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Heshima Kenya is a U.S. headquartered non-profit organization and registered Kenyan NGO that specializes in identifying, protecting and providing shelter and education to abandoned and orphaned refugee children in Nairobi, Kenya. Our services, coupled with local resources and the refugee community, enable and empower unaccompanied refugee children to lead full and healthy lives.
Heshima is the Swahili word for respect, honor, and dignity. Heshima Kenya's holistic approach provides direct social services and works with organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Kenyan Red Cross and local NGO's, mosques, churches and the refugee community to eliminate the gaps in protection that these children often experience. The impact of Heshima Kenya's programs strengthens the supportive networks within the community and nurtures the physical, emotional and social development of unaccompanied refugee children. Foster Care Placement Heshima Kenya works with the Government of Kenya's Children's Department to place children in foster care. Heshima Kenya identifies and trains parents living within the urban community and provides ongoing provisions and case management services to each child in their care. The Children's Empowerment Project provides a safe and comfortable environment for children, especially girls, to cultivate their identifies and nurture peer support. The Youth Coordinator leads discussions on topics such as loss of family, forced marriage and abuse and integrates basic education with lessons such as nutrition, HIV/AIDs prevention, vocational skills and English as a Second Langauge. Outreach Heshima Kenya's outreach workers work with community members to enhance their understanding of child protection principles and ways to access community services. Heshima Kenya refers children for Red Cross family tracing and refugee registration.