On December 16th, Neema held a graduation ceremony, attended by all of our students, their guardians, the Neema staff, and members of the community. Loitanit, our Business Skills Development Mentor, wrote these words about the day:

The nine third year students marched towards the graduation square at 10:00am. They looked beautiful. After we had an opening prayer, there was praise and worship led by the students, and then the program started with sewing instructor Joyce as MC. It was such a colorful and joyful day—you could feel the excitement in the air. Everyone was happy and proud of the graduating class. We also had the chief, landlady, and guests from the examination center who made time to attend the ceremony. Five alumni came as well to support the Class of 2022.

One of the highlights of the day was when the graduating students stood to share something, and it was such an emotional moment for them. As they looked back at the progress they had made since joining Neema in 2020, and now three years later, they could see such change. They were also very grateful to the childcare workers for the love they have shown their children and their help in raising them. 

It was also emotional for the girls who were remaining—it was a moment to remind them that their friends will not be back in January, but also a moment to motivate them to work hard so that one day they will be the ones graduating. 

During the ceremony, the children presented a skit about Christmas, and they did a great job! We could tell they had taken time to prepare and practice. Another highlight was during the staff presentation when they chose to play different ethnic songs of all the tribes represented in the audience. At this time, the parents and their daughters got to dance together. The parents got to hug their daughters and laugh with them. 

Then the alumni had a chance to give some advice to the graduates. The common one was for the girls to learn to be patient and have good customer service because they will meet all kinds of people in the marketplace. They were also encouraged to be resilient because it’s not a bed of roses out there.

After that, the counselors did a session about forgiveness. They told us how unforgiveness hurts us and not the other person, and how it is good for our hearts if we forgive. It was very insightful.

Protus, the father of third year student Brenda, said, "I've been attending guardian meetings for the last three years and the counseling sessions have been quite impactful and I have experienced a huge transformation in my life and my family through them. I used to be a person who held grudges with everyone, but through these sessions, I was able to overcome my bitterness and learned to forgive just as God forgives us our sins. I will continue to forgive others as the counselor has encouraged us, since forgiving is for my own benefit. I would also like to encourage my fellow parents and guardians, the students, and the staff to also find it in their hearts to forgive others and they will experience the inner peace that I'm experiencing."

Then we moved to a sermon by the chaplain, and she taught us the importance of gratitude and encouraged us to take time and write a gratitude list and be thankful for even the little joys of life. Then it was time to present the girls with their certificates, and then the staff had the chance to give the students flowers to congratulate them. After that, the graduates, with their parents, received sewing machines and starter kits that will help them to be able to start their own businesses. 

That was the end of our ceremony. Lastly lunch was served, and we all fellowshipped with each other as we ate the delicious lunch. It was such a beautiful and joyful day. 

These are our graduates’ plans now that they’ve just left Neema:

• Faith is going to start her own business and will work at her aunt's home in Waitaluk.

• Florence will begin her own business and work from her sister’s home.

• Peris is going home to her aunt where she will go look for work at Maili Saba. If she gets a machine, she will be sewing from home since it is near the road.

• Susan will go to live with her brother. She will be there for 2-3 months and sewing from home. Then she has plans to move to Chwele, a town around 1.5 hours drive from Kitale, to start working and living there.

• Brenda is going home to her parents’ place in Moi Farm. She will look for a shop during this December break to start her business in January depending on if her parents can support her.

• Angeline will go home to her mom. Then in January, she’ll move to a town called Matunda where her aunt lives, and she’ll start her business there.

• Naomi will go home to her parents and try to look for employment in the town of Moi’s Bridge.

• Catherine is going to her aunt's place in Matisi, and she will look for employment in Kitale town. If that doesn’t work, she will start her business outside her aunt’s house.

• Bethsheba is going home to her parents. She will try and get some employment this December, and then in January start sewing from home.