Jemimah, one of our beneficiaries, is a 18-year-old mother of a 2-year-old boy. she is in form 3. Jemimah was born HIV positive and lives in one of Nairobi’s informal settlement area. Following household assessment Jemimah family was supported with school fees, solar lamp, birth certificate, sanitary towel, pill box, and alarm watch. Jemimah had drop out of school when she realized she was pregnant. At this point she was referred to the health facility and gave birth to a HIV negative baby boy. Further, the case was reported to Directorate of children services (DCS) and police, court hearing are ongoing in pursuit of justice.
“I had lost hope in education but thanks to the the support I received from USAID Tumikia Mtoto”
To address the increased needs the project provided emergency fund worth KES 5,000 for food and house rent that was in arrears, this eased the burden on Jemimah and her mother. For mental wellbeing, Jemimah and her mother were linked to SHOFCO for counselling, this also helped to prepare Jemimah re-enrollment to school. Jemimah’s mother accepted to take care of her grandchild. “When I met Jemimah after her delivery, she informed me that even though she really wanted to get an education, she couldn’t because of the social stigma as well as her new responsibility as a new mother. Said Beverly a case worker. “Through this program, Jemimah has been receiving psychosocial support in the company of her mother through regular home visits, helping her to build her confidence to return to school and pursue her dreams. ,” says Caren Onyango, a Psychosocial Counsellor with SHOFCO.
In 2022 the project supported payment of Jemimah’s annual school fees and this ensured that she completed second year of her secondary education. Jemimah is currently midway her third year of secondary school education. In addition, the project supported Jemimah’s family with a solar lamp to enable her and her siblings to undertake their evening lessons and assignments. Jemimah appreciates her case worker Beverly and her case manager Mary for constantly checking on her including regular monitoring of her school attendance and performance. She is also grateful for the project support to access her birth certificate and that of her son. This will enable her to register for national examinations in the coming year.
“I had lost hope in education but thanks to the the support received from USAID Tumikia Mtoto, my mother and my teacher. I am positive that I can still pursue my education and become a teacher. One day I want to serve my community,” says Jemimah. Her teacher, Janet, who is also the guiding and counselling leader at school says “I am happy with Jemimah’s ’s progress and hopes to see her go to university”.
“Jemimah is a determined girl and I am proud of her milestones. She has defied all odds to be in school. I love the zeal that Jemimah has, she is proof that education has no limitations. “ says Mary Wanja a case manager working with USAID Tumikia Mtoto in Mathare sub county.