In Solidarity With Refugees

Dear Heshima Supporter,

At Heshima Kenya, we stand alongside the most vulnerable. Since our founding in 2008, we have provided a lifeline for thousands of refugee girls and their children who would otherwise be alone.  

Recent xenophobic policies enacted in the United States have affected thousands of refugees' lives–those who have no option to return to their homes, those who are in danger of violence and exploitation, those who now have even fewer opportunities for a safe and happy future.

Despite recent court rulings, it is clear that the current administration is determined to restrict citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen from entering the United States, and has halted admission of all refugees to our country. 

More than 30% of Heshima girls are from Somalia and Sudan. Dozens of girls in Heshima Kenya's programs are at various phases in the resettlement process. Of the refugee girls we serve, 25% are resettled–an impressive number given the global average for refugee resettlement is less than 1%. We fight relentlessly for our girls’ futures and will continue to do so, but we can’t do it alone.

Heshima Kenya is dedicated, now more than ever, to our one-of-a-kind holistic approach to meeting the full spectrum of refugee girls needs. Through our safe shelter, specialized education programs, and social enterprise, we are the only NGO to provide long-term solutions for the myriad of challenges facing refugee girls. Our team will continue to ensure that every Heshima girl knows that she has the opportunity–regardless of her country of origin or religious beliefs–to fulfill her potential. 

In light of this, we are asking for your help to support refugees and our lifesaving work. So, at this time of urgency, what can you do to take action?

1. Make a gift or launch your own Heshima fundraiser: Appeal to your friends and family, too. A gift of any amount is urgently needed, and appreciated. 

2. Shop Maisha: Support refugee artisans and ask friends and family to, as well. 

3. Stay tuned and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

4. Sign up for our monthly newsletter below to stay up to date on Heshima’s work.

Thank you for your continued support and action.

In solidarity and love, 

Alisa Roadcup

Executive Director, Heshima Kenya

A Day at Lake Naivasha

“To be called a refugee is not an insult; it is a badge of strength, courage, and victory.”

-Tennessee Office for Refugees

My role with Heshima Kenya as Grants Manager is to both capture the strengths, challenges and data of the organization, as well as capture the moments, stories and genuine impact of our programming on the girls and young women through writing. This is my first trip to our campus in Nairobi, Kenya. After spending two weeks here getting to know the wonderful, hard-working staff, sitting and talking to the girls who are part of the programming, and spending time on our beautiful campus, I know I will never truly be able to fully capture the resilience and restored hope of our little corner of the world in Nairobi.

During our two-week stay here, we were lucky enough to attend a field trip to the nearby Lake Naivasha with the girls that are part of the Girls’ Empowerment Project (GEP) and the Safe House. Many of the girls said it was the best day of their lives. They were so happy to have a field trip outside of the Safe House and outside of the GEP.  Their energy and happiness were so contagious. After everything that these girls and young women have experienced and gone through, to have a day like was the perfect way to decompress and just be themselves. It was also the best day of the trip for me because witnessing the girls’ happiness and free-spirit in person reassured me that the hard work that we put in each day to better our programming and include more girls is all sincerely worth it.

I sat next to 17-year old Esperance from the Congo on the bus ride there. Her English was very good and we talked about the different sights we saw along the way, what she liked to study in school the most, and the fact that she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. She spoke softly, but with a sense of confidence and unparalleled optimism that she would achieve her dreams one day. I told her that I was originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and that I, too, had been a former refugee but was now living as a citizen in the United States. I saw myself in her eyes – the hope and yearning for something better is the very same search that I went through when I was younger. I asked her about how she felt being a part of the Safe House and going to classes at the GEP. She said that the Safe House provided her with a sense of safety that she has never felt in her life so far, and that the ability to go to school here and make friends and learn at the same time is something she cannot thank God enough for.

Every refugee may come from a different country and have a different story, but just as I connected with Esperance because our stories are very similar, we are all connected by our hope and dreams for a peaceful future and better world. Nairobi has forever changed me and I feel now, more so than I ever have, the push and motivation to continue to advocate for our girls’ rights and create better opportunities for them to live a happy and normal life, just as I am blessed to have after my days as a refugee. 

– Azra Husejnovic, Grant Manager for Heshima Kenya

Communicating Beyond Language

This post was written by Alexandra Corazza, Founder of Finding Roots & Wings. Finding Roots & Wings is a multimedia storytelling project, facilitating communication with and between refugee women as they seek to rebuild their lives. FRW focuses on stories of hope and seeks to hold up a mirror, showing women their strengths and resilience. Workshops are designed to not only share ideas and skills of multimedia promotion and storytelling, but also to find a way to facilitate communication, to process experiences beyond language and beyond cultural barriers. Holistic healing through storytelling.

I first met Furaha on a cloudy morning--winter-in-July in Nairobi. I had been given a bit of background about all the young women and girls from Heshima Kenya that would be joining my workshops. But, what I learned about Furaha stood out to me. She had lost her hearing not too long ago from loud explosions caused by war and violence in her home country, Burundi. I was told that she was able to communicate in English through writing, which she learned, thanks to the gentle folks at Heshima. I was also told that she spent most of her free time off on her own—finding it difficult to join in on casual conversations with friends.

Furah modeling the newest Maisha Collective designs. 

