By Millicent Atieno Kiragu | Associate Director Safe House and Case Management
In May 2017, Cécile, a 16-year-old girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Masisi village, arrived in Nairobi after enduring a long journey to escape the deadly war in her home country.
Earlier in April 2017, men dressed in military attire broke into Cécile’s family’s home to warn them of impending danger. Cécile, her mother, and two siblings left immediately for the nearby road to look for some form of transport. Unfortunately, they encountered gunshots at the end of the road and everyone scattered to escape the gunshots. Cécile was caught in the fire and suffered a wound to the forehead. She lost track of her family in the commotion, but found herself in the company of 7 other girls and 2 women also escaping violence. They provided her with first aid for her injury as they continued their journey.
They travelled together by car to Uganda, but Cécile lost contact with the group at the border when they were separated. From there, she boarded a bus alone from Uganda to Kenya. She met a few kind strangers on the bus who helped her get to Nairobi and took her to an area in Kayole where other Congolese refugees are known to reside.
In Kayole, she met former neighbors from the DRC who took her in. Life in Kayole was challenging though. Her caregivers had no reliable income and relied on odd jobs to sustain the household. It was also difficult for Cécile, with no job skills and limited Swahili, to support herself. While still in Kayole, she became pregnant and life got even harder. Her caregivers encouraged her to go to the Refugee Affairs Secretariat for further assistance. She was referred to the RefuSHE Girls’ Empowerment Project and the Safe House.
Cécile and her baby are now living at the Safe House and are doing well. Counseling from the Safe House staff has helped her cope with her significant psychological trauma. She also successfully delivered her baby girl at the Safe House and is learning to become a responsible mother. Her forehead wound has healed, but it still causes headaches and discomfort that the Safe House staff help her to manage with proper medical care. Cécile can now communicate effectively in Swahili and is learning English under the Girls’ Empowerment Project. She has formed friendships with the other girls and her daughter is able to play at the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC). Cécile states that she is happy and feels safe now thanks to RefuSHE.
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