Last week, Project Held visited again Esther Home in Kenya. A special project that we have been supporting for years and where we were finally able to return after a long time.

Esther Home was founded years ago by a Dutch couple who, during their stay in Kenya, were confronted with the dire situation of teenage mothers.

In Kenya, family and community play a significant role in a young person's life. This is precisely why the consequences of teenage pregnancy are often enormous. Many girls become pregnant as a result of rape, sexual abuse, exploitation, or violence. They are victims of a traumatic event, but unfortunately, often face a second sorrow on top of that.

Instead of support, they are regularly ostracized by their family or the community in which they grew up. Shame, fear of what others think, or cultural pressure cause a girl to suddenly be completely alone.

She faces impossible choices. Sometimes there's pressure from her surroundings to terminate the pregnancy. When a girl chooses to keep her baby, it often means she loses her safe home. Without family, without income, and without prospects for the future, many of these young mothers end up on the streets.

For them, Esther Home is a safe haven.

Through various agencies, the girls end up at Esther Home, where they are cared for with love, peace, and safety. They receive their own bed, good care, and most importantly, the time to process what they have experienced. During pregnancy, they are guided and prepared for childbirth. After the birth of their baby, they also receive support with childcare and motherhood.

But Esther Home looks beyond just the initial reception.

When the baby no longer needs breastfeeding, the young mothers get the chance to resume their education. In this way, step by step, they build a new future in which they can care for their child themselves and regain perspective.

In some cases, thanks to intensive conversations and guidance, there is even room for the restoration of contact with the family. When that is safe and responsible, some girls can eventually return home. If that is not possible, they may stay at Esther Home for as long as necessary and work towards an independent life.

During our visit, we saw again how much difference a safe place can make. Where there was once fear and uncertainty, now hope, self-confidence, and future prospects are growing.

❤️ Do you want to make a difference too?

With a sponsor, you give a young mother or her child the chance for a new future. Not only through financial support, but also by showing that someone on the other side of the world believes in them.

Click the link below, choose Kenia → Esther Home, and discover which mothers and children are still looking for a sponsor.

Together, we can ensure that a difficult start doesn't become the end of their story, but rather the beginning of a new future. 💙🩷