Staff Stories: Eunice K.

Eunice with Neema alumni Maureen and her child at her workplace.

Eunice was raised by her father because her mother passed away when she was only three years old. School fees were often a struggle for her and her family, but she grew up with a strong community. With the help of relatives, church members, community members, and scholarships, Eunice was able to go to school all the way to college.

Eunice loved school and she was able to learn and socialize with others. Eunice’s primary headteacher, who continuously checked on her progress, was a mentor in her life. “Education has impacted me a lot,” she shares, “I am [now] able to teach livelihood classes [to the Neema students] and interact well with the students in class.” Today, she is also now able to support her husband, her sister, and her sister's three children with her income.

Alumni and their children with Eunice (center back) and other staff during an alumni event in 2024.

Alumni during an event held for graduates in 2024.

“My relationship with God has been everything in my life. It has helped me to never give up and through church I was able to get a friend who directed me to Neema to apply for this job position.”

Before working at Neema, Eunice worked in microfinance where she gained the business skills she now uses in her role mentoring alumni at Neema. She then worked at a ministry called Zoe Ministries that helped her learn to better interact with women, as she now does at Neema. Her faith and her passion for empowering women and children pushed her towards working for Neema. She says,“My faith has helped me to interact well with [the students at Neema] knowing they are God's children and I must show them love and care.”

Along with teaching livelihood classes, Eunice works as a Business Skills Development Mentor for Neema and reaches out to alumni. She has also now started working with the students' children. Eunice works hard to support and encourage the students, both current and past, as much as she can.

Pamela (Counselor), Naomi (Neema graduate), Eunice, and Irine (Program Director) at Naomi’s workplace.

“I believe hope keeps you going in life and also by affirming the girls to keep going no matter their situation.”

Eunice works hard to help and encourage not only current students of Neema, but past students and her community as well. She shares that her favorite part of working at Neema is being able to reach out to the young women and interact with them during alumni meetings. Eunice hopes that one day Neema can offer even more opportunities, saying, “My hope for Neema is for third-year [students] to have a shop where they can be employed for 1 to 6 years as they build up finances to go and start their business.” She has big dreams for the community as well. She hopes to see the community reach out to widows and empower them economically so that they can help themselves and their children. 

Eunice believes that affirming the students to keep going, no matter their situation, gives them the confidence to persevere. Eunice is committed to helping her community and all the vulnerable women in it — including the young women that come through Neema and those outside of Neema that still need to be empowered.