I got to work, writing out the lesson plans with as much detail as possible on slips of paper that I would give to Furaha each day before class. She would respond in writing with any questions or an “OK” and a smile! Then, the cameras came out. There were two cameras that the class could share for the assignments each day. When Furaha got her turn, it was like the shades were lifted and the world was in color again. It was hard for her to give up that camera. She would come running over to me, showing me shots she had taken. And her photos are good—she is a talented photographer and storyteller. She found a way to communicate with me beyond language and cultural barriers.

Our final video project.

I have since left Kenya, but Furaha and I are still communicating regularly through social media messages and photos.  She is working as a seamstress with the Maisha Collective and hopes to find a way forward when her time with Maisha comes to a close. And so, the collaboration with Heshima Kenya continues. FRW is launching a cellphone collection and fundraising campaign to return to Kenya in 2017 and hold further workshops, not only with the girls in the Safe House, but also with the women who are off to build their lives in Nairobi.

You can find Finding Roots & Wings on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Grace's Story

At the tender age of 14, soon after losing her parents in a violent attack on her village, Grace was forced to flee her home in South Sudan.  During her journey, Grace was captured and forced to marry a member of the militia.  After a harrowing year, Grace managed to escape to a nearby church with another young woman. She was 15 years old.

With the support of the congregation, Grace arranged a ride to UNHCR offices in Nairobi.  The officials at UNHCR referred her to Heshima Kenya for care and protection. Grace was welcomed into our Safe House, which provides a safe and protected place for young women and their children to live, heal and grow. She was soon enrolled in Heshima’s Girls’ Empowerment Project and received specialized Case Management for medical services and counseling.

Today, Grace is thriving. She has immersed herself in Heshima’s healing community of girls and women who share similar experiences and backgrounds.

“I finally feel like I have found a family again–a mother and a friend in Heshima Kenya. I will continue with my studies and become a nurse,” says Grace. She is well on her way to achieving her goals and is currently focused on improving her English to continue her education.

Because of supporters like you, Grace and the other young women of Heshima Kenya are given the opportunity to heal and prosper. At this critical moment in history when the global refugee crisis is at an all-time high, Heshima Kenya’s programs have never been more critical. Thank you for your ongoing support, and for believing in the promise of each and every Heshima girl as much as we do.

Heshima Presents at SoHo House New York Panel

On June 23rd, Heshima Kenya co-hosted a unique panel at the SoHo House New York on “Creative Solutions to the Refugee Crisis.” With over 100 people in attendance, panelists discussed the pressing issues of the refugee crisis and challenges facing refugees around the world. Heshima Kenya’s executive director, Alisa Roadcup, joined in conversation with activist and model Mari Malek; Sara Green, Art for Refugees in Transition (A.R.T.); Meredith Hutchison, International Rescue Committee; which was moderated by Luna Atamian of the Huffington Post.

The audience learned about the misconceptions that affect the way people view refugees, as well as practical ways to advocate for this global crisis, which now affects 1 in 113 people. The panel discussed the power of storytelling, an effective strategy to humanize an overwhelming issue and make it easier for people to understand. All panelists encouraged the audience to take to social media, share stories and educate their friends. Mari’s biggest piece of advice was, “Use your platform, don’t let your platform use you.”

Everyone agreed that the common stereotype of refugees as a burden on society is still at the forefront of discussion on the crisis, which often results in government policies that neglect the needs and rights of refugees. Meredith commented on how to solicit change in this realm, “Public perception has to change, and then drive policy. We can't wait.”

At the end of the panel, each speaker expressed their wishes for a more understanding, inclusive and active community advocating for refugees. Alisa Roadcup remarked, “We all hold tight to a vision of human flourishing.” From a certain standpoint, the refugee crisis can seem unmanageable. However, through collaboration and togetherness, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of refugees. 

Make an impact today and buy a Maisha Collective scarf here.

Heshima Kenya appoints Mr. Benedict Nganga as Kenya Country Director

Heshima Kenya is pleased to announce the appointment of Benedict Nganga as Kenya Country Director. Mr. Nganga brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his 21+ year career in the NGO sector. Prior to his new appointment, Benedict served as the Senior Programs Manager for Heshima, where he monitored, evaluated and grew Heshima Kenya’s programs.

Benedict holds a Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management from The University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Nairobi and an Advanced Certificate of Education. Benedict joined Heshima Kenya in January 2015, having previously worked with renowned local and international NGOs in his home country of Kenya. He has successfully led organizations to greater heights in strengthening programmatic and overall systems.

“Heshima Kenya was founded to provide a lifeline to the most vulnerable of the world’s refugees: adolescent girls and young women,” Benedict says. “My dream is to see all young refugee girls and children in Kenya self-sufficient and able to contribute positively for the good of humanity.”

Alisa Roadcup, executive director of Heshima Kenya, shares, “Benedict’s leadership at Heshima Kenya has already proven invaluable. Every day, Benedict brings his full commitment and energies to our cause. We are honored to have him as a steward of our work and look forward to his continued success with Heshima Kenya.”

Heshima Kenya is internationally recognized for its innovative and holistic model, which meets the full spectrum of needs for the most vulnerable of the world’s refugees: young women and girls. Heshima Kenya provides refugee women with shelter, medical care, education, case management and income-generation training that enables their girls to become financially independent and leaders in their own right.

