Where girls bake and stitch clothes to remain in class

Students during a class at Neema Center in Karanjee, Limuru. [George Njunge, Standard]

Grace Lokonje,35, from Maralal in Samburu county has a heart of gold.

Touched by the plight of students who dropped out of school due to a lack of school fees, she set up Neema Girls Centre, Karanjee in Limuru.

Here, the girls receive a second chance at life. 

Lokonje, who struggled through school due to poverty, and only made it through the courtesy of sponsors established the centre to train, counsel and motivate girls from humble backgrounds.

 “I struggled with my education. I had lost hope until some sponsors saw my potential and paid for my education. I was always in and out of school due to lack of school fees. Most of these children suffer the same fate since they come from very poor families. Their parents are tea pickers and hardly earn enough,” she said.

 She said that the girls easily fall prey to men,  resulting in high numbers of teenage pregnancies. 

The school that has over 50 students, trains the girls how to sew, bake and beadwork, and the proceeds of the sales are used to pay their school fees.

“The girls collect or cut off materials from tailors. They stitch them to make aprons, sling bags, hats, oven grooves, pouches, and laptop bags, which they later sell,” she said. 

Lokonje added that over the weekends, they hold counselling, Bible study, motivation talks to enable the girls to bond and interact freely. 

 “This project has given these girls hope and they enjoy being together. They assist each other in academics. Further, they acquire additional skills which will make them self-reliant upon finishing school,” Lokonje said.

Perpetual Wambui, who joined Neema girls in 2017, said that she had lost hope of going back to school. 

“I joined this project when I was in form two, I was in my lowest. I was not sure of what life had in store for me, I was constantly out of school due to lack of school fees,” she narrated. 

Wambui said that she was counselled into believing in her abilities and she also learnt how to bake.  

“The proceeds of our craftwork have enabled me to pay my school fees. I am happy and I know my future is bright. In future, I want to be self-reliant, thanks to the skills I have acquired since being enrolled here,”Wambui said.

Hannah Wamaitha, who also joined Neema girls in the year 2017, said that there is a tremendous change in her life.

Winfred Kambua, the headteacher of Nguirubi high school, said the centre has transformed many lives in the area. 

She said it has helped with discipline issues since the projects keep the girls busy over the weekends. 

“Most of the girls are either orphans or come from very poor families. The Neema project has transformed their lives. They have become more confident and when you interact with them, you can tell there is a difference. Their mentality has also changed since they can now earn and cater for their school fees,” Kambua said

Wamaitha added that the counselling that the girls receive has made them more confident and can now speak for themselves, especially when they receive unwanted advances from men.

“I now see girls who believe in themselves. They are no longer timid and they can communicate freely about the issues that they are grappling with. They are also happy that they can pay their school fees,” Kambua added.

Lokonje said that she is elated since most of the girls under her programme have posted good results in school. 

“The girls are now ready to reach bigger goals and pursue what they want in life. If I can get one or two girls out of the yokes of poverty, I will have achieved my mission on earth,” Lokonje said.