HESHIMA KENYA TO FEATURE 2016 MOTHER'S DAY SCARF at POP-UP SHOP APRIL 29-MAY 1

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Heshima Kenya will host a pop-up shop on Friday, April 29th –Sunday, May 1st at Activate Chicago’s Boombox (1266 N Milwaukee) from 10:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m. The 2016 Maisha Collective “Mother’s Day Scarf” will be showcased as well as the rest of the colorful collection that is handmade by refugee girls in Nairobi.

The Maisha Collective is an income-generating social enterprise that serves to foster leadership, business skills, and economic self-sufficiency for its members. Through the creation of hand dyed textiles and scarves, Heshima Kenya sells its products internationally and reinvests 100% of its sales into education programs as well as salaries for artisans. While the Maisha Collective serves as a creative and therapeutic outlet, it also teaches transferrable tailoring and financial literary skills. Members receive a monthly stipend, assistance in opening a savings account and upon graduation transitional support into the community.

Heshima Kenya is a Chicago-based non-profit that operates in Nairobi Kenya and is the first organization in Kenya devoted to protecting young, unaccompanied and separated refugee girls ages 13 to 23 years old. From countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi, these refugees have fled violence and terrorism. Many have lost their families, been kidnapped, trafficked, and unlawfully detained. Heshima Kenya provides a shelter, education, vocational training, case management support and advocacy in a healing, community-driven environment.

“The Maisha Collective provides an opportunity for our girls to see themselves as entrepreneurs and move beyond the label of a refugee. We are proud to share their work with our Chicago community,” states Alisa Roadcup, Executive Director of Heshima Kenya.

Since 2008, Heshima Kenya’s support has touched the lives of over 3,079 refugee girls and is the first and only organization of its kind to be recognized for their innovative, holistic care model that meets the full spectrum of needs of refugee girls.

On average, 22% of Heshima Kenya’s girls are resettled while the international refugee resettlement rate is less than 1%. This is because every girl’s future is being legally fought for and supported through Heshima Kenya’s case management advocacy.

For more information on Heshima Kenya, please visit www.heshimakenya.org or call 312.985.5667.