuma
Elimisha Kakuma ("Educate Kakuma" in Swahili) is an intensive university-preparatory program designed to provide opportunities for high school graduates in Kakuma Refugee Camp. The program helps students prepare for university-level content and apply for university scholarships, thereby making higher education accessible. Founded by Kakuma's own, Elimisha believes that when students are provided with access to higher education, they are more likely to create a larger impact by empowering families and changing communities for the better.