By Madeline Balser | Development Manager
Cecilia was only 13 years old when she found herself facing the chaos of war while visiting her grandparents during the holidays in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Fleeing with her younger sister and grandparents, Cecilia sought refuge in Kenya where she learned about RefuSHE from friends who were already enrolled in the program. Before joining RefuSHE, Cecilia had limited communication and literacy skills. She joined the Girls Empowerment Program (GEP) to learn how to read and write as well as gain basic numeracy skills.
After successfully completing her basic education courses, Cecilia enrolled in tailoring classes. The goal of RefuSHE’s Vocational Training program is to equip refugee girls with the technical and practical skills they need to become financially independent once they leave our programs. We offer vocational training tracks in tailoring, ICT and digital skills, carpentry, joinery, and more. We also provide access to income-generating opportunities through the Artisan Collective and partnerships with organizations that facilitate entrepreneurship training and job placements. We ensure our students feel empowered and prepared to enter the job market and successfully build careers upon completion of their training.
Today, Cecilia is learning the basics of dressmaking under Kenya’s National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) curriculum. Her favorite part of the program is the pattern-making and drafting class, where she is learning how to sew, stitch, draft patterns, and be creative with new materials and tools.
Cecilia has grown dramatically during her two years at RefuSHE. She remembers a time when making friends was hard and getting an education felt impossible. However, in the GEP, Cecilia has made friends and become more confident. Most importantly, she can now read and write, a skill she once thought was unattainable.
Cecilia looks forward to improving her tailoring skills and becoming a well-established fashion designer in the future. She dreams of tailoring men's suits and starting her own sewing business after completing her studies at RefuSHE.
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By Madeline Balser | Development Manager
By Madeline Balser | Development & Communications Coordinator
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