On our last day in Eastleigh - a neighborhood in Nairobi where many Somali refugees have found community - we’re returning to our friend Jamila and the wonderful ideas she has to make her neighborhood a better place for all who live there. Jamila knows that the benefits of sports – of exercise, of moving around – are universal. She knows its’ power to form friendships, encourage teamwork, and help people heal from trauma. And, she knows that these benefits shouldn’t be restricted to boys – girls should have access to the power of sports, too. So for Day 111, we teamed up with Jamila to form a new basketball league in Eastleigh – one for girls. We rented a basketball court and a coach in the heart of Eastleigh, and gathered a group of interested girls from Jamila’s network. And then, the fun began. “We used this opportunity to teach the girls the importance of teamwork and healthy competition,” said Jamila. During intervals, the girls had time to get to know each … [Read more...] about Teaming Up

Yesterday we met Jamila, an incredible young woman in the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi who is a beacon of light in her community. On top of counseling people who are suffering from mental illness, she does what she can to help other young women in Eastleigh become more independent and stay emotionally healthy, too. On Day 110, Jamila had an idea. Henna “tattoos” are a popular way for Somalia women to mark celebrations on the weekend – festivals, weddings, community gatherings, and holidays are all times when henna is demand in Eastleigh. So, Jamila thought, what we if held a workshop and helped young women learn the art of henna? We thought this was a great idea. Together with Jamila, we gathered 20 young women in the community – all women who live in the Eastleigh neighborhood and who need low-barrier ways to make cash. And Jamila set about teaching these women how to do makeup, and of course, perfect the art of henna. As the women worked, Jamila talked to … [Read more...] about The Art of Healing

The Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi is full of doers. And Jamila is one of them. She’s young, driven, and she’s changing minds in Eastleigh. “If I give you food but I don’t listen to you, have your needs been met? People think that basic necessities are all that is needed for survival, but without good mental health, you can’t survive in these places. You cannot.” Jamila is a counselor. And day by day, she’s changing the perception of mental health in the Somali refugee community. Every Saturday, you’ll find her offering counseling services across ages and genders, and slowly overcoming barriers. We believe deeply in the importance of the work Jamila is doing. But we also know that for her generosity to continue to spread, she needs a reliable space to talk comfortably with her clients. And sometimes the funds to pay the rent at can be hard to come by. So we thought we could support Jamila in a small way – by helping her with rent. With rent covered for a few months – … [Read more...] about Peace of Mind

When we were at Farhiya’s Salon in Eastleigh, Nairobi, we met a very special young girl - Farhiya’s daughter. Her name is Jihan. As refugees living in a big city, life is difficult for Jihan and her family. Despite owning a business, Farhiya is a single mother. It can be tough to provide for her kids. Sadly, Jihan has been out of school for the past two years. But Farhiya’s business partner and friend wanted to do something about it. “Her young girl needs to go back to school,” said Rahma, “These are important years in her education.” We couldn’t agree more. So we partnered with Rahma to do something for her friend’s daughter. Something that will put her back on the right track – that could give her a brighter future. We got her back in school. We set out for St. Juliet Primary school in Eastleigh – where Jihan had in school been before. And in just a few short hours, her school fees, uniform, books, and transportation were sorted out. She was back to school that very … [Read more...] about The Future is Bright

Rahma and Farhiya – refugees from Somalia – are the owners of Farhiya’s Salon in Eastleigh, Nairobi. They’re urban refugees, people who have fled their homes but who live outside of the camp system. They’ve made a living offering typical salon services, like haircuts and styling. But, they’re determined to provide for their customer’s futures, too. Inside their salon, they have a training space for teaching refugee women the skills they need to compete in the competitive Eastleigh economy. “16 years ago we started this salon with only $300. And now here we are!” Rahma recalls. She knows how a little capital – and a little training – can go a long way toward helping people get on their feet. But on Day 107, we discovered a problem – their business license had expired last year. They were at risk of being shut down. They just hadn’t been able to pull together enough funds to make it happen. But we saw something we could solve. With the help of our friend Daud, we set to … [Read more...] about Women Who Give Back

In Eastleigh, people look out for each other. Many urban refugees from Somalia – people who are living outside of the refugee camp system - have made a life for themselves in this Nairobi neighborhood. And over the years neighbors have pitched in to help their neighbors survive. To make change from the ground up. Daud is a true Changemaker for his community. He’s a journalist who cares about those who may slip through the cracks, who society doesn’t always see. “I give a voice to the voiceless,” he says. “In everything I do, that’s what I hope.” One of those he looks out for is a young woman named Saidah. Saidah’s been struggling to get by, and has barely been able survive with the profits from her small tea business. Right now, she’s living in rented room at a hotel. She feels rootless, the stress of living day to day is wearing. She could really use her own apartment. Daud had an idea to help Saidah in a big way – by getting her a place of her own. With Daud’s … [Read more...] about A Place of Her Own

Welcome to Eastleigh, a bustling neighborhood in Nairobi and the home of many urban refugees from Somalia. These refugees are on their own. No services from organizations, no camp infrastructure. Being an urban refugee can be an incredibly isolating experience – it can feel like you’ve slipped through the cracks. That’s why in Eastleigh, Somali refugees have established their own networks – the neighborhood has become a hub for thriving businesses and ingenious entrepreneurs, a place where budding businesspeople earn their stripes. But there are people who remain in the margins - who are struggling to survive. So over the next few days, we’re boosting the amazing things that are already happening in Eastleigh in small - but powerful - ways. Meet Anzal. She fled from Somalia as a little girl. For the past five years, Anzal and her sister have been running a tea shop in Eastleigh. And now, they’re known as making some of the best Somali tea outside of Somalia! The demand for … [Read more...] about Welcome to Eastleigh