Mishka Project and UNHCR Commemorate International Women’s Day with “Women’s Resilience: From Surviving to Thriving”

Jakarta, Indonesia – 24 April 2026 – In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026 and to celebrate the achievement of Mishka Project Batch V participants, Mishka Project is honored to collaborate with UNHCR Indonesia in a series of activities highlighting the strength, resilience, and potential of refugee women under the theme “Women’s Resilience: From Surviving to Thriving.”

On this occasion, Mishka Project presented a trunk show (mini fashion show) featuring five (5) refugee women and one (1) female muse from India, Revathi Prabaharan. The refugee participants include Iraqi, Palestinian, and Somali women who have sought asylum in Indonesia.

All Mishka Project Batch V participants were awarded certificates in recognition of completing an intensive three-month training program between January to March 2026. Special awards were also presented for Best Model and Best Painting.

Mishka Project facilitated modeling training by engaging professional instructors from Look Inc., one of the leading modeling schools in South Jakarta. To equip participants with creative skills such as fashion drawing and fashion painting, Mishka Project also facilitated professional teachers from fashion schools in Jakarta.

The event featured two talk shows. The first talk show on Women’s Empowerment featured Mariam Yousufi, Manager of Beyond the Fabric, a Women-Led Organization and Annisa Nazari, female coach from Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) under the UNHCR Indonesia Sport Program 2026.

In the second talk show, Ms. Margareth Robin Korwa, SH, MH, Assistant Deputy for Policy Formulation and Coordination in the Field of Women’s Rights Protection from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) and a refugee paralegal representative from SUAKA exchanged views on Access to Justice and Protection for Women.

“The collaboration between Mishka Project and UNHCR Indonesia, established since 2021, reflects a shared commitment to promoting self-reliance, skills development, and social inclusion for refugee women in Indonesia. This project has empowered more than 55 refugee women, with a cohort of 45 participants from batches I to IV.” added Ling Hida, Founder of Makaila Haifa and Mishka Project.

Through this collaboration, UNHCR Indonesia and Makaila Haifa aim to foster greater understanding, strengthen partnerships, and mobilize support for initiatives that enable women to move beyond survival toward thriving, sustainable futures.

“Empowered refugee women are not only survivors. They are leaders and agents of change within their communities. Among us today are women who lead Women-Led Organizations, who serve as coaches in Refugee-Led Organizations, and who contribute as trained paralegals and volunteers supporting others. We hope today’s event creates even more opportunities to amplify their voices, leadership, and impact. Adriani Wahjanto, UNHCR Officer-in-Charge stated in her opening remarks.

Through fashion and creativity, this initiative aims to create new opportunities and strengthen the role of refugee women as agents of change within their communities. Hence, fashion painting works in the form of bags, clothes, and scarves created by Mishka Project participants were also showcased. These pieces were available for purchase at the booths located in the venue area (Padang Room 2, The Westin Hotel Jakarta) to support the empowerment of refugee women. These works were contributions from refugees from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, alongside Revathi Prabaharan as the muse of Mishka Project Batch V.

About Mishka Project

Mishka Project is a social initiative launched by Makaila Haifa, focusing on empowering refugee women in Indonesia through fashion as a medium for education, skills development, and mental and psychological support.

Through the Mishka Project, refugee women not only gain valuable skills for their future but also build confidence, social connections, and access to support systems during their life transitions.

About Makaila Haifa
Makaila Haifa is a modest fashion brand founded in 2018 and based in Jakarta and Singapore. The brand was created as a symbol of strong, empowered women who uplift those around them. Makaila Haifa offers a range of products including abayas, casual wear, workwear, scarves, and women’s bags.

The name Makaila Haifa is derived from the founder’s two daughters, symbolizing a personal dedication following her journey as a single parent. Today, Makaila Haifa continues to grow while actively initiating various social projects focused on empowering women, particularly refugee women in Indonesia.

About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

Women and girls make up around 50 per cent of any refugee, internally displaced or stateless population, and those who are unaccompanied, pregnant, heads of households, disabled or elderly are especially vulnerable. At the same time, forcibly displaced women are often the first responders in conflict or crisis settings but are significantly underrepresented in peacebuilding and formal peace processes. UNHCR works to dismantle barriers to the equal and meaningful participation of forcibly displaced and stateless women and girls, including through partnerships, including with some 250 women-led organizations (WLOs)

For media inquiries, please contact:
Hendrik C. Therik - Assistant Protection Officer UNHCR Indonesia

[email protected]

+6281339000375

Ozy - Public Relation Makaila Haifa

+6281296616460