“Neema has given me an opportunity I thought I had lost forever.”
Imagine you had to choose between giving your daughter an education and putting food on the table.
Raised by a single mother, Naomi grew up in extreme material poverty in a one-room home without electricity or running water. She was able to attend school through class 7, but then had to drop out because of poverty and early pregnancy. To provide for her daughter, Naomi took in washing and weeded her neighbor’s fields. It was difficult to make ends meet.
In 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.
Elizabeth and Rebecca, Class of 2026
“I was privileged to join Neema, and my life progressively changed. [...] I wish to positively transform and inspire my children to pursue their education, not to drop out of school just like I did.” — Naomi
Thanks to her training at Neema, Naomi now has two small businesses: tailoring and selling samosas. With her income she supports her two children, two sisters, and mother. Naomi’s daughter loves school. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up.
Neema empowers young women with the tools to heal, pursue education, and rise out of poverty.
Skills training for Neema students includes literacy, financial, business, and computer skills, equipping young women for the workplace.
Because of their certified training in tailoring, catering, and/or agribusiness, Neema alumni have resources to earn a living that keeps their children in school.
There are 23 young children living at Neema with their mothers, and Neema recently started an enrichment program for these young learners. Children sing “I am special,” color pictures, and practice their ABCs. They play with puzzles and magna-tiles under the care of loving dedicated childcare workers. These children will begin school equipped and ready to learn.
By visiting local primary schools, Neema counselors inspire children to set goals and make wise choices, while working to ensure more girls remain in school.
“When I lost the opportunity to continue with my studies, I also lost hope. I never imagined that I would ever get [this] chance. I feel so grateful and overjoyed because Neema has given me an opportunity I thought I had lost forever.” - Jesinta, Class of 2027
Will you help vulnerable young women get an education? Join the Grace Collective to help more young women build a path out of poverty.
A monthly donation of $35 pays for a Neema counselor to provide mental health support to local primary school students
A monthly donation of $45 supports the enrichment program for Neema’s youngest residents
A monthly donation of $60 supports coaching and follow-up with Neema graduates and their school-aged children
The child of a Neema student