An education changes everything for girls in Kenya

Faith, Class of 2025

Without a thorough education, how can young women in rural Kenya have good job opportunities? Or a stable source of income? Or a way to provide for their children?

Because of a lack of school fees and/or teenage pregnancy, a lot of young women in Kenya drop out of school.

In fact, less than 60% of women who went to school in rural Kenya completed 8th grade.*

Dropping out of school means that a young woman has very few ways of lifting herself out of poverty, increasing her vulnerability. But teaching these young women a trade, as Neema does, gives them a future of self-sufficiency.

Faith was forced to drop out of traditional school in 8th grade, but since beginning her studies at Neema earlier this year, she now plans to open her own shop having been inspired by other alumni! Listen to Faith share about her experience at Neema.

Faith, Class of 2025, and her daughter Hazel

The young women who join our program spend three years mastering the skill of tailoring and dressmaking. They take the same three national exams as they would if they were in a technical college, giving them the qualifications needed to be hired by any workshop in the country. And even if they don’t work as dressmakers after Neema, these NITA certificates are also accepted in jobs open to "certificate holders."

As a result, these young women are able to get a job with a reliable income or start their own small shop. They’re able to make their own decisions about how to make, save, and spend their money. And as alumni, they always have access to continued support from Neema. Our Business Skills Development Mentor, Loitanit, supports our alumni as they go through practical challenges such as setting up bank accounts, getting their business licenses, and learning about new designs and trends. Neema takes a holistic approach to ensure long-lasting transformation instead of just providing short-term training. 

*2019 Census