When Enoch was in Grade 4, his father passed away. He worked hard to continue his education after that, and he worked casual labor just to pay for his school fees. Enoch enjoyed school and persevered through childhood to attend school in Nairobi until Form 4 (Grade 12). While he would’ve liked to go further with his education, the time he did have now allows him to have a better relationship with the students at Neema. Because of his education, he explains, “I am now able to interact well with the students and better understand them.”

Enoch has three daughters who he raised on his own after his wife left him. With his income from Neema, he is able to support ten people, including his daughters, two nephews, a niece, and his mother.

“What drew me to work for Neema is the passion I have in seeing vulnerable girls transforming into great people.”

Now, as a cook and farm manager at Neema, Enoch teaches the students about cooking and healthy eating. Enoch’s vast knowledge and skills from his education, as well as his past work experiences, allows him to assure those at Neema have nutritious food on campus while also teaching the students how to cook and grow food. Prior to Neema, Enoch worked at Lenana Mount Hotel where he gained experience in cooking and health care. He also worked at Lenya Med Organic Plant where he learned about organic farming which has helped him with farming at Neema. 

Not only does Enoch teach the students about cooking and permaculture farming—his favorite part of working at Neema—he also ensures they have the skills and knowledge needed to grow food and cook while at home. Enoch’s passion for farming and teaching the young women creates an impact that goes far beyond helping to improve the lives of the students. His work and its impacts ripple into the families and communities of the students. Enoch has a huge passion for his work and the Neema community, and he loves that he gets to ensure they are eating healthy.

“I believe strongly that my relationship with God has positively impacted my life in many ways. I want to live a life that will honor God.”

Enoch has a strong faith in God, and, as he explains it, believes in change. He believes that the students at Neema will not be the same after their time in Neema, but will flourish. When he learned of Neema and their mission, Enoch’s faith and his passion for seeing vulnerable young women transforming into great people drew him to apply for the job. His belief in the students, his confidence in them and their abilities, and his work as Cook and Farm Manager, helps the students grow in health and confidence throughout their time at Neema. 

In his own life, when Enoch was at his lowest, he was encouraged by a close friend. This experience had a profound impact on him and motivates him to encourage the young women at Neema. He believes that encouragement, and hope, are important. In terms of the young women at Neema, he explains that hope and self-esteem are vital to helping young women in his community keep moving and not give up. Despite all the work Neema has already done, Enoch wishes to see more growth from Neema in the future in the form of its farm one day producing enough food to both feed the school and have surplus to sell to the community.