Montreal 6th grader sets the bar for supporting human rights

When three Canadian children heard about the challenging plight of refugee women and children at Heshima Kenya, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Inspired by the passion of their aunt, Rosalind Raddatz, who serves as the Chair of Heshima Kenya’s Kenya Board of Directors, Gabrielle, age 11, Abaigael, age 9, and Noam, age 7, have set the bar for exemplary philanthropy. In the past several years, the young ambassadors have been selling homemade gifts and trinkets to fundraise for Heshima. Last year, the family even travelled from their home of Montreal, Canada all the way to Nairobi, Kenya to present their donations and meet the girls and children at Heshima Kenya! To watch a re-cap video of the family’s trip to Nairobi, visit Heshima Kenya’s Vimeo page here.

As Gabrielle is preparing to graduate from 6th grade, her outstanding generosity to Heshima Kenya is being publicly recognized. Each year, the Montreal School Board presents two 6th grade students with the Irwin Cotler Award for Social Justice, which honors students who "best exemplify the act of improving the world and fighting for social justice." Not surprisingly, due to her passion and her involvement in solutions to the refugee crisis, Gabrielle received this prestigious award. Her principal, who wanted to illuminate Gabrielle’s impressive contribution to global human rights work, nominated her for this award.

Gabrielle is not done yet. She is now working to collect even more donations to support Heshima’s physical education programs at our Safe House. The staff and girls at Heshima Kenya want to extend our deepest congratulations to Gabrielle for her fantastic award and a huge thank you to Abaigael and Noam for all of their hard work. Your dedication truly makes a positive impact on the life of these refugee girls!

A Mother's Day Story: Hawa and Fartun's Journey

Hawa is a mother, artist, writer, leader and, perhaps most importantly, a survivor.

Born on the Kenya-Somalia border in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp, Hawa’s life began in an extraordinary setting. In Dadaab, which literally means “the hard place on the rock,” impunity runs rampant and young women are exceptionally vulnerable to violence. Hawa credits her challenging beginnings as foundation to becoming the strong and clear-sighted woman she is today.  

For a young girl living alone in a refugee camp, safety is a constant concern. At the tender age of 15, Hawa was sexually assaulted by a neighbor. Soon after, she discovered she was pregnant at the hands of her abuser. Hawa was alone and afraid in the refugee camp without the support of any family. Her attacker still roamed free. With limited options and fearing for her safety, she made the courageous decision to leave the camp and travel to Nairobi with the assistance of friends.

Soon after arriving in Nairobi, Hawa was referred to Heshima Kenya’s Safe House. Finally she was surrounded by other young women with similar stories and she no longer felt alone. For the first time in a very long time, Hawa felt safe. In Heshima’s healing community, Hawa received the support and care she needed during her pregnancy. A few months later, Hawa gave birth to a healthy daughter named Fartun. The Heshima community supported Hawa as she navigated the first months of new motherhood, and the staff were available 24/7 to assist. Eager to return to school, Hawa enrolled into Heshima’s Girls’ Empowerment Project and her baby daughter was loved and nurtured in our full-time nursery. Hawa was excited to learn to read and write in English and Swahili. She had big dreams for herself and baby Fartun.

Now–two years later, Hawa is a leader, activist and aspiring journalist. She watches the news and listens to the BBC every day, which inspires her to be like the journalists and reporters that she sees on television. Hawa is a leader in Heshima Kenya’s social enterprise, the Maisha Collective, enabling her to earn her own income to support herself and her daughter. She loves tasseling scarves with baby Fartun on her lap!

Hawa feels safe and strong. She is focused on her education and cares for her baby with the support of friends, peers and the staff of Heshima Kenya. As a young mother who would do anything for her beautiful daughter, Hawa says: “I am glad that Heshima Kenya cares for my child and we know that there is a place for us, a place of safety. Maisha is helping me take care of my baby and when she needs something, I’m able to do it for her. I can provide for her instead of having to ask it from somebody or somewhere else. I feel so grown up when I provide for my child.”

It is because of supporters like you that young women and mothers, like Hawa, are able to feel safe and secure, gain an education and create a bright future. From all the mothers and young women at Heshima Kenya, we sincerely thank you.

To learn more about Heshima Kenya’s award-winning holistic program for unaccompanied refugee girls, visit: www.heshimakenya.org.

Will you accept the challenge?

We are thrilled to officially launch a campaign in partnership with One Day’s Wages to support Heshima Kenya’s Girls’ Empowerment Project.

Refugee girls, forced to flee their home countries, are at particularly high risk of neglect, abuse and exploitation. The majority of refugee girls do not have access to basic healthcare and education, and suffer from lack of support from families or guardians. The Girls’ Empowerment Project is an oasis of peace, stability and hope, and provides safety and community. The life-long transferable skills learned in the GEP ultimately lead to self-sufficiency and opportunities for refugee girls to thrive and lead in their communities.

The Girls’ Empowerment Project has reached its capacity and currently has 50 girls on the waiting list. In order to help us move into a larger facility, our friends at One Day’s Wages have issued a challenge. They will match each and every donation made on their website up to $15,000 to support 30 young women to join our Girls' Empowerment Project!

We are honored to receive support from One Day’s Wages, a grassroots movement dedicated to investing in people and communities around the world, striving to inspire people with enhanced awareness and the opportunity to give simply to support sustainable relief, and collectively generating a powerful positive impact.

We cannot achieve our goal without you and your commitment to supporting the ongoing education and empowerment of the young refugee women and girls eager to enroll in the Girls’ Empowerment Project. We look forward to working together to achieve our goal! Click here to contribute to our campaign.

From the Heshima Kenya family to you – thank you!

