At the beginning, there was real concern as to whether it would be possible to achieve the learning outcomes and publication outputs, especially because of the relative low qualification entry of the mentees. My experience as a university lecturer has taught me that early career researchers – especially graduate students at masters and even PhD level often struggle to publish their research results. But here was a case where almost all mentees lacked a university degree. A few had enrolled in undergraduate programmes and other online courses, but most were generally not conversant with research dynamics – having just completed their secondary level education. This concern proved irrelevant in the end given that two out my three mentees ended up publishing high quality papers from the research they conducted inside the camps.

The RCoP training really changed how I see myself in this work. Before, I felt like just someone from the community trying to do something small but through the training, I learned how to shape our lived experiences into research that can be heard and respected. It gave me confidence and practical tools that I’m now using in my ethnographic research with Aspire Institute, where I’m focusing on how young South Sudanese refugees are working for peace in Kakuma and Kalobeyei.The RCoP training also helped me grow as a writer. With that foundation, I submitted a proposal to Forced Migration Review, and I’ve now been invited to write a full article titled Coping with Climate Uncertainty: Refugee Choices in Kakuma and Kalobeyei Settlements.

RCoP training has had an important impact on my professional development through enriching learning experiences, which guided me in the process of my application for a Masters Scholarship at the University of Turino, Italy, from the first stage to the final interview because I was told to submit the research proposal. One of the impacts was on how to analyze academic literature, which is really still relevant in my academic work, which has really supported my career progression in international cooperation, where I am always required to write two papers in every semester. I also gained knowledge and skills in coming up with researchable topics and developed a proposal, which is very important as part of my academic culture at the university of Turin. The training emphasized literature reviews in most of the discussion, and today all the general knowledge and skills obtained during training have really helped me to strengthen my overall academic and my professional competence.

The RCoP training has profoundly influenced my professional development by equipping me with essential skills in research methodologies and data analysis. Completing the course enabled me to write my first independent report, significantly boosting my confidence and igniting my passion for research. The insights gained have allowed me to produce similar work subsequently, enhancing my ability to contribute meaningfully to projects and discussions in my field. This training has been a pivotal step in my career, fostering my analytical skills and positioning me as a more effective researcher and collaborator within my team.

The training enhanced my understanding of research methodologies and techniques in a big way, in the sense that it created a deep engagement with research methodologies and approaches. Soon after the RCoP training, I applied for another research project funded by the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) focusing on China-Africa relations, and my research product was highly commended by the experts. This year, I won the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to pursue a Masters in Geopolitics & International Affairs, at the University of Sussex, UK. I can’t wait to apply what I learnt from RCoP to my graduate studies.