RefuSHE

RefuSHE protects and empowers refugee girls, young women, and their children in Nairobi, Kenya. Heshima, n (Swahili). Respect - Honor - Dignity

09/03/2026

Meet Achol, a South Sudanese-Kenyan refugee 🇸🇸 🇰🇪 and RefuSHE Fashion & Design student. Achol has dreamed of working in the fashion industry for as long as she can remember.

“I had always wanted to study fashion, but there was no one who could pay for my tuition, so I wasn’t able to enroll in college,” she said. “Instead, I decided to do whatever small jobs I could find. I thought maybe I could save enough to pay for one term, then go back to work, save again, and continue my studies little by little until I achieved my dream.”

This January, Achol enrolled in RefuSHE’s Fashion & Design course, as part of a 30-student cohort. The program runs through December and culminates in an internship.

“Coming to RefuSHE has taught me so much. I’ve learned how to use a sewing machine, draft patterns, sew garments, and work confidently with sewing tools. Now I can make shirts, dresses, skirts, handbags, and many other items.”

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories, as part of our RefuSHE RISES storytelling series.

09/01/2026

Meet Esperance, a Congolese refugee who runs her own produce stand in Nairobi. Esperance joined a RefuSHE Women Ambassador Group to build her business and join a community of fellow refugee women/business owners. With financial support and business expertise from RefuSHE, Esperance has expanded her business and no longer worries about paying school and medical fees for her children.

Watch the full film by clicking the link below.

08/23/2026

What does sisterhood 👩‍❤️‍👩 mean to you? Share in the comments!

Amy Fulton, a Harvard medical student, has worn many hats in her young life: a firefighter 🧑‍🚒, an EMT, a Global Health student, activist ✊, and budding neuroscientist. Along the way, she has leaned on her sisterhood of friends, family, classmates and mentors for support and expertise.

“I’m so glad to have so many strong and inspiring women in my life.”

08/21/2026

What does sisterhood 👩‍❤️‍👩 mean to you? Share in the Comments!

Jedidda is a RefuSHE alumna who graduated from our Fashion & Design vocational program and is now sharing the expertise she learned with a new class of students. As the Vocational Instructor Assistant, Jedidda is not only teaching; she’s also helping build a sisterhood of young women with shared experiences and ambitions.

“During my time as a student in the girl empowerment program, sisterhood played a very important role in my learning journey. We were from different backgrounds, but we supported one another like sisters. … The friendships and support I received during that time are something I still value today, and they contributed greatly to the person and professional I have become.”

08/20/2026

What does sisterhood 👩‍❤️‍👩 mean to you? Share in the Comments!

When Abizera joined RefuSHE’s Artisan Collective, she gained more than a steady income and marketable skills. She gained a caring community of refugee women with shared experiences.

“ Before coming to RefuSHE, I was always shy and unsure of myself. Being together with the other woman in the Collective has changed my outlook we share stories support one another, and I feel more confident in who I am.”

08/19/2026

Today, we honour refugee communities affected by conflict and displacement, and the humanitarian workers working behind the scenes to help them rebuild with dignity.

At RefuSHE, we remain committed to our core mandate: protecting, educating, and empowering refugee women and girls. 💙

08/06/2026

We were honored to host a team from Kenya Insurance Brokers Ltd. on campus today as part of their annual initiative.

The team spent the day engaging with our students and learning firsthand about our work and impact.

Beyond the visit, Sedgwick Kenya invested directly in our students' futures with -up kits to help them launch their own small businesses in beauty services and dressmaking.

We are grateful to Sedgwick Kenya for this continued partnership, and for investing in tools our students will carry forward 💛

07/30/2026

Two out of three people in the world who cannot read or write are women (UNESCO, 2024).

For refugee women, the gap is even wider. UNESCO puts adult refugee literacy at just 60 percent, well below the global average of 86.3 percent.

At RefuSHE, our functional literacy classes are closing that gap for refugee women in Nairobi, supported by the Zakat Foundation of America.

The classes go beyond reading and writing. Participants build the numeracy skills to compare prices at the market, follow health guidance, and keep up with their children's schoolwork, skills many of us never have to think twice about.

Literacy is also protection. It gives women a firmer hold on their own decisions, their rights, and their place in their communities.

As one of our teachers puts it, everyday tasks like accessing services or standing up for their rights get simpler once English improves. It reshapes daily routines and long term prospects alike.

Thank you to the Zakat Foundation of America for standing with the women in our program as they build these foundations for themselves and their families.

07/28/2026

At RefuSHE, we believe in the power of sisterhood 👩🏽👩‍❤️‍👩 - a caring community of refugee women with shared experiences and ambitions for brighter futures.

Stand with our sisters! Support our sisterhood: 🔗refushe.org/donate

Shoutout to Radhika G for capturing this great content!

Address

5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL
60637

Website

http://RefuSHE.org/

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