Heshima Kenya at 2nd Annual Regional Course on Forced Migration!

Earlier this month, our Community Outreach Assistant, Mohammed Tahali attended the 2nd Annual Regional Course on Forced Migration organized by The Refugee Consortium of Kenya. The course was in partnership with the Kenyan Department of Refugee Affairs, the European Union, the International Rescue Committee, and Moi University.

The course brought together academics, members of community organizations, and specialist on refugee affairs to share their expertise and learn from one another.

Through out the six-day course, attendees took part in modules, sessions, and experiential learning tours that aimed to provide participants with a critical understanding of forced migration, refugee protection, human trafficking, and internal displacement. The course also included visits to police stations and prisons so that participants could truly grasp how various state actors handle the unique and ever-growing plight of forced migrants.

Fashion Designer Lagi Nadeau Partners with Heshima Kenya to Empower Refugee Women

Heshima Kenya is thrilled to announce a partnership with Chicago designer, Lagi Nadeau. Nadeau will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya with Heshima staff in late March of 2015 to mentor and design with the 40 women and girls of Heshima Kenya’s Maisha Collective. Together they will create and produce an exclusive handmade jewelry line. The collection will be a truly unique collaboration incorporating Nadeau’s modern style with Maisha’s vibrant hand dyed fabrics to create a one of a kind jewelry collection.

Lagi Nadeau is a recent Chicago Fashion Incubator alum designer and the winner of the 2014 Fashion Group International of Chicago's Rising Star Award in the women's apparel category and a designer whose distinct style utilizes luxurious fabrics to create sophisticated and feminine pieces. Ms. Nadeau has been featured in Marie Claire, WWD, Vogue Knitting, VIBE, and Refinery29, and  is one of six Designers-In-Residence with the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s on State Street. Nadeau came to Heshima last year, as a talented competitor in Heshima Kenya's Annual Fashion Challenge. In regards to the collaboration, Ms. Nadeau comments, “As a designer, I am deeply inspired by textiles and I was so impressed when I first saw the work of the women and girls of Heshima Kenya’s Maisha Collective. I love everything that Heshima Kenya stands for and this partnership is very special to me, I am truly grateful for this collaboration.”

Alisa Roadcup, Executive Director of Heshima Kenya, welcomes this collaboration with Lagi Nadeau saying,  “Nadeau’s brand represents the same values as upheld by The Maisha Collective; namely, a fierce commitment to designing exceptionally beautiful products that empower and inspire women and girls around the world.”

This limited-edition line, named Lagi Nadeau for Heshima Kenya is set to launch on April 15th, 2015 and will be available for wholesale and retail purchase online at Etsy and at laginadeau.com.

Women Fashion Power

by Sarah Cole Kammerer Women Fashion Power

A few weeks ago, a friend shared with me a picture of the following text “Women Fashion Power: Not a multiple choice”. It was in reference to an exhibition of the same name currently at the Design Museum in London. The exhibition shows how public figures - princesses, elected officials, CEOs - have used fashion as a tool of self-expression and empowerment to build reputation, attract attention and assert authority.

Last night I had the opportunity to attend Heshima Kenya’s 2014 Fashion Challenge. The evening’s goal is to both celebrate and support refugee girls and young women in Nairobi who have been welcomed into the Heshima Family. These women - often children and youth, often victims of violence and rape, often pregnant, often abandoned by their families - have nowhere to go. The organization provides shelter, education and a loving community that shows these women that they too can have strength and health, hope and dignity.

The Fashion Challenge highlights the Maisha Collective, Heshima Kenya’s income-generating project in which the women produce beautiful hand-dyed scarves. The product, is beautiful, however, it is the process that is the real art. The Collective teaches business management and marketing skills through the design and production of scarves and textiles and, as as result, the women develop the confidence and leadership skills needed for future independence.

Fashion: used to build reputation, attract attention and assert authority.

Last night simply was a celebration. We were joined by some of Heshima’s girls, as they affectionally call themselves; women who won the refugee ‘lottery’ to come to the United States. I was amazed by these women - women who have overcome horrors we can’t begin to imagine - their quiet strength, beauty and intelligence radiating throughout the room.

The event was generously hosted at Room 1520, a loft-like event space in the West Loop. It had a high-end fashion feel; immediately it felt as if I was attending Fashion Week in New York City. A special thanks to Pure Kitchen Catering for their delicious bites, Empirical Brewery for their selection draft beers (loved that Honey Hypothesis) and Wirtz Beverage for their generous donation of red and white wine.

Five designers from Chicago participated in the Project Runway-inspired competition. The designers - Borris Powell of Borris Powell, Katelyn Pankoke of Elaya Vaughn, Lagi Nadeau of Lagi Nadeau, Meredith Banzhoff of Meredith Banzhoff and Kahindo Mateene of Modahnik - received two Maisha Collective Scarves chosen at random and then had two weeks to design a dress and accessory.

As the models strutted down the runway in the beautiful colors of Kenya transformed into designs that any woman could wear, I couldn't help but think of Fatuma, a woman who couldn’t read or write when she arrived at Heshima. Today, she is a project manager for the organization in Kenya and the co-author of a graphic novella. Or Ailene, the 18 year old artisan from DRC and mother of her beautiful 2 year old son Joshua, who, when she learned about the fashion show in Chicago said: “I am so happy. It makes me want to produce beautiful designs for people all over the world."

