After my visit, Neema Project has a forever place in my heart.
This summer, I left behind my day-to-day world as a suburban mother of four— a world of dance classes and laundry piles—to fly across the ocean, desert, and mountains and visit the world of Neema Project, a program for resilient young women in rural Kenya.
Honestly, it was life-changing.
The four days of transit and six flights were well worth it to bear witness to the healing and empowerment happening in rural Kenya. I colored pictures and walked through farms. I talked to many people, listening to deep, of-the-heart insights and stories. Every person I met blew me away with their drive, faith, resilience, and determination.
I was also inspired by the generosity of Kenya’s “pamoja” (togetherness) culture. It held a mirror to some aspects of our own culture’s tendency towards self-centeredness and individualism.
Coloring together on a rainy afternoon.
Walking through a cornfield with Neema's first agribusiness students to see a new vegetable garden, part of Neema's community outreach program.
With Debbie, my Grace Partner — I help sponsor her training and write letters to encourage her throughout her time at Neema.
It was humbling to walk a few days in life well beyond my bubble. Not just my bougie little local bubble of piano lessons and Target runs. But the American bubble, with indoor plumbing, refrigerators, local libraries, single-digit unemployment, Head Start, WIC, judges who protect children of divorce with child support and custody policies. The American bubble where school is usually free and domestic violence is usually unacceptable. I’m still processing things I saw and stories I heard.
But again, I come back to pamoja culture. I think of Neema’s teachers, counselors, chaplain, matrons—each one committed, wholeheartedly, to healing and empowering young women. Kenya is a young country. Every person I met was giving everything they had to support one another and build a bright future.
Instructor Joyce works with a class as they learn formulas to convert measurements for dressmaking patterns.
Childcare teacher Lydiah hands out coloring books to Neema's 2s and 3s group.
Phenny and students making chapatis for dinner.
Enoch, Eunice, and Neema students with a local farmer showing off the firstfruits of Neema's permaculture community outreach program — a huge zucchini from her garden.
I think of the healing I saw in young women. Women who join Neema reeling from trauma. Shoulders hunched, eyes downcast, afraid to ask for anything. Detached from babies whose early arrival was unplanned and initially unwanted. Many at the point of despair. The graduates stand tall, in dresses they’ve sewn themselves, leading the others in song, taking pride in dressing up their babies, making plans for the future.
Neema Project has a forever place in my heart.
A student walks with her child to to lunch.
Debbie cuts pieces for a dress.
Laughing and walking to church together.
It was also amazing to eat avocados and bananas picked fresh from the tree, watch the coffee beans grow and the monkeys play like squirrels, and wake up to the morning mist and birdsong. Kenya is beautiful.
I am thankful to the many people who opened their lives and hearts to me. I hope to go back. Maybe you’ll come with me.
In the meantime, please join me in supporting Neema Project and making these transformation stories possible.
Flying over the Great Rift Valley. Neema is in the western part of Kenya, outside Kitale, near the Ugandan border.
Fresh bananas growing at Neema.
Sunset and mist on the drive to Neema.
A huge, beautiful avocado tree at a local farm.
Written by Kathleen Thomas, Director of Development and Donor Engagement