The Safe House: An Enclave of Peace and Hope

Rachel was referred to the Heshima Kenya Safe House in November 2015. She was reffered with her little daughter Nina. Rachel was 16 years old when she was raped in her native country the DR Congo. She was rescued from the Mai Mai rebels after being abducted and enslaved for 8 months. The rebels raped her, tortured her and tormented her for months. One night, the government ambushed the Mai Mai camp and rescued Rachel. They were able to run through the thick forest with other women and children until they found a truck that carried goods where the driver helped them to reach the nearest town in Congo. Rachel collapsed in the middle of the journey and woke up after a few hours only to find herself held by an old woman who had tears in her eyes.  Rachel felt very weak. She was later informed that she was three months pregnant.

Eventually, Rachel found herself in Kenya with the help of many good Samaritans. They travelled with her miles and miles until they reached Nairobi. She was handed over to a Congolese family who lived with her until she gave birth to her baby. Unfortunately, all through her pregnancy, she was sick and very frail. She did not receive any kind of immunization and medication.  The child was born with many complications by the time of her referral to the Safe House, the child was sick and severely malnourished.  Rachel was very thin as well and always seemed stressed and had low self-esteem. She used to cry all the time whenever one of the case workers tried to talk to her. It took the Case Workers a long time to make Rachel understand herself and accept the situation she was in. She had countless counseling sessions with the case workers. Her baby was assessed and enrolled to the nutritional clinic. Her baby has since been on medical follow up and undergoing occupational therapy sessions at Association of People with Disability in Kenya (APDK).  Baby Nina was also taken to Kenyatta National hospital for further review and treatment. Rachel is also attending an orthopedic clinic to assess her back which was diagnosed with scoliosis.

Rachel was very worried for the health of her baby but through the collaboration and help of the Heshima Kenya Case Workers and Safe House Staff as well as medical facilities, her baby was able to stabilize.  

It’s has almost been one year now that Rachel has lived in the Safe House. She is a happy girl now who is stable in her weight and health and has a healthy growing baby as well. She has regained her smile back. She thanks Heshima Kenya for the help she has had so far. She has learned to appreciate the help she has been receiving especially with her baby who has grown teeth and can sit on her own now. Rachel has improved in her relations with the other residents and she enjoys their company.

Rachel hopes to become a nurse in future, she wishes that her child will be well and grow up healthy and strong just like other babies.