From Kakuma to the World: Destin's Journey into Freelancing
In Kakuma Refugee Camp, electricity is not guaranteed, and neither is internet access. For Destin Buhulukiro, a 26-year-old Congolese refugee and father, these were not obstacles he could wait out—they were conditions he had to navigate every day as he worked toward a better future.
Destin’s journey with Humans in the Loop began long before he enrolled in the Profile to Gig in 15 Days course. In 2023, he joined Learning Lions with no prior digital skills, where he trained in graphic design, UI/UX, and branding.
Like many aspiring freelancers, Destin had created an Upwork account with hopes of finding clients, only to leave it untouched. He knew he had valuable skills but wasn’t sure how to present them or compete effectively in the global freelance marketplace. So when he discovered Profile to Gig in 15 Days through Humans in the Loop’s LinkedIn page, he recognized it as the opportunity to bridge that final gap.
The course transformed more than his profile, it changed the way he approached freelancing altogether. Through the training, Destin learned how to research opportunities, understand client needs, and tailor each proposal strategically. More importantly, he adopted a completely new mindset.
“You are the solution to the problem the client needs to solve.” That simple lesson reshaped how he viewed both himself and his work.
His Upwork profile, once a long list of everything he could do, became focused and intentional, built around a clear professional identity and aligned with the type of work he genuinely wants to pursue. Equipped with a stronger profile, better proposals, and a more strategic approach, Destin now applies for freelance opportunities with confidence and consistency, understanding that success comes not only from applying, but from positioning himself effectively in the marketplace.
When asked to summarize what the programme meant to him, his answer was immediate: “It is a job opportunity.”
For Destin, however, success has never been only about himself. He is already building Bethany Digital Agency, an initiative in Kakuma Refugee Camp that aims to create digital work opportunities for other refugee youth by connecting them with the same kinds of training and online employment pathways that transformed his own life. He regularly encourages others in his community to pursue digital skills and freelancing, sharing both the opportunities he has discovered and the lessons he has learned along the way.
Reflecting on Humans in the Loop’s role in his journey, he says: “They train us; they show us an opportunity; and they make sure we get that opportunity.”