The winner of the Fashion Challenge was Modahnik, whose beautiful backless dress elicited ohhh’s and ahhhh’s from the entire room. But the real prize was a night celebrating women, fashion and power and I was so honored to be a part of it.

Sarah Cole Kammerer is a communications and engagement consultant and a member of the Heshima Kenya Fashion Challenge Planning Committee. —— If you missed the event and would like to purchase a scarf, please visit our Etsy Shop or follow this link to make a donation.

To see images or tweets from last night check out: #HKFashionChallenge, #FashionEmpowers, #MaishaCollective, #EveryScarfTellsAStory, and #HeshimaKenya. And while you’re there, be sure to follow Heshima on Twitter @Heshima_Kenya and Instagram @HeshimaKenya.

A special thanks to our fabulous host: Windy City LIVE's co-host, Val Warner and our judges: Dawn Bonasera, Global Store Director, Louis Vuitton - Michigan Avenue Erica Strama, Marketing Manager at The Shops at Northbridge Trevian Kutti, Style Guru

Thanks to our Host Committee: Shermin Kruse, Event Chair; Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, Honorary Chair Mimi Frankel, Scott & Chris Gordon, Jen Cullerton Johnson, Candace Jordan, Mindie Kaplan, Andrea Kramer, Ann Laatsch, Phyllis Nolan, Naomi Ollis, Daphne Ortiz, Jill Rasmussen, Erin Reichl, Anne Ream, Alisa Roadcup, Rebecca Singer, Joshua Yates, Emily Hughey Quinn, Olga Bugaeva, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Angela Corsa, Rose Rutzen, Rosalind Raddatz, Souk Supantavong, Talyn Good, Zubin Talib, Luz Adriana Leahy and Patricia Amira.

And to our Planning Committee: Emily Knies, Event Director; Souk Supantavong, Fashion Director Shanita Akintonde, Nora Brathol, Sarah Cole Kammerer, Angela Corsa, Stephanie Juckem, Kristen Field, Elizabeth Futrell, Carly Hopps, Emily Knies, Alisa Roadcup and Souk Supantavong.

A Creative Collaboration: Heshima Kenya & Andie K

Partnering together around their joint passion for empowering vulnerable women and girls, Andie K and Heshima Kenya are teaming up for an exclusive event highlighting the unique contributions of women artisans around the world. Andie K is an artist and activist whose passion for women’s rights drives her vision. Inspired by local styles in Africa and Asia, Andie seeks out women artists who rely on handmade beads to support themselves and their families. She uses these beads to craft bold, one-of-a-kind jewelry. To further her mission of women’s empowerment, Andie donates all profits to organizations that benefit women and children.

Heshima Kenya is one of those organizations: it helps refugee girls and women in Kenya rebuild their lives and transform into community leaders and activists. As the only Kenyan organization devoted to the needs of female refugees, Heshima Kenya offers vital services to vulnerable girls and women. By providing female refugees with educational and vocational training, Heshima Kenya empowers them to achieve self-sufficiency and become advocates for change. Through Heshima Kenya’s Maisha Collective, refugee women use traditional hand-dyeing techniques to create unique, vibrant scarves. The income they earn allows them to support themselves and their children.

Andie K and Heshima Kenya share a common goal: the empowerment of women around the world. Their unique collaboration will feature exclusive new jewelry designs by Andie K, made with Fair Trade-certified Kazuri beads from Kenya and inspired by the colors and patterns of Heshima Kenya scarves. Through their partnership, they intend to support women artisans, call attention to the plight of refugee girls and women, and mobilize Chicago leaders who are interested in women’s rights. Together, Andie K and Heshima Kenya are speaking out for vulnerable women worldwide.

Amnesty International highlights challenges faced by Somali refugees

Written by Nicole Cunha-GomesIntern, Heshima Kenya

After a grenade assault took the lives of her mother, father and brother, Fatuma escaped from Somalia to Nairobi, Kenya, in hopes of creating a brighter future for herself. In 2009, Fatuma found Heshima Kenya and began rebuilding her life with hope and dignity. However, the current precarious political situation for Somalis in Kenya threatens her progress.

In the field report Somalis are Scapegoats in Kenya’s Counter-Terror Crackdown, Amnesty International highlights the recent increase in tension between the Kenyan government and the Somali refugee community in Kenya. On December 13, 2012, the Kenyan government announced a directive to forcibly relocate all refugees to camps. Two years later, in response to attacks in Mombasa and Eastleigh by Somali-based terrorist organization Al Shabaab, the Kenyan government turned its attention more specifically to Somali refugees in the country by launching Operation Usalama Watch: a security initiative targeting asylum-seekers and refugees in Kenya who are thought to be guilty of perpetuating acts of terrorism in the country.

For this report, Amnesty International interviewed asylum-seekers and refugees affected by Operation Usalama Watch to understand how this security initiative has impacted their lives. The report uncovers human rights violations carried out by Kenyan security personnel who allegedly intimidated and harassed their victims, at times using violence to ascertain their immigration status: many were accused of carrying fake documentation and forced to pay bribes to avoid detention; those who could not afford the bribes were taken to unsanitary detention centers and deprived of food, water and bathroom facilities. Amnesty International reports that at least two people have died during Operation Usalama Watch.

Over 1000 refugees have been forcibly relocated to refugee camps since May 2014. There has also been an increase in the number of people requesting to go to the camps because of their fear of the Kenyan security forces and desperation as they run out of money from extortion. A number of people have resorted to self-exile; by staying at home they hope to avoid being stopped by police, forced to pay bribes, and relocated to refugee camps.

