We empower refugee communities through sustainable fashion training, climate education, and entrepreneurship development, creating pathways to economic independence while addressing environmental challenges.
Refugee camps are often located in climate-vulnerable regions where extreme weather and resource scarcity exacerbate the struggles of displaced populations. The fast fashion industry contributes significantly to global carbon emissions and waste, creating a cycle of environmental harm that affects us all.
Participants learn to transform discarded materials—such as plastic waste, old clothing, and fabric scraps—into stylish, eco-friendly garments and accessories. This upcycling approach reduces waste while creating beautiful, sustainable fashion.
Our project includes comprehensive workshops on climate change, teaching participants about its impacts and how sustainable practices can mitigate environmental damage. Knowledge is power in the fight against climate change.
We equip refugees with essential business skills to turn their sustainable fashion creations into income-generating ventures. This fosters economic independence and creates lasting positive change in their communities.
Between March and August 2023, MayHem, in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) and partner organisations, executed an interactive radio series across Somalia to engage citizens and gather insights on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services and related issues. The project aimed to understand and enhance women's access to SRH services while addressing concerns like Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Parallel to the radio engagement, MayHem conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) in each Federal Member State of Somalia. These discussions targeted marginalised groups, yielding a total of 270 participants. The FGDs validated and deepened the findings from the radio series, ensuring the inclusion of minority voices in the analysis.
We conducted a data-driven research on the impact of war on health services in 3 major cities in Somalia. The project sought to identify existing projects working with displaced women living in refugee camps and data collection in 4 public hospitals around Mogadishu
