By Jessica Brown | Director of Grants and Special Projects
Chantal was enrolled in Heshima Kenya at 16 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she experienced a series of tragic events after rebels took over her village. She witnessed the death of her parents and was separated from her siblings while fleeing. She located her cousin, but both girls were abducted by the rebels and held for 2 years. Both young women became pregnant as a result of abuse at the hands of the rebels, and finally managed to escape their capturers. They traveled to Kenya, where they found a Congolese woman to stay with for a few days while she helped each girl to register as a refugee. During the resettlement process, our partner organization referred both young women to our programs. Chantal was assessed by program staff and placed in our Safe House, and enrolled in the Girls’ Empowerment Project. Chantal was provided with access to medical care, and gave birth to a healthy baby boy two months after arriving at Heshima Kenya.
Chantal was very withdrawn and aggressive when she was initially enrolled into the programs. She was enrolled for counseling sessions and later she also received more sessions after giving birth, with a focus on acceptance for her child.
Chantal is now 19 years old and has graduated from the GEP’s basic education and vocational training classes. She then joined our income generation project, the Maisha Collective, and because of the income she earned, she was able to move out of the Safe House and rented a house with her cousin and their children. Her son, James is currently enrolled in our Early Childhood Development Center (ECD) and is doing very well.
Chantal has grown into a very confident and outgoing woman, serving as one of the leaders in the Maisha Collective. Chantal says, “I am looking towards being enrolled into college after fulfilling a dream of mine – finishing school. School and the Maisha Collective are teaching me about discipline and how to relate to people from different backgrounds. I’m gaining skills and earning money at the same time. I’m very happy with where I am right now.”
Chantal is now looking forward to pursuing her life in a new environment, as resettlement has been arranged for her with her child, cousin and nephew in the United States.
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