KINTSUGI COVID-19 APPEAL FOR INTERVENTION

Dear reader,

As in the rest of the world, Kenya is also affected by COVID-19 virus. A lockdown across the country has been underway since April 6th and this has an enormous impact on refugees living in Kenya. Most refugees come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi,Ethiopia, Somalia, South Soudan, etc. These refugees,often struggling to survive are now facing a very hard time because their sources of livelihood (casual jobs)have been closed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Kasarani district has about 4,000 refugee families out of 85.000 refugees living in Nairobi. They are desperate, anxious and helpless with the impact ofCovid-19 on their lives. Refugees do not benefit from the government social protection, they stand alone in these difficult times! Some of these sweeping stories have been written here to give an impression of the suffering and hopeless situation for many refugees.`

“My name is Umuhoza , I am a mother of three children I lost my husband back in Congo , my long survival story started in 2012 when every member of My Family was killed , I arrived in Kenya in 2013 and started a hard life with my children, I was working for a Kenyan in Gikomba market who was paying me 1$ every day suddenly he decided to stop the business because they were no Customers, this was become of the COVID-19. I went back home and everything bad started by then, I really struggled my friends whom I could run to for help were also struggling, we have been without food for many days now , I am appealing to any person of good heart to support my family so that I can get what to feed my children . God bless you all.”

“My name is Solange
I am a 16 years old girl I live with my 4 siblings, my two younger brothers and two younger sisters , one is 14, 12, 10, and a 9 years old, we lost our parents back in Congo due to war and when I arrived in Kenya there is nothing else I could do because I was the eldest, I stopped thinking that I was still a child I started looking for jobs to do, I was working in a saloon and during the weekend I could go into people's houses and ask to wash their clothings for me to get money, when the current pandemic started I lost my saloon job, the situation became very bad this people who were giving me a job to wash their clothings also stopped calling me because of fear, I am now struggling appealing to every person of a good heart who might come to our rescue . God bless you”

As you have read, these refugees are having a terrible time and although the need is great, we would like to have an impact on the most vulnerable families in Kasarani. Not uncommonly it often concerns orphans or young people who have to live under the most terrible circumstances. We appeal to your heart to make a donation for this purpose, to make a difference in this world we live in!

We give each family a package of rice, oil to cook with and, due to a lack of disinfectants, soap, sanitizers and face mask for COVID-19. It will help them tremendously!

We ask you for your help to support these vulnerable people!

Kind regards,

Bahati Ghislain
CEO of KINSUGI CBO

Kintsugi is a fully registered and recognized Refugees Led Organization (RLO) which has founded by a Refugees from Republic Democratic of Congo in existence since March 2016 and collaboratively works to help improve the lives of refugees who reside in Nairobi and the community at large.