“We wanted Lilian to join Neema because we were not able to get her through education,” says Francis Osoro, Lilian’s father. “[My wife] Leah became very sick [last year], and [Lilian’s sister was already] ahead of her in school, so the financial strain made us decide to send Lilian to Neema instead of traditional school.”

After completing eighth grade of traditional school, Lilian had no choice but to drop out—with a total of six children and her mother unable to work, it was not feasible for the family to pay for school supplies to keep each child in school. 

The recent climate crisis in Kenya has also been a nightmare for their family. Like many in the rural areas of Kitale, Lilian’s family lives in a flood zone. So when the typical rainy seasons hit very hard, much of their property floods, including the crops and sometimes even the latrine and home. Because of the flooded land, their family can’t grow enough food even for consumption. And without any excess, they can’t sell food and use the profit to pay for school fees.

Lilian’s family heard about Neema through their village elder, and she began her first of three years in the program this past January. Her family is so proud of her and excited to now see her in a school uniform. Sending Lilian to school is a sacrifice for her family because she’s no longer able to help bring in money doing casual work. But if they can get by for the next three years, the skills Lilian gains at Neema can help provide for her family.

“We are praying for our daughter to graduate so she can be independent and come and help us,” her father says. “After she graduates and qualifies to be a good tailor, she can start doing tailoring work and maybe [open a] business.” 

Lilian has not only begun developing a skill that will help lift her family out of poverty—she’s grown comprehensively through counseling, discipleship, and the loving environment at Neema. 

After four months at Neema, Lilian said, “I am generally happy from the time I joined Neema because it gave me the opportunity to study something that I had missed. I am also excited to teach my family members to pray because Neema has improved my prayer life so much.”

“I feel loved, accepted, and cared for. I am grateful for the opportunity, and I will never put it to waste because [of where I] came from, and it is an opportunity I can use to change my family.” -Lilian