Who we are

A community of mathematics teachers, students, and education advocates in Kakuma/Kalobeyei, Kenya, united by a shared belief: that every refugee and displaced learner deserves a platform to discover what they are capable of.

The AHEEN Math Olympiad is a structured, multi-level mathematics competition and academic enrichment programme designed to strengthen secondary school retention, develop problem-solving confidence, and create clear pathways from secondary education to higher learning for refugee and displaced learners, with a particular commitment to girls in STEM.

What we do

We bring secondary school students and their mathematics teachers together around a shared goal: to go further in mathematics than they ever thought possible. Through weekly practice sessions, structured teacher training, and a progressive competition model, we build the kind of analytical thinking and academic confidence that keeps students in school and opens doors to what comes after.

But the Olympiad is more than a competition. It is a community built on the principles of belonging. One that begins the moment a student first walks into a maths club session and does not end when the trophies are handed out. We follow our students from the classroom, through the competition, into their national exams, and onward to higher education and the world of work.

In our first edition in 2026, 148 students from 6 secondary schools in Kakuma completed the full programme, from their first training session in January through to the Final Olympiad in June with a 74% improvement in their performance. Every school was represented on the day that mattered most.

The programme is not just about who wins. It is about what happens to every student who participates. The ones who discover they are better at mathematics than they thought, the ones who stay in school because they have something to work towards and a team they belong to, and the ones who, for the first time, see a path from where they are to somewhere they want to go and know they are supported.

How we do it

The Math Olympiad follows a three-phase model that balances preparation, competition, and community:

Prepare

Weekly mathematics clubs run at each participating school, led by focal mathematics teachers supported by AHEEN-developed materials, practice questions, and training. Nutrition support is provided at every session to ensure students can focus.

Compete

Two structured competition rounds, a school-level round and a Final Olympiad event allow students to demonstrate their skills in a fair, supervised setting. Competitions are hosted at partner schools within the camp to keep participation accessible.

Recognise and retain

Every participating student receives a Certificate of Participation, learning materials, and recognition that travels back into their schools and communities. Teachers are recognised too. The programme communicates clearly to students, their families, and their schools: staying in school is worth it.

Why mathematics

Mathematics is a gateway to problem-solving, to higher education, to careers in science, technology, engineering, finance, etc. In refugee and displaced contexts, where dropout rates are high and pathways to tertiary education are narrow, a strong mathematical foundation is one of the most powerful tools a young person can carry.

The Math Olympiad is designed to change how students and their communities see mathematics. Not as a subject to be endured, but as a skill to be proud of.

Our 2026 results

Kakuma, Kenya: January to June 2026

What comes next

The Math Olympiad is now an established AHEEN model.
We understand that the most important moment in a student's education is not the one where they win a prize, but whenever they decide to stay or drop. Our work is designed around that reality.

For students finishing secondary school, the Olympiad is a bridge. Through AHEEN, graduates are supported into accredited higher education courses, TVET pathways, and connections to the world of decent work.

For students still in school, the Olympiad is a reason to stay. Younger cohorts carry the skills and relationships built during the programme forward into the next year, mentoring the next generation of participants and continuing their own academic development.

We are developing the 2027 cycle with expanded school participation, a dedicated girls' STEM track, digital skills integration, and a formal teacher certification pathway. The goal is not just a better competition. It is a stronger, more connected community one that walks with its students all the way from a maths club in Kakuma to a career they chose for themselves.