Even if you have a room that holds your belongings, or where you spend lots of time, it doesn’t necessarily always feel like your own. Especially if you don't have the personal touches that look and feel like you. Today, we’re finishing up a project with two Ugandans who had a dream of opening a spa together. Now that they had their space, it was time to make it personal. To help them make the shop really feel like their own, we helped them get paint and furniture, in addition to the beauty supplies we helped them shop for yesterday. The two new spa owners picked out the colors and items they liked best, and then designed a sign to be hung out front and attract customers. “Spending the day with and shopping these two individuals demonstrated the passion and vision they have for their new business," said Jonah from the ARC team. "Seeing their salon in-progress made me incredibly excited for the beautiful space they are creating and for the empowerment that business … [Read more...] about Making it Personal

We spent yesterday working with two Ugandan refugees living in Nairobi. They had a dream of one day opening a spa of their own. Not only could it be a livelihood for the two, but it could be a space where they can be welcoming to all. After Day 97, they have their very own space! Today, we're getting the supplies necessary for running the successful business they want to create. The duo plan to offer a number of services — facial therapy, eyebrow shaping, nail extensions, gel and cutex polishing, plus manicures, pedicures, and acrylic nails. To attract a range of customers, they need a range of supplies, too. So we went out to a few shops and bought many of these supplies — face masks and exfoliating scrubs, nail clippers and emery boards, regular polish and gel polish...the works! “I forget how many small details go into businesses like this, but these two totally had everything down," said Samantha from the ARC team. "We could sit and budget out the supplies before … [Read more...] about Polishing Things Up

Whether it’s a piano for a budding pianist, or a mathematics textbook for a talented student, access to specific resources can open the world to the right person. Two Ugandan refugees we met in Nairobi were looking for exactly that. They'd fled Uganda after the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2013, and came to Kenya to seek refuge. The two met and became fast friends, realizing they had so much in common. Both had been trained as beauticians in Uganda — one specializing in hair and nails, and the other in makeup. They had a dream of opening their own spa together. We wanted to help them make this dream come true. So after spending a couple of weeks looking for a space, they finally decided on a small site tucked in between a number of other shops, and close to a main road that would direct a lot of traffic their way. We covered the first few months rent and helped with a deposit. Then they were off and running - a new spa, and a new beginning! “We have been … [Read more...] about A Space of Their Own

Shadia is a 20 year old single mom who fled Uganda, fearing for her safety after anti-gay laws were passed there. Not only is she strong and resilient young woman, she’s also a leader in her community as the founder of the Foundation for Lesbian Bisexual Queer Women Refugees. As Shadia puts it, women in the LGBTI community are especially vulnerable, and that’s why she’s dedicated herself to supporting women like her. But Shadia's facing a problem - the organization is low on funds. So she had an idea...she wants to start a jewelry business to fuel the group. And we were excited to help! Shadia took us to her favourite shops to buy supplies in Nairobi. We got beads, chains, strings and jewels in all sorts of colors. Shadia had an experienced jewelry maker train the members of FLBQR, and now the ladies are making bracelets, necklaces and rings. All the profit will go towards running group. Shadia is a bright star in her community. With a little boost to her idea, she'll … [Read more...] about Making a Difference

One of the friends we've made in Nairobi is Mbazira Moses. He's the Executive Director of Refugee Flag Kakuma, a local organization that supports and advocates for LGBTIQ+ refugees. He’s also a trusted community leader that works tirelessly to make sure the people around him are safe and cared for. He serves as a voice for the LGBTIQ+ refugee community living in Kenya and around the world. During the heightened protection issues in Kakuma Refugee Camp in December, Moses was one of many who was attacked by the police and local community. He was brutally beaten and his phone was destroyed and then confiscated. He arrived in new center in Nairobi without a phone, which meant that he really didn’t have any way to communicate with the outside world - including fellow community members living in urban Nairobi, those that remained in Kakuma, and others around the world who turned to him for updates about the community. When he could, he borrowed his friend’s phone. … [Read more...] about Thank You, Mbazira

