Gender Equality Kenya Project #2049

Education and Empowerment for Refugee Girls

by RefuSHE

Education and Empowerment for Refugee Girls

Project Report | Jul 29, 2026
Harnessing Tech to Empower Refugee Girls and Women

By Emile Dawisha | Development Director

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Harnessing Tech to Help Refugee Women Thrive in a 21st Century Economy

REFUGEE WOMEN AND THE DEEP DIGITAL DIVIDE
While Nairobi is recognized as Africa’s premier tech hub, the city's 50,000+ refugee women are largely disconnected from the digital economy due to high poverty rates, interrupted schooling, and gender inequality. With limited digital literacy and access to internet connection and devices, refugee women often eke out livings in Nairobi's informal sector - i.e. roadside kiosks, street-food vendors, housekeeping.

Further, the lack of digital literacy often causes deep isolation among refugee women by cutting off their connections to society and support networks. According to a World Bank study, up to 30% of refugee women in Nairobi face total information isolation, lacking regular access to localized media or basic communications platforms.

MAXIMIZING TRADITIONAL TRADES IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY
RefuSHE integrates a 6-month digital literacy course into its vocational training programs (Fashion & Design and Beauty Art & Nail). These trainings not only cover the basics to help them navigate the digital world; they also teach them how to market their vocational skills and generate sustainable income in Nairobi's digital gig economy.

This curriculum complements the vocational training they receive on our campus, bridging the gap between traditional trades and Nairobi's modern gig economy. As self-employed entrepreneurs, these young women can generate sustainable income in a highly competitive job market where roughly 67% of Kenya's young people are unemployed. Further, the flexibility of self-employment is particularly important for young women who are, or plan to be, mothers or family guardians (nearly one-third of our students are mothers).

“Digital skills training is essential for us because it lets us create our own opportunities instead of waiting for someone to hire us. This is especially important for refugees who might face barriers in traditional jobs.” - Rebecca, RefuSHE Digital Literacy graduate

To learn more about the impact of our Digital Literacy course, read this alumni spotlight about Rebecca, a 19-year old digital entrepreneur.

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Mar 27, 2026
RefuSHE's Girl Empowerment Program - 2025 Year in Review

By Emile Dawisha | Development Director

Digital Literacy program

RefuSHE's Girl Empowerment Program - 2025 Year in Review

In 2025, RefuSHE's Girl Empowerment Program enrolled 130 students in its vocational programs, including 60 in our Digital Literacy program, 60 in our Beauty Art & Nail program, and 10 in our Fashion & Design program. Of the 130 enrolled students, 118 graduated from their course. Specifically...

Digital Literacy program: 60 students enrolled, gaining essential skills for the modern digital job market, including basic computer literacy, data entry, how to use digital freelancing platforms, graphic design, and more. Of our 60 enrollees, 52 (87%) completed the course. 42% reported working on online gigs post-graduation.

Beauty Art & Nail program: 60 students enrolled, receiving hands-on training in make-up, nail care, and entrepreneurship in the beauty field. Of the 60 enrollees, 57 (95%) graduated from their course and completed an internship.

86% of our Beauty Art & Nail participants reported that they’ve secured employment or started a small business, as documented through post-training follow-up surveys and income assessments.

Fashion & Design program: 10 students enrolled, gaining hands-on skills in pattern making, drafting, sewing, and entrepreneurship skills. Of the 10 enrollees, 9 (90%) graduated the course and completed an internship. Seven participants sat for their NITA examinations in December (the results will be released in February).

22% of our students in 2025 were non-refugees, promoting the social integration between refugees and Kenyans.

Setbacks

Once students graduate from one of our vocational courses, our staff continues to mentor graduates as they make the often-difficult transition from school to the working world. As part of this mentorship, we provide case management to ensure basic needs are being met, as-needed mental health support, and support/guidance with finding employment and/or consulting work. Unfortunately, the grants that fund our vocational programs provide limited to no funding for post-graduate support, thus constraining our capacity to support all our post-grads during their transition to economic self-sufficiency.

Digital skills-building require consistent practice to reinforce learning. However, most Digital Literacy students lacked personal devices at home, limiting their ability to continue practicing outside the training sessions. To help address this, RefuSHE provided a computer buy-back program, enabling participants to purchase laptops at subsidized rates and pay in manageable instalments. However, the initiative was not fully funded to support the entire cohort, leaving some participants without access to devices. Moving forward, RefuSHE remains committed to collaborating with partners and supporters to bridge this gap and ensure that all learners have the tools they need for continued digital growth.

Impact Story

Graduate Spotlight: Once isolated, Sheliza finds community, career pathways through RefuSHE

Sheliza, 21, arrived in Nairobi four years ago after fleeing her home country of Burundi. She did not know a single person in her new city and had no connections to education or career opportunities. She felt a deep sense of isolation and felt uncertain about her future.

She befriended a neighbor who, knowing Sheliza's love of fashion, referred her to RefuSHE’s Fashion and Design Program. Sheliza was accepted into the 9-month program despite having little prior experience in sewing or design. She describes this opportunity as life-changing, marking the beginning of a new chapter and providing her with skills and hope for a better future.

At RefuSHE, Sheliza learned how to operate a sewing machine and transform fabric into finished garments. She describes completing her first full garment independently as a moment of pride, realizing her ability to create something of value with her own hands. Her instructor describes her as a highly motivated and enthusiastic student.

Beyond technical skills, the program provided mentorship and peer support, helping her build confidence. She also gained knowledge in business, teamwork, and resource management. In addition to attending Fashion & Design class, Sheliza also received mental health support on our campus, which has helped her heal from the trauma she's experienced during her turbulent childhood.

Sheliza recently completed an internship at a local tailoring shop and graduated earlier this month, earning a national certification in tailoring and dressmaking - a critical step towards launching her fashion and design career. She now hopes to establish her own small tailoring business.

“RefuSHE gave me hope, purpose, and a second chance. Because of them, I now believe in my future.”

Digital Literacy program

Beauty Art & Nail program

Fashion & Design program

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Nov 28, 2025
Nearly 60 RefuSHE students celebrate graduation

By Emile Dawisha | Development Director

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 | Sheliza/Fashion & Design

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