Somalis in Kenya, like Fatuma, find themselves stuck in a legal conundrum. They are required to register officially as refugees to avoid arrest and expulsion; however, the fear of terrorism in Kenya has made it difficult for Somalis to be granted refugee status. Amnesty International recommends, therefore, that the Government of Kenya abandon Operation Usalama Watch in favor of pursuing previous efforts to work alongside the Somali government and the UNCHR to create a framework for the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees.

At Heshima Kenya, the Girls' Empowerment Project and Outreach Program continue to operate at full capacity. The safety and security of the girls and women at Heshima Kenya is our top priority; therefore, we are committed to working alongside the Kenyan government to safeguard the rights of vulnerable refugee girls and women during this period of insecurity and unrest. A misappropriation of blame and a misuse of rhetoric work together to obscure the distinction between ‘refugees’ and ‘terrorists’, blurring the lines of accountability. Many of the young refugee girls we serve were forced to flee their home countries because of terrorism; unfortunately, the current situation in Kenya means that these girls, sadly, now find themselves affected by the same acts of terrorism that forced them to flee in the first place.

Heshima Kenya thanks Amnesty International for publishing such an informative report. If you would like to help vulnerable refugee girls like Fatuma, take action and donate now to Heshima Kenya!

To view the full report: Amnesty International Report

A Farewell from Anne Sweeney

Dear Friends of Heshima Kenya, I am writing to share the news that, seven years after co-founding Heshima Kenya, I have decided to step away from my role as Executive Director while continuing to serve as an advisor for policy and development, especially for our Kenyan operations. This is a very positive transition for me and I am excited and proud that, after having committed so many years to its development, Heshima Kenya has evolved into such a vibrant and influential organization.

Heshima Kenya's Board of Directors and I are delighted to announce Alisa Roadcup as our new Executive Director. Many of you already know Alisa as she has served as our Director of US Advocacy and Development from 2012 to 2013, and more recently held the position of Director of Strategic Partnerships. Alisa brings more than fifteen years of professional experience in advocacy and programming, focusing on vulnerable girls and young women through her work with Amnesty International among other organizations. We are thrilled to have Alisa on board as Heshima Kenya's new leader.

The journey of building Heshima Kenya has been a profound experience for me on many levels. Heshima Kenya was founded as the first organization in Kenya devoted to the protection and empowerment of girls and young women fleeing persecution and the loss of their families in their native countries. As an advocate for refugee rights, I dedicated myself to building new and dignified opportunities for those who will never experience the justice they deserve. What Heshima Kenya has accomplished since 2008 has been awe-inspiring. Nearly seven years later, over 500 girls and young women have felt the direct impact of our programs; today they are Heshima Kenya’s greatest achievements - ambassadors of change in their own communities.

Thank you for believing in Heshima Kenya’s mission and for your unwavering support through the years.

Warmly,

Anne Sweeney

Co-founder & Executive Director Heshima Kenya July 2007 – June 2014

CELEBRATE MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPECIAL-EDITION SCARF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anne Sweeney, Heshima Kenya (773) 574-5548; [email protected]

CELEBRATE MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPECIAL-EDITION SCARF
Mother's Day Gift Evokes Deeper Meaning: Hand-crafted Scarves
Made in Kenya by Young Women Refugees Turning Lives Around,
Thanks to Chicago Non-Profit

Chicago (April 30, 2014) – The latest shipment of Heshima Kenya’s popular Maisha scarves has arrived fresh from Nairobi, Kenya, as part of a continued movement by the Chicago-based organization to turn around the lives of young refugee women in Africa. The new Spring Collection features a special-edition scarf designed to celebrate mothers around the world in honor of Mother's Day. U.S. online orders entered by May 7 will arrive in time for the May 11 holiday.

The Spring Collection’s rich color palette evokes the diverse natural en­vironments of East Africa and the shores of the Indian Ocean. Anne Sweeney, Heshima Kenya’s Chicago-based Executive Director and co-founder, said: “We always say that every scarf tells a story, and that is certainly the case with the Amina Mother's Day scarf.” [See the collection.]

The Maisha Collective: Creative Outlet & Path Toward Independence

Every scarf is handmade by young refugee women in Heshima Kenya’s entrepreneurship-training pro­gram, The Maisha Collective. The reasonably priced scarves -- which come in multiple shapes, sizes and colors -- are painstakingly tasseled and dyed by hand, then named for their designer. In addition to serving as a creative outlet, the program teaches tailoring and financial literacy. Artisans earn a monthly stipend, open savings accounts, and are eligible for a small seed grant to start their own micro-enterprises when they graduate from the program. “Our goal is to empower refugee women to become leaders in their community,” Sweeney said.

The Amina Scarf Speaks to the Power of Mothers Everywhere

Named for its designer, this spring’s Amina scarf represents the strength of mothers everywhere. Amina fled with her infant daughter to Nairobi from her village in Ethiopia. She and her daughter were living on the streets of Kenya’s capital when they were referred to Heshima Kenya just over two years ago. At Heshima Kenya they have a safe place to live, Amina attends school, and her daughter participates in Heshima’s early education program.

After she joined the Maisha Collective, Amina became a leading creative force among her peers. She also learned business skills and was able to save money. Soon, she will use these and a small grant to begin a business of her own. Sweeney said: “Amina wants to give her daughter a better life, and, like mothers everywhere, it was her love for her daughter that helped her survive in times of great adversity.”

