One of my favorite people I've met in Nairobi is Crane, an incredibly kind-hearted and hardworking person who has dreams to re-establish his fashion businesses. Before he fled to Kenya as a refugee, he was a well-known designer who also ran a successful modeling agency. Many knew him and his beautiful kitenge designs for both men and women across Uganda. Those who went through his modeling agency often found themselves at the doors of success in the modeling world. When I saw pictures and videos of his previous work, it was no wonder why! It was clear he was talented beyond words. Now, on the outskirts of Nairobi, he has found his creative space and is well on the road to re-establishing himself. Community members and beyond are rocking his designs - a range of casual t-shirts, dresses, and formal wear. Even his modeling agency has seen tremendous growth over the last few months since we had last met! Crane is a leader with a beautiful mission: his business Lunko Haute … [Read more...] about Where Beauty Meets Bravery
Archives for September 2019
Telling Their Own Stories
I'm back with Doreen, from the Refugee Trans Initiative, who never fails to inspire me. She's always dreaming up new ways to think of a better tomorrow for her friends and the rest of the LGBTIQ refugee community in Nairobi. One fine Kenyan winter day, we spent many hours with RTI thinking about how their small businesses could grow further into support systems not only for the residents, in their safe house, but beyond. And it was during this day we heard about “Silent Scream Board” idea (which I still think is a brilliant idea to promote wellbeing!), and another new idea around storytelling integrated into holistic spa services. The RTI spa had been doing well, but the team running the initiative reached a point where they felt like they needed to re-evaluate their strategy moving forward. Doreen told us with excitement that they were developing a plan “to train fellow LGBTIQ refugees in beauty therapy – a combination of spa and [talk] therapy skills.” She went on to say … [Read more...] about Telling Their Own Stories
Hop to It
The Refugee Trans Initiative has another inspirational thought leader, the co-founder and current lead of RTI - Vanilla. Our team has followed Vanilla's journey for months, even before there was a formal community-based organization called RTI. We've been there for the initiation of the organization, development and expansion of the spa business, and overall growth of their safe house. Where we haven't been able to support projects directly, we've provided connections and moral support because we believe so deeply in Vanilla's vision for the transgender refugee community. During one our recent conversations, Vanilla and I were talking about leadership skills, specifically about strategies she uses to ensure peace and stability in their safe house. The LGBTIQ refugee community faces many barriers. And given these experiences, they often don't know where their next meal will come from. Many leaders, including Vanilla, have told us stories of people in their houses only eating … [Read more...] about Hop to It
You Are More Than Enough
Hello hello from Nairobi, where my colleagues (and friends!), Jamie, Zeinab, and I, are once again working as part of a team to support the LGBTIQ refugee community! You may remember the series of projects we implemented earlier this year in response to an emergency relocation of nearly 200 refugees due to security and protection gaps in Kakuma Refugee camp, where they were staying. We also met many others living in urban Nairobi, part of a 500+ community. It broke our hearts to see the marginalization coupled with homophobia many in the community faced, but believe me when I say there were an equal number of bright spots - both amazing people and beautiful moments - that gave us such a strong sense of hope! This time around, we mostly checked in with the small community-based organizations, which had emerged over time from within the community themselves. These organizations, known as CBOs, are usually one of the first places people turn to for support. As Kenn from one of … [Read more...] about You Are More Than Enough
Up to Date
"We want our guests to feel like they are at an airport." Guests arrive at the Casa Alitas respite center in Tucson after having been processed by immigration. They spend a couple of days or weeks until they can go to their final destination, where their sponsors are located throughout the USA. When I think of an airport, I imagine a well-oiled machine of time-tables and schedules - and that is exactly what you find at Casa Alitas. Nearly every room has printed lists of schedules of when families are scheduled for their bus departure, transfers, if any, and where they're heading. Some rooms contain monitors that display and update, much like an airport. This information is vital for keeping everyone organized - the asylum seekers, the 1,000 volunteers per week, and the one paid staff person. Since the center has seen over 14,000 asylum seekers pass through its doors since October 2018, this is a big job! Due to the sheer volume of people that this location hosts, they are … [Read more...] about Up to Date
