Welcome to our 2024 Gallery Walk!

Please follow the audio guide below as you engage with each image in this gallery. In order to enjoy the full experience, kindly use your headphones and smartphone to play these audio files in order (#1-15) as you match the audio with its image number.

1. A Haven for My Baby

Name: Priscillah Barasa

Age: 20

Year: Class of 2025

Child: Shantel (1)

Question: How has Neema helped your child? 

2. Empowered to Help Family

Name: Faith Khatelesia

Age: 20

Year: Class of 2025

Child: Hazel (1)

Question: What have you learned in the classroom? What do you plan to do with your tailoring skills after graduation?

3. Enabled to Gain a Stable Income

Name: Dorcas Nanjala

Age: 19

Year: Class of 2024

Child: Ryan (4) and Emmanuel (2)

Question: How do you think passing the national dressmaking exams will help you in your future?

4. A Beautiful Place for Learning

Name: Faith Kibet

Age: 18

Year: Class of 2024

Child: Joy (3)

Question: What is a typical morning routine at Neema like and what do you enjoy contributing to the Neema culture?

5. Equipped with Farming Skills

Name: Brenda Namutosi

Age: 22

Year: Class of 2024

Child: Jayden (3)

Question: What have you learned how to do on the farm and how will that help you and your son Jayden after you graduate?

6. The Resilience of Permaculture Farming

Name: Bernadette Wanjala, Farm Assistant & Childcare Worker 

Question: How is Neema’s permaculture farm preparing Neema to withstand climate change?

7. No Longer a Burden

Name: Victor, child of Rebecca Juma, Class of 2026

Question: How have you learned to see your child in a different way? 

8. Knowing the Giver of Life

Question: What do Neema’s students grow up knowing about Christianity? How have you seen students transformed by the gospel?

Narrated by Neema’s chaplain, Carol Sudi

9. Finding Peace in God’s Word

Name: Beverlyne Sangura

Age: 18

Year: Class of 2024

Child: Dalian (2)

Question: What have you learned spiritually at Neema? What did you learn from the Alpha program and how has this changed your life?

10. The Seeds of New Life

Name: Faith Benard

Age: 19

Year: Class of 2026

Question: What have you learned about the planting season from the farm? How has Neema given you hope in life?

11. Choosing Unconditional Love

Name: Joy Nekesa

Age: 15

Year: Class of 2026

Child: Phabrizon (1)

Question: How has your relationship with your child changed since you came to Neema? 

12. Discovering a Love for Motherhood

Name: Dorcas Nanjala

Age: 19

Year: Class of 2024

Child: Emmanuel (2) and Ryan (4) 

Question: What have you learned about motherhood and how to parent your son? 

13. Prepared to Start School

Name: Jayden (3), son of Brenda Namutosi (Class of 2024)

Question: How have Neema’s childcare workers helped your child?

Narrated by Brenda

14. Recovering Time and Health 

Name: Ann Blati

Age: 19

Year: Class of 2025

Child: None

Question: Before coming to Neema, how accessible was water for you and your family? How has the borehole been helpful for you, the other students, and for the local community?

15. From Bitterness to Forgiveness

Name: Mercy Wekesa

Age: 22

Year: Class of 2024

Child: Jayden (2)

Question: What was your upbringing like and how Neema has helped you? What are your dreams for the future?

Artist Statement: Emily Whitney

Traveling to Kenya for the first time in over two years, I had the opportunity to see our brand new campus fully completed in February of 2024. This collection of images were photographed during this trip and highlight the provision of our new campus for twice as many young women in need.

It is such a privilige to sit with these young women, be welcomed into the homes of their families, drink tea together, and tell their stories. I’m grateful to each and every woman I met, whether photographed in this gallery or not. Their resilience through past traumas and their joy in the ordinary moments of life are an inspiration to me. 

Years ago, I’d sat down in my great aunt’s house at our family farm in Wisconsin and stumbled across Steve McCurry’s little portrait book. I was fascinated. Today, traveling to learn from and share the stories of those halfway across the world is a dream come true for me. 

I hope that seeing these images and hearing the voices of Neema’s students and staff encourages you and can be a way of experiencing life in Kenya for those who are not able to travel so far. 

My priority is that these images respect and dignify those photographed, while also being an honest representation of their lives. I encourage you to see the inner beauty in these warm smiles and portraits of reilience, and I hope that they are a reminder to choose to see the image of God in all humanity, both those near and far.

Emily Whitney
emilywhitney.org
@emilywhitney.photo

All prints are available for purchase on a first come basis. They can be picked up at Providence Church or brought to you (local delivery only) this coming week.