The Amina scarf is a rich mocha color with floral-inspired accents. Together with the rest of the spring line, it is available online through Etsy, select Chicago boutiques, and other ethnic fashion outlets. All online orders received by Wednesday, May 7, for delivery within the domestic United States will arrive before Mother’s Day. Sweeney said that 100% of sales proceeds are reinvested into Heshima Kenya’s programs and the savings of Maisha Collective members.

ABOUT HESHIMA KENYA
Heshima Kenya is a Chicago-based nonprofit with operations in Nairobi, Kenya. The organization pro­tects and empowers refugee women and girls ages 13 to 23 years old who have fled their countries to live in Nairobi and have no parents or other family to protect them. One out of four has children of her own.

Heshima Kenya provides shelter, education, case management, advocacy and a healing environment for girls and young women who experienced the trauma of war; loss of family; and, in many cases, kid­napping, rape, trafficking and torture. At the core of Heshima Kenya’s holistic model is the creation of a social network that empowers girls and young women to gain economic self-sufficiency and become community leaders in their own right. To date, Heshima Kenya has helped more than 500 young women turn their lives around. Learn more at HeshimaKenya.org.

heshima. (n). Swahili. respect, honor, dignity

ABOUT THE MAISHA COLLECTIVE

Launched in 2010, Heshima Kenya’s Maisha Collective is a peer-driven initiative that grows leadership, business skills, and economic self-sufficiency through the design, production, and sale of hand-dyed scarves. One hundred percent of proceeds are reinvested into Heshima Kenya’s programs and the savings of the artisans. Scarves range from $29 to $34 and are worn by women all over the world -- not only as a beautiful fashion statement but as an expres­sion of solidarity and support for refugees. See the whole collection at HeshimaKenya.Etsy.com.

The Maisha Collective has been featured on national fashion and lifestyle blogs including Martha Stewart, Daily Candy, Refinery 29 and Time Out Chicago. Corporations and foundations often purchase the scarves as gifts for their employees and supporters.

ABOUT ANNE SWEENEY

Sweeney co-founded Heshima Kenya in 2008. She brings a multi-di­mensional understanding of refugee protection and resettlement, combining her work with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program, and positions in human rights agencies in Kenya and the United States. She has lived for extended periods of time in Nairobi and has traveled extensively throughout the region. A frequent speaker on the needs of refugee women and children, Sweeney was recently profiled in The Chicago Tribune. She lives with her husband in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.

[Editor’s Note: Before May 3, Anne Sweeney is available for interviews, along with Zahara, a 23-year-old beneficiary of the Maisha Collective program who has her own line of scarves. Zahara recently relocated from Nairobi to Chicago and is preparing to start a job in a restaurant. A video about Heshima Kenya is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM3_tYw-8t0.]

"The Woman", a poem written by Heshima girls, Ingrid Mary and Janet

On International Women's Day, the Heshima girls and young women gathered to celebrate women all over the world. Along with singing and dancing, Ingrid Mary and Janet wrote and recited this poem to their peers and the Heshima team. Our favorite line, "She is the star that guides the humble - The Woman, without her none of us would be."

Creating Pathways for Hope: The Success of our Community Leaders

Refugee women in our Womens Ambassador Groups showing off their new enterprises.

Written by Stephen Mwangangi

We at Heshima Kenya believe that economic empowerment of women secures sustainable and lasting peace.  A great majority of urban refugee women in Nairobi live in acute poverty. They lack capital and spend most of their household budgets on basic necessities like food and rent. Those who do manage to establish businesses frequently lack technical skills or have access to local networks.

Turning Tribulations into Success
Mother and entrepreneur – Providence is proof that living as a refugee in an urban centre does not automatically mean an idle, helpless life. Providence is not a woman to sit idle. Days after she and her children fled their native Rwanda in late 2012, she has established herself as an astute business woman, amid many challenges, in her residence area of Muthama in the outskirts of Nairobi where she lives in a rented house with her five children.  “It is hard doing business in Nairobi. But I do what I can to survive.” She says.

Providence is among a group of 50 refugee women from DR Congo, Rwanda, and Somalia who have successfully undergone financial literacy training and received a micro-loan to purchase business materials to start or expand their own businesses. The program is an initiative of Heshima Kenya with support from the UN Women-Kenya.  The women are part of our Womens Ambassador Groups (WAG) that we've mobilized over the years to create safe pathways for Heshima girls reintegrating back into the community.  The women also share information about human rights and resources, and help to identify and refer vulnerable girls for support. Mico-loans are not only essential to their economic growth, but it also helps build the groups' social acumen to support others. 

“I am so happy for the training, support and grants that Heshima Kenya has given us. I have been able to buy business stock of Ksh. 10,000. Already most of the clothes I have bought as stock have been booked. I will sell all of them within a short time and go for more stock.” Providence said after receiving the grant.

Her sentiments were backed by Habibo Abukar Hassan, a member of Women Ambassador Group from Eastleigh in Nairobi who said, “Through Heshima Kenya, I have found myself home, I can socialize and meet other women who have been through the struggles I have gone through or even worse, but you guys helped me identify with them. I have been empowered on different angles and I am able to stand tall and defend myself and my people. Most important is what you are doing now; supporting us with this grant is showing us how much Heshima Kenya really cares about us and that you want to support us. We are grateful and thankful."

