In order to enjoy the maximum experience, play these audio files in order as you match the audio with its image beneath.
A PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
Name: Faith Khatelesia
Age: 19
Year: Class of 2025
Child: Hazel (<1 year old)
Question: How do you expect your lessons from tailoring class will impact your future?
GUILT REPLACED BY JOY
Name: Wise Mukhwana
Age: 19
Year: Class of 2024
Child: Ali (1)
Question: How has your relationship with your child changed since you came to Neema?
GIVEN LOVE, GIVING BACK
Name: Ann Blati
Age: 18
Year: Class of 2025
Child: None
Question: How have you changed/grown since coming to Neema? What have you learned?
2020-2022
1. Transformation
Name: Mercy
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2021
Child: Shirleen (6), Shantel (5), Terry (2)
Question: How has the discipleship program impacted your life?
2. Community
Name: Rahab
Age: 18
Year: Class of 2022
Child: Lawrence (1)
Question: What does it mean to you to be in community with the other students?
3. Peace
Name: Peris
Age: 19
Year: Class of 2022
Child: None
Question: What brings you joy?
4. Resilience
Name: Angeline
Age: 24
Year: Graduate, Class of 2019
Child: Nerbert (5), James (2)
Question: What obstacles have you overcome?
5. Trust
Name: Winnie (left)
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2021
Child: Princess Victoria (5)
Question: How have the counseling sessions impacted you? How have you learned to love yourself and love others?
6. Uncle Enoch
Enoch, Neema Kitchen Administrator
Question: What was it like doing the food deliveries during Covid?
7. Restoration
Name: Mercy
Age: 30
Year: Graduate, Class of 2019
Child: None
Question: How has your business impacted your family?
8. Education
Joyce, Neema Tailoring Instructor
Question: What has teaching at Neema been like? How are you making a difference in the lives of the young women?
9. Lala Mtoto Lala (Sleep Baby Sleep)
Kenyan Lullaby by Bernadette, Neema House Matron
10. Generational Impact
Name: Elizabeth
Age: 20
Year: Class of 2022
Child: Ezra (3), Dorothy (1)
Question: How has being at Neema impacted how you see your child? What have you learned about motherhood at Neema?
11. Independence
Name: Faith
Age: 23
Year: Graduate, Class of 2020
Child: None
Question: What was it like learning how to sew? How does it make you feel that you can make a shirt, dress, purse, backpack, etc.
12. Mentorship
Name: Brenda
Age: 19
Year: Class of 2022
Child: None
Question: What are your responsibilities, and what do you enjoy contributing to the Neema culture?
13. Livelihood
Name: Benta
Age: 26
Year: Graduate, Class of 2018
Child: Ryan (7), Patience (3)
Question: What is life like after graduating from Neema? How are you currently using your skills from Neema currently?
14. Courage
Name: Clare
Age: 22
Year: Graduate, Class of 2019
Child: Naomi (5), Princess (8 months)
Question: What does courage mean to you, and how have you had to develop bravery and be courageous?
15. Elizabeth
Name: Elizabeth
Age: 20
Year: Class of 2022
Child: Ezra (3), Dorothy (1)
Question: Tell me about yourself.
16. Sarah, Class of 2023
17. Mercy and her daughter, Terry
Name: Mercy
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2021
Child: Shirleen (6), Shantel (5), Terry (2)
18. Naomi and Mercy K, Class of 2021
19. Joyce, Neema instructor, and Naomi, Class of 2021
20. Winnie, Class of 2021
21. Brenda, Class of 2023
22. Bethsheba (right), Class of 2022, and Irene C (left), Class of 2023
23. Elizabeth, Class of 2023, and her mother
24. Brenda, Class of 2023, and her grandparents
25. Building a Happy Home
Name: Irene Chemutai
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2023
Child: Daisy (3 years old)
Question: How has Neema helped you to grow emotionally and spiritually?
26. Women Walking for Water
Name: Peris Chesang
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2022
Child: None
Question: How accessible is running water in rural Kenya?
27. Multiplying Effect
Name: Brenda Simiyu
Age: 19
Year: Class of 2022
Child: None
Question: How has your experience at Neema impacted your sisters and your parents?
28. A Place to Rest
Name: Brenda Namutosi
Age: 20
Year: Class of 2024
Child: Jayden (1 year old)
Question: How does the Neema community make you feel safe?
29. Children Equipped
Name: Zasha (2 years old), the daughter of Faith Wambalaba, Class of 2022
Question: What is the importance of teaching the mothers and children about health and hygiene?
Narrated by Irine Tundwe, Program Director
30. A Day in the Kitchen
Name: Jentrix Mukoya, Neema Matron
Question: How do you cook at Neema?
31. 15 LITERS
Name: Faith Wambalaba
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2022
Child: Zasha (2 years old)
Question: How do you use water at Neema?
32. When the Rain Comes
Name: Dorcas Nanjala
Age: 18
Year: Class of 2024
Child: Emmanuel (5 months)
Question: How does the heavy rain season impact life at Neema?
Narrated by Joyce, Head of Training & Curriculum
33. Peace of Mind
Name: Keith (2 years old), the son of Catherine Juma, Class of 2024
Question: What does it mean to you that your child is provided with food at Neema?
Narrated by Catherine
34. Learning to Show Love
Name: Tracy (1 year old), the daughter of Patricia Wanjala, Class of 2023
Question: How has Neema helped you learn to care for your daughter?
Narrated by Patricia
35. Strong
Name: Patricia Wanjala
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2023
Child: Tracy (1)
Question: How has Neema enabled you to feel “strong”?
36. Home Visits
Name: Sarah Pem
Age: 19
Year: Class of 2024
Child: None
Question: What does it mean to you that Neema counselors check on your dad while you are in school?
37. Discovering Motherhood
Name: Faith Wambalaba
Age: 22
Year: Class of 2022
Child: Zasha (2)
Question: How has Neema changed your relationship with your daughter?
38. A Future Transformed
Name: Lynn (5), the daughter of Lydia Nasimiyu, Class of 2019
Question: How does Neema impact the children of alumni?
Narrated by Irine Tundwe, Program Director
Prints are available for purchase on a first come basis courtesy of Tessa Marie Images and Emily Whitney Photography. If interested, please email info@neemaproject.org to see if a print is still available.
Artist Statement
(Images #1-15, 25-38)
The NEEMA Gallery Walk is a collection of images that were photographed over three years of traveling to Kenya. This body of work represents so much to me personally and is a dream coming to fruition, as telling stories abroad was one of the main reasons I chose photography as a career.
I believe images can hold so much power. Photos can stir people to action, they can capture a memory or grasp the authenticity of an individual. In the context of traveling, imagery can transport you to a time or place that you may not be able to visit in your lifetime.
NEEMA is an incredible organization, and I am honored to help tell the stories of the hard-working young women who are paving a different path for their lives. They are choosing strength, perseverance, and hope and are gaining skills that will not only change the trajectory of their lives, but their families lives as well. The fact that we get to partner with them, thousands of miles away, is an extremely powerful thing.
My goal with this imagery was to accurately portray the women and to give respect to their culture and way of life. Using a mix of off-camera flash and natural light, the images were photographed with a slight artistic drama, capturing movement and moment.
THANK-YOU for partnering with this project. I know I speak on behalf of NEEMA when I say we are so grateful for your support.
Sincerely,
Tessa Smucker
Photographer Tessa Smucker shares her process behind making photos 1-15 in this gallery.