BILHA: From Orphan to Shop Manager

"I am happy because I am now earning money and I can be a good example for other NEEMA girls."

Bilha came to NEEMA in 2014.  She has been an orphan since 2011 when her mother died and she never knew her father.  Bilha was moved around to different relatives homes since her mother’s death. She completed 8th grade in 2009 but extreme poverty made it impossible to go on to high school since she could not afford the school fees.  Bilha eventually ended up living in Eldoret as a house girl but had to move home in 2013 because she was pregnant.  When we met Bilha in late 2013, she had recently lost her baby. 

Bilha’s life has changed dramatically since she came to NEEMA. She has grown spiritually and she enjoys reading her Bible, praying daily, and was baptized. Bilha was given permission to process her grief and allow The Lord to provide comfort and peace for all of the loss she has experienced in her life.  She has learned about forgiveness and offered it to people in her life who left her wounded.  She was loved by the staff and has found NEEMA to be the family she was missing in her life. Bilha has gained confidence in who she is and has learned how to live in community with others.  She is proud to be learning a skill and was happy to pass her Level 1 and 2 National Dressmaking Certification Exams.

This year, Bilha has excelled in dressmaking and tailoring skills and began earning an income for her work at the Neema Shop.  She has demonstrated such leadership in the shop that she has been offered a position as the shop Manager beginning in January 2017.