Yvonne didn’t believe in herself at first. Yvonne is one of seven children. Her father is physically disabled, and although her mother tries to provide, the family lives in extreme material poverty. Wanting to contribute, Yvonne dropped out of school to look for odd jobs. Then she became a mother at just 17, but her boyfriend abandoned them; and her daughter was sickly. Parenting felt overwhelming, yet another burden to shoulder.
Read MoreGladys is one of Neema’s Weekend Matrons and also a Childcare Worker. As a matron, she works to assure the young women are healthy and doing their work throughout the day. As a childcare worker, Gladys makes sure the children are cared for during the day while their mothers are in class. Read her story!
Read MoreEarlier this week Neema celebrated the graduation of nine young women! It was a colorful day full of joy and excitement. Over 350 attended, including guardians, members of the local community, children, and Neema staff and students.
Read MoreMaria* was still a young teenager when she discovered she was pregnant. Her pregnancy unfortunately meant the end of school; without reliable support from the baby's father or her family, the idea of continuing education while raising a baby seemed impossible. It was at this time in her life that she heard about Neema’s program for young women — including teenage mothers. At Neema, Maria began working through her shame and pain, found peace in her role as a mother, and ultimately fell in love with her daughter.
Read More“This year has been the best of my life,” one student shared. “I feel proud as I see myself creating beautiful designs. After living most of my life in rejection and stress, this year has brought me hope. The fashion show made me believe in myself.”
Read More“We thought we were only learning to make clothes, but we learned [so much more]—catering, making bags, how to pray,” Iddah says. “Today I’m a prayerful person. When we got stressed, we could go to counseling. Someone would talk to you and you would be okay. We learned how to live with others peacefully.”
Read More“We are going to be better role models to our children, which will help us have an even better relationship with them.” - Guardian
Read MoreIn Neema’s region of Kenya, few girls finish secondary school. Many girls shoulder adult burdens—heavy domestic burdens, early marriage, and motherhood—before they’re grown. Unfortunately, when girls miss out on literacy and vocational training, they often struggle to afford schooling for their own children—passing poverty on to the next generation. That’s why skills training is so central to Neema’s vision to unleash opportunity for young women.
Read MoreThe trip taught me a lot more than I was expecting. It taught me to dance and sing without caring what other people think. It taught me how far confidence and hope can take you in life. It taught me to love and laugh so loudly that other people have no choice but to take part in it.
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