On Friday, July 2nd, RefuSHE was honored to receive Her Excellency Mrs. Aline Kuster-Ménager, the French Ambassador to Kenya, to our campus. Welcomed by RefuSHE’s CEO, Geoffrey Thige, H.E. Mrs. Aline explored RefuSHE’s campus to learn more about the young refugee women in our care and their experiences at RefuSHE. She was accompanied by Marie-Fidela Ashimwe, French Embassy Project Manager; Larry Asego, French Embassy Head of Press and Communications Office; and Adelle Onyango, a Kenyan media personality, social activist, and podcaster.

Touring the computer labs and tailoring workshops featuring some of our campus’ new facilities, RefuSHE’s IT trainer, Susan Thiari, gave H.E. an overview of courses offered in the IT program. H.E. talked briefly with the IT students, delivering words of encouragement. After the IT lab visit, H.E. visited a Grade 3 tailoring class where one of the girls shared the projects they were involved in as part of the Girls Empowerment Program. Demonstrating their newfound skills in hand and machine stitching, pattern drafting, sewing, and recently, making shaggy matts, the girls were excited to show H.E. Mrs. Aline their outfit creations showcased around the room. H.E. even tried her hand at stitching a scarf under the careful tutelage of one of the Artisan Collective leaders, Denise!

Introducing the Artisan Collective, Business Development Manager, Stephen Kithusi, walked H.E. through the product development process and details of the economic empowerment program. This caught H.E.’s attention as she asked questions to the artisans about their experiences creating hand-dyed garments. Other notable encounters included a visit to the yoga room on campus and media interviews with Adelle Onyango.

After the campus tour, the visiting delegation and the RefuSHE team took seats in front of the students at the parade grounds for the celebrations. The Artisan Collective had prepared a fashion show and models adorned in hand-dyed stylish outfits created by our artisans sashayed on the catwalk to whoops and cheers from the other students. Following this, a few children in the daycare program came out to introduce themselves and recite a poem, amid wild applause!

Next, several girls wearing bright-colored tie-dyed clothing performed a well-choreographed dance to traditional music from Congo. The girls stole the show, and it was not long before they approached the seated audience to join in! Faustine, a student in the IT class, ended the festivities by presenting the dignitary with a gift (a handmade neckpiece which she helped fasten around H.E.’s neck).

H.E. Mrs. Aline then gave a speech to commend the girls and their impressive talents and determination. A satisfying end to a busy day, this visit will provide lasting memories for us all. RefuSHE’s partnership with The French Embassy is intended to provide much-needed support through the PISCCA fund to enable the program to enhance access to livelihood opportunities for refugee women in Nairobi. We are grateful to Her Excellency for taking the time to learn more about our initiative and the refugee women, girls, and children we serve.

Her Excellency, The French Ambassador, Visits RefuSHE

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