ABOUT US
Empowering vulnerable young women out of extreme poverty in rural Kenya.
We believe that every young woman is valuable and worthy of love and grace.
What We Do
Neema provides skills training, counseling, and discipleship to vulnerable young women in rural Kenya. Because of extreme poverty, all the young women at Neema have dropped out of school and lost any hope of a future out of poverty. Some experienced prostitution, trafficking, indentured servitude, and other forms of abuse to get by. About 50% of them have children by the time they join Neema.
Learn more about Neema in our Mission, Vision, and Values and experience Neema through our virtual multi-sensory gallery exhibition!
Skills Training
Study of tailoring, dressmaking, agribusiness, and/or catering
Students take national certifications throughout their three years at Neema.
Counseling
Individual and group sessions with trained counselors
Counseling extended to guardians and alumni
Outreach to local primary schools to provide counseling to local children
Discipleship
Daily devotions and study of Scripture
Alpha Discipleship Program and other Bible studies
Bi-weekly visit from chaplain
Involvement in a local church
Winnie’s Story
Watch this video of Winnie, Class of 2021, sharing her story!
Winnie is the last born in a family of six children. Her mother passed away when Winnie was still young and her father abandoned the family. Winnie attended traditional school until 9th grade but had to drop out because she was living in extreme poverty. Like many vulnerable young women in rural Kenya, she became pregnant.
Winnie joined Neema in 2019. She spent time in counseling and processing the grief of losing her mother. She also built close friendships, grew spiritually, and passed her national exams in dressmaking!
She says, “Were it not for Neema, my life would have been shattered. Being an orphan and a young mother, I did not have direction in life. But by God’s grace, Neema became my second home and a parent to me. I have learned to heal from issues that I had for so long. I started helping my fellow students who were stressed by talking to them and offering a shoulder for them. I have learned so much, and I know my life will change.”
OUR WORK SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
Neema sees a future where opportunity is unleashed for young women throughout eastern Africa: Oppressive systems of gender inequality are changed, the cycle of extreme poverty is broken, and hearts are restored and transformed.
Your Impact
Hope is being shared in the towns and villages around Neema as the lives of our students are reshaped and restored. We believe that every life is significant and that through restoration and education, we will continue to see transformation in the hearts of young women, and in their families and communities as well.
Watch our videos to see this work in action.
For every graduate, an average of eight other individuals are supported.
165+ young women have graduated since 2014.
85% of alumni are employed upon graduation.
2,600+ individuals have been impacted by our counselors.
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We believe that every young woman is valuable and worthy of love and grace.
See the timelines below to understand what each year at Neema consists of, including life for our alumni.
Meet Our Team
Kenyan Staff
VICTORINA AUMA
Shop Manager and Tailoring Instructor
Read Victorina’s Bio
JACKLINE BIRUNGI
Counselor (Consultant)
Read Jackline’s Bio
PAMELA CHEBET
Head of Counseling Department
Read Pamela’s Bio
JACKLINE CHEPKESIS
Childcare Worker
Read Jackline’s Bio
LILIAN EDAYA
Administrative Assistant
Read Lilian’s Bio
EUNICE KORIR
Business Skills Development Manager & Assistant Farm Manager
Read Eunice’s Bio
JANET KOSGEY
Matron
Read Janet’s Bio
JACKLYNE KOECH
Kitchen Assistant Manager
Read Jacklyne’s Bio
JOSEPH LORINYOK
Security
Read Joseph’s Bio
EVERLYNE MAKUNGO
Childcare Worker
Read Everlyne’s Bio
JENTRIX MUKOYA
Director, Residential Department
Read Jentrix’s Bio
BRENDA MUSAVI
Matron
Read Brenda’s Bio
PHENNY NALIAKA
Matron
Read Phenny’s Bio
GLADYS NANGILA
Matron
Read Gladys’s Bio
RUTH NAFULA
Shop Assistant & Tailoring Instructor
Read Ruth's Bio
JUDITH NAFULA
Matron
Read Judith’s Bio
LYDIAH NAFULA
Head of Childcare
Read Lydiah’s Bio
IMELDA NASIMIYU
Matron
Read Imelda’s Bio
BETTY OLUCHINA
Matron
Read Betty’s Bio
HELLEN ONDORO
Counselor & Social Worker
Read Hellen’s Bio
PATRICK SORE
Security
Read Patrick’s Bio
ENOCH SHAMALA
Kitchen, Facilities, and Farm Manager
Read Enoch’s Bio
IRINE TUNDWE
Program Director
Read Irine’s Bio
EUNICE URUENYA
Tailoring and Dressmaking Instructor
Read Eunice’s Bio
STELLAH WEKESA
Matron
Read Stellah’s Bio
JOYCE WANYONYI
Head of Training & Curriculum
Read Joyce’s Bio
MARTIN WANYONYI
Security
Read Martin’s Bio
EDWARD WASILWA
Security
Read Edward’s Bio
Hear directly from our in-country staff as we sit down with them to learn about the life-transformative, and sometimes very difficult, work being done at Neema.
U.S. Staff & Volunteers
GAËLLE BELTRAN-GRÉMAUD
Executive Director
Read Gaëlle’s Bio
SUE KELLEY
Prayer Coordinator
Read Sue’s Bio
DEBRA LANE
Administrative Assistant & Donorcare Coordinator
Read Debra’s Bio
JANET MCLAUGHLIN
Grace Partner Coordinator
Read Janet’s Bio
KYLIE SMITH
Neema Intern
Read Kylie’s Bio
KATHLEEN THOMAS
Director of Development and Donor Engagement
Read Kathleen’s Bio
COURTNEY WEAVER &
LESLEE ALBRIGHT
Accounting & Bookkeeping Services
Read Courtney & Leslee’s Bio
EMILY WHITNEY
Freelance Marketing Manager & Graphic Designer
Read Emily's Bio
Board Members & Advisors
LOLA ABHULIMEN
Board Secretary
Read Lola’s Bio
KIRSTEN DICKERSON
Board Member
Read Kirsten’s Bio
TESSA DILLEY
Board Vice President
Read Tessa's Bio
WINNIE KIUNGA
Board Member
Read Winnie’s Bio
RON MARTIN
Special Advisor to the Board
Read Ron’s Bio
JENNIFER PETERKIN
Board Treasurer
Read Jennifer’s Bio
RITA SCHAER
Special Advisor to the Board
Read Rita's Bio
MELINDA SNOW
Board President
Read Melinda's Bio
