The Safe House: An Enclave of Peace and Hope

I fled Ethiopia with my uncle when my parents were kidnapped by government officials. My uncle wanted to save me from facing abuse. He booked a bus ticket for me to travel to Kenya through to the Moyale border.  I was left to travel by myself.  He instructed me that when I reached Moyale that I hide myself into goods truck driving into Nairobi. I arrived in Nairobi in October 2014 when was I just 14 years old.

I found myself in Eastleigh where I knew no one. I started asking for help from people on the street but most people just ignored me. I had to sleep on the street corridors for a few days. I did not have any beddings to use. I was so cold, kept on crying and by-passers would sometimes give me bread and milk to drink but no one offered shelter.

After a few days, an Ethiopian Oromo man approached me and asked me what I needed. I told him, I just want a place to stay and eat. He took me to another man who said he would help me. I stayed with him for a while but he started to suggest the he wanted to marry me. I was so scared and very young. I did not want to get married. I only wanted to know where my parents were and be supported to go to school. I ran away from his house and went back to the streets. A good Samaritan woman took me into her house. I stayed with her until she relocated to South Africa. I was again left alone to fend for myself.  

One day, a friend of mine told me about Heshima Kenya’s office and offered to take me there. I met a social worker whom I told my story to. She was very helpful and asked me if I needed a place to stay. I was brought into the Safe House in September of 2016. I could not believe my luck that I was able to find a safe shelter with people who would help me and who care about me. I was immediately taken to the hospital for a health check-up, given food and beddings and I could have not been more grateful to meet other girls who had similar stories to mine. We love each other and treat one another as sisters.

I was also enrolled into the Girl Empowerment Program to continue with my studies and I lived happily in the Safe House. I talked to a counselor on a regular basis who supported me to deal with my past experiences. I love the Safe House so much because it has protected me from so many things that could have happened to me. It has allowed me to be a child, growing up strong and confident without any fear. In a month’s time, I would like to be exited from the Safe House and live with a young Ethiopian woman who has accepted to be my guardian. I will still continue with school and hope that one day I will achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. I have really improved on my studies. I can read, write in English and Swahili. I love mathematics and science too. At Heshima Kenya’s Safe House, I have found a home and family.  I am no longer stressed, just hoping that one day I will see my parents again.