08/04/2026
On the 27th, I marked another year of life.
Not with noise or grandeur but with deep reflection and gratitude for the journey, the growth, and the purpose that continues to unfold.
On the 28th, I returned to Majengo and time folded gently around me.
Majengo in Nairobi Eastlands area ,a densely informal in settlements a full of life but also one where economic vulnerability and inequalities continue to expose young people to social and health risks including early exposure to s*x exploitation and high HIV prevalence.
The streets are humming with biashara,(business) children’s laughter echoing between homes, a community that carries both beauty and burden in equal measure. Just a few kilometres from where I spent my formative years, I felt like I was back in my hood. And I was reminded: I have always wanted to give back to my community.
It felt like a quiet rendezvous with a younger version of myself 18 years ago when we first stepped into these spaces, hearts full of hope, partnering with our very first school and dreaming up what would become the Mrembo girls Program. A dream rooted in creating safe, nurturing spaces for young women in informal settlements.
This time, I was accompanied by members of my team and our CEO, people who were part of this journey from the very beginning and who, like me, grew up in similar neighbour hoods. Being there together felt full circle, a shared story of growth, purpose, and coming back home.
I visited one of our program zones supporting young mothers, walking alongside them through s*xual and reproductive health, maternal well-being, mental health, and livelihoods. They welcomed us with the warmest smiles full of resilience, courage, and quiet victories. One young mother shared how the program has changed her life how our coaches have helped her build confidence, offering mentorship and role models she can believe in. We continue to run this work across different program zones, with Majengo standing out as the only site currently targeting more than 200 young women this year.
In one of the most meaningful way, I found myself celebrating my birthday there with a cake, shared laughter, warm hugs, and stories of resilience. Surrounded by young mothers and their children, it was a moment of pure connection and joy. It reminded me that purpose is the greatest gift and that there is no better way to mark another year than by standing in spaces that shaped you, and pouring back into them.
And yet, behind each story is a larger reality.Globally, approximately 21 million adolescent girls become pregnant each year, with about 12 million giving birth . Many of these pregnancies occur before the age of 18, often within contexts of vulnerability, unequal power dynamics, and repeated exposure to harm. In sub-Saharan Africa, the numbers remain among the highest, and here in Kenya, adolescent pregnancy is disproportionately concentrated among girls from the lowest wealth quintile, where access to information, healthcare, and opportunity remains limited.
For many young mothers, the journey does not end at childbirth. It is often the beginning of a complex cycle navigating stigma, economic hardship, interrupted education, and, in some cases, continued exposure to unsafe environments. This is why livelihood support is not an add-on, it is central. When a young mother gains skills, access to income, and economic agency, it shifts not only her trajectory but that of her child. It strengthens dignity, gives autonomy , reduces vulnerability, and creates pathways toward long-term stability.
Our approach is intentional and holistic. We align with global guidance, including frameworks from the World Health Organization on working with pregnant adolescents and young mothers, ensuring that our interventions are responsive, respectful, and grounded in evidence, while remaining deeply community-driven.
I sat through a session on peer pressure, how it shapes their decisions, and how they are learning to rise above it. We also reflected on the power of communication within families, how harmful verbal or physical discipline can become a breeding ground for trauma in a child’s development.
Outside, a group of young men lingered a powerful reminder that the work must be holistic. We are intentional about engaging them too, around positive masculinity and the role they play in supporting young mothers. Because, truly, the needs of young mothers are multi-layered, and we must build an ecosystem that fully responds to them.
Just weeks ago, in March, Nairobi hosted the Maternal and Newborn Health Conference, a powerful convening that brought global attention to the urgency of improving maternal outcomes. Sitting in those conversations, and then returning to Majengo, was a reminder that while policies and commitments are critical, real change is felt in spaces like these in the everyday lives of young mothers navigating complex realities.
Through Secure Futures, we have walked with over 1,000 young mothers thanks to dedicated staff, passionate coaches, and our amazing partner Women Win, Gender working group Nairobi county alongside other stakeholders.
This month, we begin a journey, rallying support for apprenticeship hands on training, internship placements, job shadowing, mentorship, and in-kind contributions. Every act of support matters. Every opportunity can change a life.
If you feel called to be part of this journey with us, we welcome you. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is not just come back home but build pathways for others to grow, rise, and thrive.
