I first visited the Neema Project in Kitale, Kenya in the summer of 2014. My local church was a partner of Neema’s and had been sharing in the beautiful work being done there for years. With my mother, sister, and a group of others, I walked onto the school property with expectations to learn, stretch outside of my comfort zone, and offer whatever I could to this remarkable organization and the young women studying there. If I’m honest, there’s an embarrassingly large part of me that just enjoyed the “tourism” and the self-glorification of it being in the name of “doing good.” But what I discovered on my first visit to Neema was a group of peers I loved, respected, and was challenged by.

The young women at Neema have walked through pain I’ve never tasted and carry responsibility I’ll probably never touch. They are hopeful in spite of heartbreak. They are brilliant and innovative. They are resilient in pursuing growth and seeing beyond their circumstances. They worship freely with their whole voice, body, and soul. They believe. The women at Neema are wise, tender, humble, brave, and influential. There is so much for the world to learn from them. I admire them and have been changed by them. On a broader note, I believe in what Neema is doing to empower the lives of these powerful women. Neema is a rare, international partnership of people working together cross-culturally for the same vision. It is a collaboration of faith, mutual respect, and equality. To me, it is a much needed example in this world of what humans are called to be with one another—what we are created for. I came away from my first Neema visit not only more deeply connected to the organization and the students but possessing a deeper understanding of what it means to serve, give, and work together for the greater good.

After that first encounter I decided I wanted to pick a place—an organization or a mission—to make a long-term investment in. I wanted to partner with people and build relationships. I wanted to do this somewhere I felt naturally connected to and had something to offer as well as gain. I wanted to travel back to the same place again and again and join with others in the lifelong work of putting whatever we have in time, talent, and money together to make a difference. Not because one of us is better or has more to offer, but because I believe that in working together, regardless of background, we experience God’s best. I decided to do this at Neema.

Since 2014, I’ve shared in the treasure of returning to Kenya twice and continuing to build relationships and participate in the work happening in-country. I worked as volunteer staff with the United States team for a couple years helping manage social media and spreading the stories of the women at Neema. And I’ve helped organize and perform at benefits. The ways I partner with Neema have been evolving, but it has continued to be the place on my heart that I’m committed to giving to, be it with time, finance, creativity, promotion, relationship, or solidarity.

It's been my experience that a long term relationship of giving is what keeps one's skin in the game. Relationship changes and challenges us. I’m forced to know and to carry the lives of those who are also carrying mine. I must BE changed while collaborating FOR change. I must live alongside Neema.

Most recently I joined the TRIBE, Neema's monthly giving community. While I don’t know if I’ll ever get to stand on the soil of Kenya again or see some of my precious friends there in person, and I don’t know how many more events or fundraisers or creative projects I will get the chance to participate in, I do know that I can contribute my income to the work of Neema. I can do it every day, every week, every month. Even if I don’t have the time, I can help make the miracles worked by others possible. The TRIBE has been an amazing way to do that at Neema. It’s a commitment that keeps me invested and keeps building on the same foundation.

I challenge you to think about the beauty and wonder of the life you’ve been given and how your life can partner with the beauty and wonder of others for our good and God’s best. I exhort you to consider what mission you are really passionate about and to invest yourself consistently and committedly to seeing that mission furthered. There is so much we have to offer and to be taught by one another. Let’s keep leaning in to see and link arms. I am so thankful to be a part of doing this with the Neema family.

How Staying Committed Makes a Long-Term Impact