Neema is the Swahili word for "grace"…

It all began in response to a visible need to restore and infuse hope into the lives of vulnerable young women in Kitale, Kenya and the surrounding region. Extreme poverty leads these young women into desperate situations marked with shame and indignity. Unwed mothers, orphans, and girls at risk of being sold into early marriage and/or involved in prostitution for survival are among those welcomed into the Neema family.

At Neema, we step into the lives of these young women to serve and equip them through Christ-centered discipleship, counseling, and quality skills training. Our hope is that each Neema student will be restored from the inside out. We see them not as girls marked by shame, but as beautiful young women made in the image of God and created to flourish. Our highly skilled team of Kenyan staff demonstrate passion and compassion each day as they work alongside the students in their care.

Since 2014 the Neema Project has impacted the lives of 134 young women and their 50+ children. We’ve seen Jesus bring healing and hope into the deepest places of trauma and hurt, and many of the young women have experienced great transformation: they’ve developed and grown in their relationships with Jesus, they’ve reconciled with their families, they’ve entered into healthy, Christ-centered marriages, and they’ve found dignified employment as graduates of Neema, allowing them to provide for their family’s physical needs. In fact, local technical schools have even inquired about the key to Neema's success as the majority of our students pass the Level 1 and Level 2 National Dressmaking Certification Exams. Hope is being shared in the towns and villages around Neema as the lives of our students are reshaped and restored.

Entering into the life of a young woman at her deepest point of vulnerability, extending her grace, and infusing her with hope is a hard and beautiful work. And it’s made possible through partnerships with like-minded individuals, families, churches, and businesses - those who desire to extend love, grace, and compassion so each of these courageous young women can be transformed.

We believe this is only the beginning!

Check out our blog to read some current Neema stories!