Education and Empowerment for Refugee Girls

“Thanks to Heshima Kenya I now feel like I can be whatever I choose to be. When I first came to Heshima Kenya I didn’t know how to say “Good morning” because I could only speak French and my mother tongue. Heshima taught me how to speak English and how to work hard for my future.”

Cecilia is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and came to Kenya in May 2014 alone because of the fighting in her country. She fled the Congo due to the war, where both her parents were killed by the militia and was separated from her only brother. The militia held her hostage for over a year where Cecilia was sexually assaulted and, as a result, got pregnant. Luckily another woman, who was also a hostage herself, helped Cecilia escape and together they fled to another village where Cecilia was hoping to reunite with her paternal uncle. Upon arrival, she found out that her uncle had also been killed and that his wife was living on her own. Cecilia lived with her aunt till she gave birth. The war broke out again in their village and Cecilia had to flee again, this time with her aunt. Cecilia had a very difficult relationship with her aunt and one day after they had a disagreement, her aunt left, taking Cecilia’s son with her. Cecilia was devastated but had no choice that when war started over a third time, Cecilia had to flee with a truck driver who brought her to Nairobi, Kenya. Once she was in Nairobi, Cecilia was able to find a Congolese man who took her to a woman who offered to host her for a while. The neighbors offered to host Cecilia for a short time after that. The neighbors took Cecilia to HIAS and then to UNHCR to register. At the UNHCR, Cecilia heard about Heshima Kenya through the other girls registering. Cecilia came to Heshima Kenya’s offices in October of 2014 and was enrolled into the Education and Safe House program.

Cecilia was enrolled into the Girls’ Empowerment Project where she continues to receive education. She is currently enrolled in the Level 3 Programming. She has registered to take the KCPE exams in November 2016. In 2015, she was enrolled into the vocational training, graduated, and joined the Maisha Collective in January 2016. She is able to earn her own income as part of the Maisha Collective, where she dyes and hand makes scarves. Through the stipend Cecilia earns from the Maisha Collective, she is able to support herself and even host other Heshima Kenya girls who are reintegrating back into the community from the Safe House program. Cecilia is saving up and planning on setting up her own small grocery business when she graduates from the collective in 2018.

Heshima Kenya took Cecilia to the Red Cross to help her locate her child, but the investigation is unfortunately still ongoing. To help her cope with the trauma and focus on empowering herself, Cecilia was enrolled into counseling sessions.With the support she received from Heshima Kenya, Cecilia still has hope of one day finding her child. Cecilia is very thankful for the support she has received and the friends she has made through Heshima Kenya.

“At Heshima Kenya I’ve learned to speak Kiswahili and English and also learned subjects I didn’t even know existed like social studies and science. I’m paying for my own rent and food and one day I know my child will come back to me and I’ll be proud to show her how far I have come”.