I just came back from Neema a couple of weeks ago—not that I did not want to go earlier but, because of COVID-19, we postponed this trip until we felt it was safe for both our Kenyan colleagues and us to travel there. Since I started working at Neema back in January, I have talked (mostly over Zoom, COVID oblige) with the teams here and in Kenya about Neema. I have seen pictures and videos. And I even learned some Swahili. So, in a way, going to Neema was not like going to an unfamiliar place. On the contrary! What truly impressed me are the following:

First, the quality of the program the team has built over the years. As I met with other organizations working in a similar field, I came to realize that 1) the fact that we prepare the students to take dressmaking exams that are certified by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) carries high value in Kenya. 2) Offering ongoing regular trauma counseling by trained counselors to students, alumni, AND guardians is unique in such a setting in Kenya, and most likely, in many other school settings in developing countries.
Second, the dedication of our Kenyan colleagues and the life choices they all make to work at Neema and to love these young women as if they were their own daughters. We currently have 20 staff colleagues in Kenya who, with their work, contribute to supporting 160 children and adults either in their immediate or extended families. 160! This is the indirect impact Neema has.
Third, how grateful the young women’s guardians are that Neema accepted their daughter, grand-daughter, niece (whatever their family relationship is) together with her child or children (if she has any) and gave her a second chance in life that they could not offer alone. What’s amazing is to see the guardians' engagement towards the students and Neema. They are not taking Neema for granted and are, therefore, willing to support their student while she is at Neema. For instance, they come to the Guardian Days we organize, they accept to change their own way of parenting after receiving counseling or sharing with other guardians, and they contribute towards the exam fees, even if it is only a few shillings at a time. You see their pride and their relief that their daughter can now have a future out of poverty and that they are helping her out in whatever way they can.
And last but not least, the holistic transformation these young women go through during the three years they stay at Neema. What immediately struck me when I was at Neema is that, despite the suffering they experienced, these women all have smiles on their faces. They shared how they feel loved by the Neema staff and by God. They carry a sense of peace in their head and in their heart. And they show confidence and feel empowered that they can finally become somebody.

Thank you, because your ongoing generosity is what makes this holistic transformation possible. I look forward to engaging further with you in order to keep advancing Neema’s mission.

Transforming Communities: A Reflection by Our Executive Director