In August 2013, when she was just 24, Joseline* fled her home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo after surviving a brutal act of sexual violence perpetrated by six unknown male attackers. Now 27, she is getting a new lease on life thanks to the help she received from HIAS.
Despite an international ban on the use of torture, it is still a heartbreakingly common tactic around the globe. HIAS Kenya took on 180 such cases last year. This year, they already have more than 70 new ones.
Henry started his business with just five hand-sewn tote bags made from pieces of traditional East African fabric. They were an instant hit, and he has been expanding ever since. Over the past 11 months, he has hired 20 LGBT refugees to do piece-work, cutting the fabric he uses to make his bags. By working from home, they stay safe and are still able to earn a living.
On June 20, 2016, World Refugee Day celebrations around the world honored the bravery and perseverance of the millions of men, women and children who are refugees today—and also provided an opportunity for refugees themselves to have a bit of fun.
Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp, is home to more than 344,000 refugees. If it were a city, it would be Kenya’s third largest. On Wednesday, the Kenyan Interior Ministry announced plans to close the camp by November. The announcement has raised significant concerns from local and international refugee protection organizations.
To help their clients restore some normalcy to their lives, HIAS Kenya changed the way it provides food assistance so that refugees can go to the supermarket. Just like their friends and neighbors do. Just like they did, before they fled.
Ask Lucy Kiama about refugees or victims of sexual violence in Kenya and she instantly offers a wealth of information and useful context. Her accent is lovely, almost musical, but the words are serious and full of determination. “What drew me to HIAS was the focus on helping the most vulnerable,” Kiama says. “Being forcibly displaced from their countries does not mean that their lives have stopped.”
Winnie Gacheru, director of psychosocial programs at HIAS Kenya, describes working with some of the world's most vulnerable refugees in this short video.
Winnie is the director of psychosocial programs at HIAS Kenya, where she works to help refugees deal with the psychological and emotional effects of the traumatic experiences they have faced and helps to restore dignity in their lives.
Burundi, rocked by a spate of assassinations and post-election violence, looks increasingly likely to spiral out of control. Thousands have fled the country, adding to an already worrisome refugee situation in the region.