On 5 December 2020, Lunko House, a trans-led, community-based organization based in Kenya for gender diverse and sexual refugees, asylum seekers, and for both refugee and host-community youth, showcased its tailor-made 2020 fashion line at the East Africa International Fashion Week. In addition to the work in fashion, Lunko House promotes the quality of life of Refugees with priority given to POCs through safe housing, psychosocial support, and skills development and livelihood initiatives. The refugee-run fashion house made a runway splash resulting in an Award of Honor at the event.
Lunko Caitlyn Lubega, the Executive Director of the organization, stated:
“The opportunity for us being selected and considered to exhibit our work on a runway came at a time when we had just concluded our strategic plan to focus on skills development for our beneficiaries and clothing as an income-generating activity. We took it as a tool of refugee-host community integration so we may enhance our capacity to contribute productively to our host community, network, and expose our ability as refugees among others. We were honoured and thrilled to present our work at East Africa Fashion Week.”
Lunko House is a non-religious, non-political, and non-profit organization open to MARPs, minors, and single mothers with a priority for helping refugees and immigrants. Led by Caitlyn Lubega, the fashion house has expanded its programming and mission (in partnership with Lunko House USA) to include Psycho-Social Support, Transitional Safe Housing, Skill Development Training, and Nutritional Support, including a food relief program.
Lunko House is preparing to launch its second practical fashion and design training for its beneficiaries in January 2021 to expand the labour force’s knowledge and competencies, productivity, and employment amongst refugees and the host community.