The weather between Nairobi and Kakuma Refugee Camp is like night and day. Even though both are in Kenya, Nairobi’s temperatures drop significantly in the evening. In the desert environment of Kakuma, it's always hot and sandy. The group of LGBTIQ+ refugees from Kakuma we’ve met in the past few days are newly arrived in Nairobi, where warm clothes are a necessity. Most of the refugees that were relocated to the safe center came with just the clothes on their backs. The nights were cold and oftentimes unbearable, causing sickness and discomfort. We asked this community what other essentials they needed to make their lives a bit more comfortable. They were quick with their answer – they needed sweaters. With the help of one of our contacts at the center, we were able to purchase warm jumps in all the appropriate sizes for each adult there. And as the temperatures drop, a small difference today will make a world of change tonight. … [Read more...] about Safe and Warm

Yesterday we spent some time with LGBTIQ refugees who had fled Kakuma Refugee Camp, facing harassment and violence. There were more people, however, who fled for the same reasons - but because they left outside of official channels, they weren't allowed into the new safe space the whole group was a part of. New to Nairobi without any belongings, food, money, or contacts, they were forced to camp outside. One of the first things our team did once we were in Nairobi was visit this small group of people. We learned that they were struggling to get the support they needed. Many of them had not eaten in days. So we acted quickly, ordering food and drinks for everyone, assisted with medications and jumpers. We also connected them with local LGBTIQ community based organizations that operate safe houses, so that they could finally have a place to stay. … [Read more...] about Acting Quickly

Late last year, close to 200 LGBTIQ refugees were relocated from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya to a new space just outside Nairobi. They needed to move because they weren't safe - they were facing harassment and physical violence because of their identity. Their home in Kakuma had been ransacked, leaving them with next to nothing. In this new, highly secure center in Nairobi, which was once a gated school, people arrived with just the clothes on their back. While they were given blankets, the folks were in need of most basic things. But people weren’t allowed in and out of the Center, due to personal security issues. That's where we came in. These refugees weren't able to access the things they needed - and even if they did, they didn't have the money to buy them. Luckily, we were able to distribute cartfulls of basic toiletries – soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sanitary pads, helping this community regain their dignity. “It’s amazing what you’re doing for these … [Read more...] about Finding Abundance

While staff in our Nairobi office might order take out and eat with their office mates over lunch, it’s rare that the whole staff can come together for the midday meal. This team is so busy helping to run our Somalia program that time spent together isn't always the number one priority. So we did a quick survey — in the most discreet way possible — to figure out what food they would be most excited to eat. Unsurprisingly, the staff overwhelming voted in favor of Somali food, as a large part of our staff identify as Somali. So the choice was easy! We ordered an abundance of food: fish, goat, chicken, pasta, rice, chapati, bananas, and too many sauces to count. To drink, we also had fruit smoothies — avocado, mango, or passion fruit. People were delighted and surprised, and while some ate on individual plates, a group of women decided to eat in traditional Somali fashion, loading up a platter with food and eating together as a group. Everyone was soon busy chatting … [Read more...] about Time Together

Welcome to Kenya! We’ll be spending the next few days in and around Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and one of the largest cities in East Africa. First things first, we wanted to surprise our colleagues at the ARC Nairobi office. Like all our teams around the world, they work really hard. Their office space should work to refuel the energy spent ensuring our programs in Somalia run smoothly and save lives. One Friday afternoon, we decided to drum up a little surprise... When most of the staff had left for the weekend, we replaced the old coffee cups with fun, colorful ones, bought different types of coffee and tea, and got them a whole bunch of snacks. We wanted to make sure everyone's’ needs were met — for the staff with a sweet tooth, we got a variety of cookies, and for the salt lovers, different nuts and chips. Not only did this add a little color and some extra food to the office, but it transformed the coffee and tea station into a more inviting meeting spot, … [Read more...] about A Fresh Start