Pamela with a Neema student after a counseling session

When Pamela first saw an advertisement for a job at Neema, it was twenty minutes before applications closed. It took her those twenty minutes to apply.

She says,“I asked God for his will to be done, and, miraculously, that is how I landed at Neema.”

As a counselor, it's important that Pamela has strong relationships with the students and that she can understand them. By doing so, she can better determine how to best help them. She has a passion for working with vulnerable young women and helping them know their potential and know that anything is possible.

Pamela (left) with alumna Naomi (middle left), Neema’s Business Skills Development Mentor Eunice (middle right), and Program Director Irine (right).

“My sister took me in and treated me as her own daughter. She took me when I was barely four-years-old and I thank her a lot.”

Pamela was born in Mt. Elgon’s slopes in Western Kenya. Her older sister took her in when she was a child and raised Pamela as if she was her own child. Pamela’s father was a polygamist and her mother was his first wife. Pamela’s father believed having male children is a source of strength and security, while female children are a burden. So he took multiple wives to have more sons. Growing up, education for girls was not a value in her home because they were told they would just leave to be married. However, Pamela’s sister made sure she had education.

Not only did Pamela go to primary school and high school, she also continued her education in college. She there enrolled in a Diploma Community Development and Counseling. It was during her time in college that she got an internship at Aga Khan Foundation. The internship helped her pay her school fees. After graduating, she went on to Mt. Kenya University where she pursued a degree in developmental studies. Unfortunately, after two years of studying the four year course she had to end her studies because of lack of funds. She was unable to complete her education to the extent she had wanted, however, Pamela is grateful for the amount of education she did receive and loved her time spent learning new knowledge and skills.

Her education allows her to now work at Neema, helping the students while gaining an income. Now, with her income from Neema Pamela is able to support her husband, four sons, and parents. She also supports her house help and her farm manager.

“The skills and experience I acquired while at college has helped me work closely with the girls.”

As a counselor, Pamela understands what the young women go through at home and she has been able to help them restore physically, mentally, and emotionally. She helps prepare them to face the world. She has a passion for working with the young women and teaching them to find the best solutions to their problems.

Pamela’s experience working as an advisor in a different organization has also helped her in working with diverse and marginalized communities. By working with different communities, she can better interact with the diverse community at Neema.

Everyday, Pamela is touching the students' lives through counseling. She shares that growing up, her sister really helped and mentored her, and at Neema, she works to touch the young women's lives the way her life was touched when she was younger.

Pamela hopes that one day Neema will grow and be able to serve the community with a counseling center so they can reach out to many more young and vulnerable women. She hopes to see Neema empower people through restoration beyond those who go through the program.

Staff Stories: Pamela