Graduation Ceremony a Punctuating Moment for nearly 60 RefuSHE Students

(Left and bottom right) Students from our Beauty Art & Nail, Digital Literacy, and Fashion & Design courses graduated earlier this month after completing a 6-9 month curriculum and internship. (Top right) The ceremony included a fashion show with our designers and models from our Fashion & Design class and Artisan Collective.

Earlier this month, RefuSHE celebrated its annual Graduation Ceremony — a vibrant day filled with music, fashion, and inspiration as RefuSHE graduates embark on the next chapter in their young careers. Nearly 60 young women, ages 18-25, graduated from one of three vocational courses: Fashion & Design, Beauty Nail & Art, and Digital Literacy. These nationally-accredited courses take 6-9 months to complete and culminate with internships at local businesses. 

This graduation is a major milestone for these refugee women, many of whom saw their schooling and career pursuits disrupted due to conflict and natural disasters in their home countries. Refugees resettling in Kenya face significant cultural and bureaucratic barriers to finding employment - and this is particularly true for refugee girls/women. Now that they're nationally-certified with market-driven skills, our graduates are well-positioned to launch their careers and gain financial independence.

To ensure a smooth transition post-graduation, RefuSHE continues to support our recent graduates through case management; rental support if needed; equipment such as laptops, sewing kits, etc.; and as-needed mental health services and medical referrals. We also connect them to our RefuSHE community programs, including our Women Ambassador Groups, which serve as self-help and savings groups where women business owners can access micro-loans and social/emotional support. 

We are so inspired by all our graduates! Learn more about our recent grads by clicking these links: Becca/digital literacy | Amach/Beauty Art & Nail