In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are pleased to feature an interview with one of RefuSHE’s Psychosocial Counselors. Duncan Ogendi has worked with RefuSHE for five years and is an integral part of our Mental Health Department. Check out his Q&A below and tips for staying mentally well!

Grief can be a paralyzing sensation for those who have experienced unimaginable loss and the horrors of war. This was the reality for Ella, a 28-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and countless other refugee women in Nairobi's Kasarani community. Sexual assault and the loss of her family members during the war left Ella deeply traumatized, and upon arriving in Kenya, she began to self-isolate, consumed by overwhelming emotions. 

Hanisa is a 22-year-old Somali refugee and the sixth of ten siblings. In 2022, upon completing high school, she discovered RefuSHE’s digital skills training/ICT program and eagerly enrolled, having always sought an opportunity to acquire computer skills. 

When 21-year-old Estella enrolled in RefuSHE’s digital skills training program, she had very little knowledge of computers. Today, Estella is a successful freelancer looking forward to launching her own digital marketing agency. She is confident that the skills she acquired at RefuSHE will greatly contribute to her agency's success and her future career in digital marketing.

Life as a refugee hasn’t been easy for 40-year-old Clementine, but with RefuSHE’s support, Clementine secured a loan to start a small business, paid off her debts, enrolled her eldest son in school, and opened her own bank account. Joining a Women’s Ambassador Group (WAG) has positively changed Clementine’s life and outlook for the future.

This International Women’s Day we're rallying behind the call to invest in women and accelerate progress. For Getachew, being a Women's Ambassador Group (WAG) member means she can save money for her family and access loans to grow her small business. It also means her daughter Ashu can enroll in school and acquire the skills she needs to secure a dignified income.

In addition to being a WAGs member, Jacqueline is a trained community para-counselor, offering trauma-informed counseling to fellow refugees with mental health needs in Nairobi. Yoga has provided a new space for her to continue her own healing while helping other refugees in her community on the path to recovery.

When Cecilia first sought refuge in Kenya, she had low confidence and limited communication skills. Today, she is enrolled in RefuSHE’s Girls Empowerment Program (GEP) where she is not only gaining literacy and numeracy skills, but also learning the basics of dressmaking, tailoring, and pattern-making!

From 14-year-old refugee to independent entrepreneur, Solange is now a young mother on a mission to turn her dreams into reality. Thanks to RefuSHE’s partnership with 4G Capital, Solange has taken her artisan and entrepreneurship skills to the next level and opened her own small clothing business!

Thanks to RefuSHE’s partnership with 4G Capital, Beatrice is devoted to scaling her growing drapery business after exiting the Artisan Collective. She hopes to open her own shop, get better machinery, and build a thriving fashion empire in the future. With the challenges of her past behind her and an exciting entrepreneurial journey ahead, Beatrice is confident she will attain success.

Asha was pregnant, frightened, and unemployed when she arrived at RefuSHE’s Safe House looking for refuge. She immediately received medical care, counseling, and essential supplies for both herself and her unborn baby. Today, Asha is a new mother on the path to recovery who is both prepared and excited for the next phase of her life.

Nyalim was only one year old when she arrived in Kenya as a refugee from South Sudan. Today, 22-year-old Nyalim is a Vera Beauty College graduate ready to open her own full-service salon in Nairobi. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of embracing opportunities and shaping one's destiny.

Through determination and the unwavering support she has received since arriving in Kenya, 20-year-old beauty entrepreneur Henrietta has risen above the challenges of her past and is now shaping a promising future for herself and others.

This year, we're celebrating RefuSHE's 15th anniversary by bringing the Fashion Challenge to the site of our impact: Kenya. Meet the RefuSHE models participating in Fashion Challenge 2023 LIVE in Nairobi on October 7, 2023!

This year, we're celebrating RefuSHE's 15th anniversary by bringing the Fashion Challenge to the site of our impact: Kenya. Meet the RefuSHE mentees participating in Fashion Challenge 2023 LIVE in Nairobi on October 7, 2023!

This year, we're celebrating RefuSHE's 15th anniversary by bringing the Fashion Challenge to the site of our impact: Kenya. Meet the talented designers participating in Fashion Challenge 2023 LIVE in Nairobi on October 7, 2023!

We are thrilled to announce that RefuSHE has received a $500,000 grant from Jack Dorsey’s philanthropic initiative, #startsmall, to support refugee girls’ education and entrepreneurship in Nairobi! This grant will further RefuSHE‘s mission to protect, educate, and empower refugee girls, women, and children through a unique, holistic model of care.

After fleeing the turmoil of her war-torn homeland in the DRC and seeking refuge in Kenya, Divine faced the harsh realities of survival in an unfamiliar land. Through sheer determination and the support of RefuSHE, Divine took her entrepreneurial spirit and turned the life of her new community around.

RefuSHE is thrilled to announce the appointment of new US Board Member, Heidi Novogratz-Johnson! A lifelong resident of the Midwest, Heidi is based in Chicago and has volunteered with and supported RefuSHE for more than three years. With experience guiding her family foundation’s grants, particularly in issues related to racial justice and health for many years, Heidi will complement and strengthen the current makeup of our boards.