By Gaelle Beltran-Gremaud | Executive Director
The Pamoja Run is an annual community event hosted by Neema to raise funds for trauma-informed counseling through community home visits, group counseling, and outreach programs in local schools. The event brings together hundreds of children from local schools, teachers, and community members to raise both awareness and support for youth mental health. Over the years, the event has had an impact on the local community, contributing to a reduction in school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, and the trauma associated with extreme poverty, abandonment, and violence. Being involved in the run has also played a significant role in empowering students by equipping vulnerable children with the emotional tools they need for a brighter and healthier future, while helping to break cycles of hardship across the Kitale region of Kenya.
One of my greatest joys of the event is seeing the children run with such commitment and enthusiasm, a reflection of the deep love and value they place on Neema and its mission. The wider community has also shared encouraging feedback about the positive changes brought through counseling outreach. One parent shared with me that her fourteen-year-old daughter’s behavior had greatly improved through the support of Neema counselors. She now comes home early, shows more respect at home, and has become more responsible.
The Neema students themselves respond positively to the event, especially as many of their siblings attend the participating schools, making the experience meaningful and exciting. They understand the importance of the run as they’ve seen the value of counseling in their own lives. Many of the young women even carry what they learn back into their homes, helping to bring peace and understanding to their families. Having access to counseling whenever they need it has transformed many of them, especially in comparison to when they first arrived at Neema.
The Pamoja Run brings together every member of the Neema family—including staff, students, and parents, truly living out the concept of “pamoja,” which means “together” in Swahili. For me, the motivation to continue the Pamoja Run each year comes from its unique combination of community impact, personal growth, and the unifying spirit of Kenyan running culture. Above all, running for a cause strengthens the sense of togetherness within the community and promotes peace among families.
By Eunice Urwenya, Tailoring & Dressmaking Instructor at Neema
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