We started the project in June of 2008 with six girls that we had been building relationships with for over a year. These girls were hard core street girls, living the life of prostitution and had become addicted to shoe repair glue (cheap and easy to access).

We hired the staff, at the time it was just a house mother, Janet and a teacher, Nancy. We decorated the house and brought the girls to their home. Within a month or so, one by one those original six girls began leaving to go back to the streets. It was a life that they had always known and just couldn’t seem to break free from. All but one of those original six girls, left. And it broke our hearts. But we saw the one, Sarah, and focused on her. And shortly after the other girls left, we brought in five new girls. We added a seamstress, Joyce, so now the girls were receiving basic education in the mornings and being taught tailoring in the afternoons.

In December of 2008, Sarah, our original girl, was reunited with her family. She had made amends and decided to go back and be with them. This was what we know as a “happily every after.” And to us, if this was the only “happy ending” that came out of Neema’s, then it would all be worth it to us.

Also, at the end of 2008, we needed to replace the teacher and we wondered how we could find another that would love the girls like we did, that would be patient and understanding of the girl’s struggles of dealing with the past they came from. But our prayers were answered with a wonderful woman, Joan. She started in January and has been an amazing addition to our girls. The girls are speaking, reading and writing in English now. They have far more confidence in themselves, thanks to their house mother, teacher and seamstress.

In May, we again were saddened by the running away of one of girls. She had decided to go back to the streets where she felt she could make money doing what most of the street girls do: prostitution. However, her bed didn’t stay empty for long.

On our one year anniversary, we brought some treats for the girls to celebrate this special day. We started a water balloon fight with the girls, to which they had never played but loved right from the beginning.

Also on our one year anniversary, we were visited by a woman and a younger girl. The woman was the older sister to this young girl, Olivia. Olivia has come from a life of rejection and as her sister talked with us; we all couldn’t help but fall in love with this new girl. And with the unanimous decision of the staff and the current girls living in the home, Olivia was welcomed with open arms to be a part of Neema.

These girls are not just a project; they are part of our family. Their passion to succeed and become strong and self-sufficient women is powerful and huge. Each of these girls has been worth every heartbreak, every sweat and every tear. We are so very proud of our girls and look forward to another year with them.

--Meredith Stewart