By Safe House | Heshima Kenya
Maria is a 15 year-old-girl from Southern Sudan; she fled her village after war broke out and her parents were killed by the militia. Tragically, Maria was abducted and forced to live as a house wife of the militia for one year. Finally, Maria and another woman manged to escape from their captors.
Maria ended up at a nearby church that was able to arrange for her to come to Nairobi, where she was taken to the UNHCR offices, who referred her to Heshima Kenya for care and protection. Initially, Maria was incredibly traumatized – she cried frequently and could not communicate as she only spoke the Dinka language and Arabic. Heshima Kenya brought in an interpreter for her so that the program staff would understand and be able to provide for her immediate needs. She was placed in the Safe House so she would have a safe place to stay; she was also enrolled into special counselling services, received immediate medical attention, and began to slowly work to build her hope and confidence.
Today, Maria has started to learn English; she works with a volunteer teacher daily who teaches her to speak and write. She loves spedning time with her new friends in the Safe House - plaiting other girls’ hair, crocheting and dancing. She also participates in peer support activities organized in the Safe House. Though she acknowledges that she still very much misses her family and her sense of belonging; she states her life has been transformed. “I finally feel like I have found a family again, a mother and a friend in Heshima Kenya. I would love to continue with my studies and become a nurse just like my new found mother in the Safe House”, says Maria.
Thanks to your support, Heshima Kenya is able to continue working hard to ensure that Maria’s best interests are determined and all of her needs are met. With ongoing support, we can continue to care for Maira and the many young women like her. Thank you again!
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