Solace for pregnant teens

Maureen Anyango started Rehema House after seeing how poor teen mothers suffered shame and misery. The home gives young girls a second chance at life, writes NIKKO TANUI

What inspired you to start Rehema House?

I was born and bred in Dandora slums and I experienced grinding poverty. I saw teen girls engage in pre-marital sex to put food on the table and young girls fall pregnant and throw their babies in the latrines because they could not take care of the baby.

Maureen with one of the babies whose mother is housed at the Rehema House. [Photo:Nikko Tanui]

Many of my friends became pregnant and had to abort using crude methods because they could not fend for their babies. That explains why there’s a lot of backstreet abortion and a trail of unwed bitter teen mothers. These experiences made me a bitter child.

How come you survived this trap?

It is by the grace of God that I did not succumb. Luckily for me, I was a beneficiary of the Compassion International (an NGO) Leadership Development Programme (LDP). The organisation is run by a woman called Kristen paid my fees from when I was seven years old all the way to campus (Kenyatta University). I graduated last year with a degree in English and Literature.

Other than the fees, it has opened wide doors for me. After graduation, together with other beneficiaries of the programme, we went to America last year for three months. We travelled to about 20 states and met influential people and got more sponsors for the organisation.

I even got an opportunity to do a Masters degree in English and Literature in the US but I declined the offer because I felt that God wanted me in Kenya. I also did not want to contribute to brain drain.

How did you start the project?

After I graduated from campus, I felt that my calling was to fend for these abandoned babies and give their mother’s another chance in life.

In March this year, through the support of Compassion International, Kristen and her family, my family, friends and community I started this rescue centre for teen mothers. We give teen mothers a second chance in life.

How does the programme work?

We identify needy pregnant teens who need support from the slums then we bring them at the centre. Here we host them for at least two years. First, we teach them practical subjects like Science, Mathematics, Religious Studies and English.

We also teach them how to make beautiful beads, baskets, cards, table mats, picture frames and many other artistic materials from recyclable materials. We equip them with proper nutrition, pre-natal care and parenting skills. They also undergo sex education classes; get motivational talks, counselling, Bible study, and discipleship classes among others.

Our goal is that by the time they graduate, they will not only have babies but also be transformed women with life skills and hope in their lives.

I have a team of ten who support my work. They comprise a social worker, housemother, skill’s teachers, counsellor, guards and driver.

How do you identify the girls who need support?

Initially, we went to the slums to look for them. But this was challenging and we settled on working with churches, schools and genuine community based organisations in the slums to help us identify the needy cases. After identifying the most needy girls, we conduct two phases of interviews.

Lastly the girl appears before the six Rehema House board members comprising Sammy Kaunga, Josca Ogolla-Colgate, Carolyne Olilo, Grace Mukunzi, Hellen Wasilwa, Jaki Mathaga and I.

We also host girls who are HIV positive and give them special attention.

How many girls have you rescued so far?

We have five girls between the ages of 14 and 16 years from Kibera, Kabiria, Korogocho, Kariobangi and Park Road. Since the project is still new we want to focus on quality and not quantity.

Our first girl gave birth in July this year to a bouncing baby girl called Precious Whitney, the second one got a baby boy (David Travis) in November. The other two are due in December and February.

What happens after a mother leaves the house?

We counsel their parents so that they forgive and accept back their daughter. If the girl was a dropout, we sponsor her back to school on condition that the parents assure us that they will take care of the baby while their daughter studies.

We do follow-up to ensure that the girls are continuing with their studies and we bring them to Rehema House to encourage the new girls.

What are some of the challenges you face?

Some girls are too young and immature so dealing with them is a problem. Some have not learnt from their mistakes and fall pregnant again.

Some parents also refuse to forgive and take back their daughters, so we must find a plan ‘B’.

Because of space and financial limitation we cannot take in more girls though the need is there.

We are situated near Bomas of Kenya in a five-bedroomed house.

What message do you have for girls from the slums?

My sponsors Bill and Louise Phillips from Australia used to tell me that poverty does not determine your future, it shapes it. You can walk out of poverty by taking positive steps and believing in yourself. In LDP my sponsors Rick and Roxanne Robinsons always encouraged me to stay focused and aim high.