Economic Growth Kenya Project #64772

Empower vulnerable girls out of poverty in Kenya

by Neema Project

Project Report | May 4, 2026
Read the Transformation's you make possible

By Gaelle Beltran-Gremaud | Executive Director

Y. and her daughter - they live together at Neema

Y. didn’t believe in herself at first. Y. is one of seven children. Her father is physically disabled, and although her mother tries to provide, the family lives in extreme material poverty. Wanting to contribute, Y. dropped out of school to look for odd jobs. Then she became a mother at just 17, but her boyfriend abandoned them; and her daughter was sickly. Parenting felt overwhelming, yet another burden to shoulder.

It seemed like Y.’s options were limited by forces beyond her control. Still, this life offered a kind of freedom. And returning to school at Neema meant learning to trust others, trust the process, and trust herself.

“I almost dropped out of [Neema]…Since I had stayed at home for a year, I forgot that every institution is governed by rules and laws. At first I found it very difficult to adjust.”

Y. spent the first year holding back, protecting herself from disappointment. Then, with prayer and encouragement from Neema’s counselors, she had a breakthrough.

Y. reads to her daughter during her first year at Neema

“I asked myself I have no future of my own, and am not able to provide for myself, and even the father of my child rejected me…why can’t I change my own future? From that day I really got focused…That was my turning point of making my life better for a greater future.”

Now Y. is in her final year at Neema, preparing for two additional national certifications in dressmaking. She cherishes her daughter (who is thriving at Neema) and glows to think of her future:

“I feel proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m ready to keep moving forward…I’m happier, more peaceful, and I’m finally in a place where I can give both my studies and my child the care they deserve.”

We’re proud of Yv..—and every young woman at Neema—for the work she is doing heal, learn, and transform her future.

Y. reading to her daughter

Y. at Neema's Fashion Show

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Jan 9, 2026
First Day of School for 57 Young Women at Neema

By Gaelle Beltran-Gremaud | Executive Director

New Student D. with her daughter K.

At Neema in rural Kenya, Back-to-School season is a powerful reminder of both deep need and real hope. This year, we are welcoming 57 young women and 30 of their children—our largest incoming class ever—each arriving with a story shaped by poverty, loss, and limited opportunity, and each seeking a chance to rebuild her future.

For 17-year-old D. and her 5-month-old daughter, K., Neema offers something that has been painfully absent from their lives: safety, stability, and peace. D. was just six years old when her mother abandoned her; her father had already passed away. With no reliable caregiver and few resources, her education ended in sixth grade. Like many girls in her community, D. was married at only 15 in the hope of securing survival—but instead, she found herself trapped in a violent marriage. When K. was born this past summer, D.’s husband abandoned them both, leaving a teenage mother with no income, no education, and nowhere to turn.

Stories like D.’s are far too common in Neema’s region, where deep-seated gender inequality, domestic violence, preventable maternal and infant deaths, parental abandonment, and chronic lack of economic opportunity create cycles of hardship for young women and their children. Neema exists to interrupt these cycles. Through safe housing, access to education, vocational training, trauma-informed care, childcare, and community-based support, Neema walks alongside young women as they heal, learn, and gain the skills needed to provide for their families. By investing in both individual women and the broader community, Neema restores dignity, builds resilience, and helps young women move from survival to sustainable independence in rural Kenya.

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Sep 15, 2025
See the Transformation YOU make possible through Winnie's Story

By Gaelle Beltran-Gremaud | Executive Director

Winnie and her daughter

As a teenager, Winnie was abandoned by her father and her mother passed away. She had to drop out of school by 9th grade because she lived in extreme poverty and couldn’t afford school fees. Like many vulnerable young women in rural Kenya, she became pregnant.

Soon after Winnie joined Neema and spent time in counseling to process the pain from her past. She also built close friendships, grew spiritually, and passed her national exams in dressmaking! Today, Winnie works at a local shop and also does additional dressmaking work from her home. With her income, she supports 10 family members!

Running a business is never easy and can be isolating. In rural Kenya, it becomes even more difficult since many other people rely on one graduate’s income to eat, attend school, or get medical care, leaving little to reinvest in their business. Like Winnie, these graduates are an example of resilience and determination.

To help them navigate this journey, these young women continue to receive support through visits from our Business Skills Development Mentor, Eunice Korir, as well as through workshops, field trips, and participation in the annual Fashion Show. They also have unlimited access to our counselors. These initiatives are building a strong alumni network that provides the tools, encouragement, and connections they need to thrive in their businesses.

Our alumni are now professional dressmakers, caterers, and farmers, and many are involved in local churches. They are all advocates for change, uplifting themselves, their families, and communities. The Neema family is always here for them, offering a safe pace for continued growth.

“Were it not for Neema, my life would have been shattered. Being an orphan and a young mother, I did not have direction in life. But by God’s grace, Neema became my second home and a parent to me. I have learned to heal from issues that I had for so long. I started helping my fellow students who were stressed by talking to them and offering a shoulder for them. I have learned so much, and I know my life will change.”- Winnie -

Thank you for helping these young women achieve their full potential and create lasting impact in their communities!

Winnie at Neema's Graduation

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Winnie's Story

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