The women play the role of peace ambassadors in their communities and pillars of economic transformation.

The Journey
Providence recalls her painful journey from Rwanda to Kenya. She laments that she and her family were continuously haunted and harassed by government agents in Rwanda due to their political views. It became very unsafe and her husband fled to Norway where he sought asylum. With their life more threatened, she and her children had to leave the country—fast. So, taking with them only a few pieces of luggage and without letting anyone know where they were going, the family traveled to neighboring Uganda where they stayed for a few months.

 “I was very young when we left Rwanda. Our mother just told us to go. We did not know where we were going or why we were going. We just left Rwanda and I don’t know where our belongings/property went. When we came here (Kenya), I was enrolled in a nearby school. Moving from Rwanda to Kenya has affected my schooling very much. I should be completing A levels by now,” says her eldest son who is completing his primary school education in a nearby school. 

“I thought we’d be there briefly, until everything settled down,” Providence says.

But things didn’t settle down. The local community was not accommodating and began to pester them. They suspected that they were refugees from Rwanda. Three months later, and due to the risk of forceful repatriation back to their country, it was time to move.  The journey to Kenya was not smooth either. The border authorities were not going to allow them to cross. Therefore, they opted to use unofficial crossing points through the bushes where they further risked their lives. With the little money she had, she booked a bus ticket for herself and her children at a border town in Kenya. On their arrival to Nairobi, they were received by a friend of hers whom they had previously made contacts.

“The humiliation that we were subjected to every second of our life didn’t give me low self-esteem but it gave me the push to succeed,” she says of her determination with nothing but hard work and ambition, having a strong sense of values, and wanting to build for the next generation.

She started to engage in various small business activities including hawking mandazi and selling clothes and other household accessories in order to provide for her children. Heshima Kenya's outreach manager identified her through a workshop and invited her to participate in its Women Ambassador Group. “Since then, I have never looked back,” an enthusiastic Providence says.

Peace Ambassadors
Heshima Kenya’s economic empowerment program has equipped the refugee women like Providence and Habibo with the skills and support they need to enter safe and productive economic opportunities while participating in peace building efforts among refugee communities in Nairobi. Training modules in life skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and employability prepare the participants to either launch business enterprises or transition to wage employment. For many of the women who have faced discrimination, violence and diminished opportunities in Kenya’s urban slums, the confidence, social networks and mentorship they gain through the program are as invaluable as the business skills and the grants.

During the financial literacy training, the women were assisted to develop business proposals for businesses of their choice to either start or expand existing businesses. They were also provided with micro-loans and seed grants in form of business materials to launch and expand their businesses. The women purchased different business materials including vegetables, clothing, hairdressing accessories, sewing machines and household accessories among others. Half of the amount is repayable in installments. Heshima Kenya will continue to follow up on them and provide them with the necessary technical support, advice and guidance to make their businesses successful.

“Ahsanteee, Ahsante Heshima Kenya. Mimi leo niko na furaha mingi sana. Naona maisha yangu itakuwa mzuri sana na Mungu anaona hata kama ni refugee ametupatia chance, hajatuwacha na hii yote ni kwa sababu ya Heshima Kenya.” (Thank you. Thank You Heshima Kenya. I am very happy today. I can see that my life is going to be okay, God has seen that even if I am a refugee, I deserve a chance to be happy and all this thanks to Heshima Kenya), said Pascasie Mbilinde, WAG member from Kasarani, after receiving the grants.  While joyfully displaying her newly acquired sewing machine, Janine, a mother of one who lives with her family in a rented room in Kivuli which has been partitioned to serve as a shop at the front end says, “Thank you very much. I needed a sewing machine. The grant has enabled me to acquire a new future."

The Second Annual Maisha Holiday Scarf Sale - Nairobi, Kenya

We Must Continue To Protect The Rights of Refugees in the Wake of the Westgate Terrorist Attacks

CHICAGO (October 7, 2013) – To date, dozens of people have lost their lives at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi in a terrorist attack that is shocking in its brutality. Heshima Kenya deeply mourns the lives that were lost and strongly condemns these senseless acts of violence. We believe Kenya can and will emerge a stronger and more united country in the midst of this horrific tragedy.

The Heshima Kenya community has been shaken by these acts of violence against innocent civilians, who include those close to our Heshima family. Every day, our staff works tirelessly to serve the most vulnerable of the world’s refugees – young girls fleeing devastating violence and persecution, often without the support of family or friends. Our primary consideration is for the safety and wellbeing of Kenya’s refugees and the refugee girls Heshima Kenya serves. These acts of terror and brutality have not changed our steadfast commitment to ensure the security and protection of the courageous women and girls in our care.

50% of the young women and girls currently in our programs in Nairobi are of Somali nationality, many of which were forced to flee Somalia because of the very violence perpetrated by Al-Shabab within their own communities. It is a terrible irony that they must once again live in fear. “We trust that the Kenyan Government and its people will continue to protect the rights of immigrants and refugees that have fled this horrific violence and persecution, and look forward to being a helpful part of this dialogue process,” says Heshima Kenya’s Executive Director Anne Sweeney. Meanwhile, we mourn together the hundreds of victims of this tragedy, and stand united across lines of culture, nationality and faith towards a world free of violence and terror.

Media Contacts Anne Sweeney  +1 (773) 574-5548/[email protected]

Alisa Roadcup +1 (720) 352 5504/[email protected]