Media personality Pinky Ghelani has launched The Sustainable Livelihoods Initiative to support women refugees in Kenya in her capacity as a High Level Influencer for the UNHCR.

The initiative, which was launched last Saturday at a brunch titled “The Power of Her”, saw powerful and influential women gather at The Trademark Hotel to witness and participate.

“I started the initiative to call on the strength of every woman to give back to women in refugee camps who need their dignity restored. We look to empower these women with skills to support their families and reclaim their power,” said Pinky.

REFUGEE WOMEN

The Sustainable Livelihoods Initiative aims to raise Sh5million this year. The brunch was the first of a series that seeks to gather smaller groups with high influence with a common and joint aim to raise the dignity of displaced women and children.

All funds pledged and contributed will go toward furthering UNHCR activities aimed at empowering the refugee women such as business, vocational and entrepreneurial training; cash grants & market networks.

As a member of the LuQuLuQu Tribe under the UNHCR, Pinky became the first African to reach into her social capital and resource to contribute to their mandate which is to shaping the narrative of Africa’s displaced, and drive contributions toward supporting refugees to be self-reliant.

DISPLACEMENT

In Africa 24.2 million people have been forced out of their homes. Kenya is host to 471,724 refugees with 78% of them being women and children.

Some have been in displacement for more than 20 years unsure of when they will go back home.