It Takes a Village

In Kenya, there’s an assumption that children are everyone’s responsibility. At Neema, this means the young women pick up each other’s children to comfort them or even correct them if they misbehave. From a Western perspective, this might seem presumptuous, but in Kenya, it’s a built-in support system. For the young mothers at Neema, it’s appreciated when friends help them with the constant needs a child has. It’s a way to share the strain of childrearing, a job that "takes a village”.

In 2020, third year student Ann cares for Natalie, the daughter of our current Program Director, Irine

The Neema “Village”

Neema is a non-profit organization based in Kitale, Kenya that has been providing skills-training, counseling, and discipleship to young women since 2014. We quickly recognized the necessity to offer childcare for those students who need it so they can participate in their schooling with ease. Since then, we’ve cared for over 150 young women and more than 70 children. 

We are committed to providing free, daily childcare services to the young women in our program—all of whom come from backgrounds of extreme poverty. The goal is to give these women the opportunity to receive a strong education, as well as emotional and spiritual healing, so they can pursue employment upon graduation. In turn then, they’ll be able to provide for their children and families. On average, for one woman graduating from Neema, eight other individuals will be supported across four generations.

Sharing the Responsibilities

Brenda N with the child of one of her Neema peers

At Neema, about 50% of our students have one or more children. All of these young mothers live in an environment where there are loving childcare workers caring for their children full time, five days per week, while they participate in school activities. And when the children aren’t in the care of our childcare workers, our students share the responsibility of caring for one another’s children. Of course, each mother is the primary caretaker and through our counseling program, we teach them how to take care of their children, how to love them, and how to be a good parent; but the load is lifted somewhat when her trusted friends help out.

Community Becomes Family

When spending time on campus, the environment feels more like a family than like a community. And at Neema, children are welcomed as part of this family. They’re even provided with counseling to help them prepare to readapt to life outside of Neema when their mother graduates. Meanwhile, their moms are given the opportunity to develop and learn new skills through our training and livelihood programs.

First year student and young mother, Catherine, says, "Life started to become hard because I dropped out of school, and the father of my child was not supportive and has never been there for us. I began to see myself as unworthy [and] blamed myself… [But] being at Neema is reducing my stress because of the love they are showing me and my child. Ever since I gave birth, no one has loved and accepted us like Neema has. I am very happy that life is better and easier."