Gone Fishing
"His name is Fernando!" exclaims Gretchen, the Site Director at the Inn Project in Tucson, Arizona. "And the kids at the Inn Project absolutely adore him." Gretchen told me about how they had gotten fish for the kids to take care of while they're there, but they had died unexpectedly. The kids were devastated. When the center got a new fish, the kids were given the chance to name it. Suggestions were taken from each resident and then drawn out of a hat, so just like that the fish had a name - Fernando. The thought of these kids, who have little to nothing themselves, were so concerned for the well-being of a simple fish melted my heart. We wanted to make sure that Fernando can live a long and happy life and continue to give the kids something to care for during their stay at the Inn Project. The current tank had a broken filter and missing light, so we knew it was time to get him a new tank, fish food, and extra filters. Because the fish was outside of the center's … [Read more...] about Gone Fishing
Lived Experience
"It’s not a migrant issue or even a Southwest issue. It’s a people issue." That’s why the Sisters of Notre Dame in Douglas, Arizona always have a full house. They open up their home so that people can experience exactly what's happening on the border. Just stepping into the harsh desert alone gives you more context - there is no way to fathom the journey across this inhospitable landscape. School groups from the Northern United States frequently come down to stay with the Sisters. And they feel a special connection to students because most of them were teachers themselves. Many times these visiting high school students are Latino, and want to see what's happening firsthand. "I remember a time when were took a group of high school students from New Jersey into the desert," she said, "and a particular student came to a cross and read the name. She exclaimed and thanked God it wasn't her father’s name on the that cross." I too was grateful to have made the journey to the … [Read more...] about Lived Experience
In Limbo
Upon arrival into Agua Prieta, the Mexico side of the border, you'll find a line of families waiting for their case number to be called by Border Patrol. As we spent time with the 21 families in line on the day we visited, we found some families that had been waiting 2 days and others for 2 weeks - in that same line. After conversations with residents staying in makeshift tents, it became apparent that they were not only unprotected from the sun, but they were also unprotected from the driving rain and insects. Without plumbing, they had to use a separate tent as the bathroom and had no washing basin for their hands. But people were making due with what they had - a few bits of string, tarps, or pallets. We knew there was something we could do to make their days even a little easier... We went off to the local supermarket and hardware store, where we bought cases of bottled water, larger hand sanitizers with pumps for easy use in the bathroom tent, and mosquito spray in … [Read more...] about In Limbo
Exchanging Hope
Meet Betto. He's the shelter manager at CAME (Centro de Atencion Al Migrante Exodus), and is responsible for making sure this shelter operates safely. When we arrived in Agua Prieta, Mexico, where the shelter is located, there were about 30 residents in there hailing from Mexico, Venezuela, and even as far as Russia. Betto has been working at this shelter for over 20 years, and in that time has seen many residents come and go, and move on to a better life. Betto really cares about his residents. He was particularly worried about people coming from Russia - they have a had time communicating in Spanish, or even finding foods familiar to them. CAME’s budget has been slashed as donations have started dwindling, so residents have had to sink into their own funds to stock the communal kitchen and even to purchase shelter cleaning supplies. By gifting CARE with culturally appropriate spices, fresh produce familiar to the residents, and hygienic cleaning supplies, we were able to … [Read more...] about Exchanging Hope
Gone But Not Forgotten
For Sister Judy of the Sisters of Notre Dame, celebrating life, even until its end, is a powerful way to remember and honor those we've lost. And she wanted to show us why. Following GPS coordinates, Sister Judy to where Nora Cecilia Huetas Hernandez's body, a migrant attempting to cross the border, had been discovered in 2003. As we approached the site, a white cross came into view. The crosses are a reminder of migrants who are lost in the desert. And with the help of the Sisters, these people are remembered. Through a symbolic celebration of life ceremony that includes community members, a Native American shaman, and a meal shared together and a handmade cross, the Sisters take time to honor the lives that were lost. Their ministry is called the Cross Planting Initiative, where they work to learn about the unknown migrants who have died trying to cross. Once a month, they lead a group out on a cross-planting ceremony where they hand-make a cross and give the person a proper … [Read more...] about Gone But Not Forgotten