{"id":22570,"date":"2026-06-27T14:42:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T12:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/?p=22570"},"modified":"2026-07-01T20:29:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T18:29:00","slug":"after-years-we-were-finally-back-at-esthers-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/na-jaren-waren-we-eindelijk-weer-terug-bij-esther-home\/","title":{"rendered":"From outcast to a new future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, Project Held visited again <strong>Esther Home<\/strong> in Kenya. A special project that we have been supporting for years and where we were finally able to return after a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"22572\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-4-576x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-4-576x1024.jpeg 576w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-4-169x300.jpeg 169w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-4-7x12.jpeg 7w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-4-600x1067.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-4.jpeg 675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"22573\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-6-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-6-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-6-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-6-9x12.jpeg 9w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-6-600x800.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-6.jpeg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"22571\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-3-576x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-3-576x1024.jpeg 576w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-3-169x300.jpeg 169w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-3-7x12.jpeg 7w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-3-600x1067.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-3.jpeg 675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For them, Esther Home is a safe haven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"22578\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-17.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"22579\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-14.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"22577\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13-16x12.jpeg 16w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13-600x450.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-13.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"22576\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-12.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"22575\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-11.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Esther Home looks beyond just the initial reception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2764\ufe0f Do you want to make a difference too?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22574\" style=\"width:738px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Esther-Home-16.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click the link below, choose <strong>Kenia \u2192 Esther Home<\/strong>, and discover which mothers and children are still looking for a sponsor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/red-een-kind\/?categorie=kenia\">Sponsor a teenage mother or child<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Together, we can ensure that a difficult start doesn't become the end of their story, but rather the beginning of a new future.<\/strong> \ud83d\udc99\ud83e\ude77<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When a girl chooses to keep her baby, it often means she loses her safe home. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22587,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[945,946,125,938,937],"class_list":["post-22570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nieuws","tag-tienermoeders","tag-babies","tag-estherhome","tag-hulp","tag-sponsoring"],"acf":[],"meta_box":{"ph-post-show_in_hero":"1"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22570"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22586,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22570\/revisions\/22586"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectheld.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}