Because her father passed away in 2016 and her mother moved away to look for work, Maureen was living with her widowed aunt and her aunt’s seven children when she joined Neema. Her aunt was selling food at a kiosk and washing laundry to try and provide for the family.  

Maureen attended traditional school through eighth grade. But despite having high marks, she couldn’t continue on to high school because living in extreme material poverty left her unable to pay for the necessary school supplies and uniform. Thankfully, she found Neema, applied to join the program, and was accepted.  

When she started at Neema in 2018, Maureen was suffering from an infection in the bone of her leg. It’s something she’s had since she was ten years old, and gave her a very dismal outlook on life because she was living in constant pain. But while at Neema, she received the medical care she needed for her leg, and finally got relief from her pain. 

She also benefited greatly from her time with Neema’s trauma and guidance counselors who helped her heal emotionally. In Maureen’s third year at Neema, one of our counselors shared, "Maureen said her love for God grows each and every day that passes because of the second chances God gave her through Neema." 

Now 28 years old, Maureen says, “Neema helped me to love again. I had made a vow never to marry, but rather use men and dump them as a way of revenge because of how they also used me. But through counseling I was able to learn to love, and here I am in a beautiful marriage with a child. It taught me to be patient with people and it has helped me so much in my marriage and neighborhood.”

Our Business Skills Development Mentor saw Maureen recently at our annual Fashion Show and says that she is doing well. “She is still working from home, but she says business is not bad. And her husband is supportive which makes her work much easier.”

"[At Neema,] I learned how to resolve conflicts and I have taught my neighbors the method of confrontation [a skill Moureen learned at Neema] which has helped us to live in harmony without gossip. I am glad I joined Neema which taught me to look at myself differently."

Be sure to watch the following video filmed in 2020 of Maureen sharing her story just before she graduated from Neema: