Sadly, hardly a day goes by when there is not a story about the plight of refugees trying to escape the horrors of conflict in some part of the world. The stories of desperation and fear will tear at your heart, making you want to find some way to help.
Thankfully, there is an organization in Nairobi, Kenya, whose mission is not only to help provide refuge and care for one group of refugees living there, but also to help them help themselves.
Heshima Kenya provides support for girls ages 13 to 23 years old from Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi who have lost their families and, in many cases, been victims of kidnapping, rape, trafficking, unlawful detainment, or torture due to wars going on in their homelands. Among the many holistic services provided by Heshima Kenya are shelter, medical care, education, job training and legal advocacy.
The Tariq Farid Foundation has provided a $25,000 grant to the organization and now is asking others to add their support through a challenge grant of up to $25,000. I hope you will join us in providing your support.
Heshima Kenya reaches out to some of the most vulnerable people in our world, and provides them with hope as well as the skills they need for a better future through the Girls’ Empowerment Project.
The grant from the Tariq Farid Foundation will help fund an expansion of this inspirational project that includes basic education courses, life skills workshops, vocational training in tailoring, and a collective in which young women learn business management skills and earn an income through the production of hand-dyed scarves and textiles. The beautiful scarves can be purchased online.
The project currently serves 140 girls and young women, and the expansion scheduled for January will increase that to 200 girls, allowing the Girls’ Empower Project to accept many who are currently on a waiting list.
These girls have been through unthinkable horrors, but thanks to the work of Heshima Kenya they are now being empowered to lead healthy and productive lives. I hope that you will join us this holiday season with your own gift to help these young women create a better future for themselves.
To donate to the matching campaign, please visit the website at https://www.heshimakenya.org/donateNow.php.
To purchase a handmade scarf created by the young women at Heshima Kenya, visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeshimaKenya.
Finally, I want to wish each of you and your families a safe and happy holiday, wherever you are.
(0)