All our girls at Rafiki Mwema have heartbreaking stories and although we feel it is important you can share their trauma to fully understand why the work we do is so needed, we also need to protect their identities.
For that reason we won’t use any names that may be able to link them to their story.
Bitter sweetness of going home!
Our girls go home after they have completed their therapy and we do an assessment of how they are functioning and coping. They will be able to return for short stays if they need to and we provide support for the family on a long term basis. For some girls they will be with us for a few months, for others our involvement is much longer term – it all depends on the needs of the child.
For some of our girls going home is the beginning of the next part of their journey and they are supported by their family and communities – for others it is not so easy.
What ever their experience Play Kenya stay involved and part of their lives for as long as needed. We are not so naive to think that home is perfect for all our children – and of course we can’t see into the future. For that reason our relationship with our girls continues and we are there however we are needed.
This young girl is 11 years old. She arrived at Rafiki Mwema after being raped by a man from her local church. She was walking in daylight when she was attacked. She has a supportive family who are working to understand how this could have happened to their little girls. She has done really well in her therapy and we are hoping she will be returning hope in the next 2 months.
This child is 7 years old. Her mother died a few years ago and her father did not take care of her or her brother. He was an abusive man who would prostitute his baby daughter to local men. The police caught a man in the process of raping this child and he is now in prison for life. We are working with her but she is on a long road to recovery. She has night terrors every night and wets her bed. She is a beautiful little girl and we hope we can help her to deal with the terrors that haunt her.
This young lady is 12 years old and was raped by her step father and step brother. The step brother is in prison but the step father is still at large. Our community worker Gitonga, is working closely with the police to bring about his arrest. This young lady is very sad and deeply traumatized. Her mother doesn’t want her home as she is blamed for driving the men away (!!). We will keep her with us for a year and we are already looking for a permenent home for her. At the moment she needs our therapeutic support
This little girl is 6 years old and a really beautiful child inside and out. She is really really clever and loves to learn. She is with us at the request of her family, following a brutal rape by a man with significant mental health problems. He is now in a secure unit in town. This angel is coming to terms with the attack and we are helping her to deal with the emotional impact of this
This young lady is 12 years old and is the most traumatized child I have ever known. Her mother has been prostituting her for the last 10 years and has been raped by literally hundreds of men. She was beaten by her mother if she protested. She is physically and emotional wrecked. She may never be able to function in the way children do and I am deeply fearful for her future. She thinks she must have sex with every male she sees. Our work with her is complex and long term. We will find a safe therapeutic home for her but our support will continue for many years to come. She breaks my heart every time I think of what has happened
This little angel is 8 years old and lived on the streets for the last 4 years, having sex to support her siblings. She took on all the roles of the parent but was only 8. When she came to us she was exhausted and very aggressive with the other girls. She is blossoming into the most wonderful child but needs time and security in her life. She now smiles – something I thought would never happen
This little 6 year old is very challenging. She has, like all our little girls, a story of rape and abuse. Her response is to attempt to abuse the other girls and we have a very clear set of boundaries around personal touch. She is beginning to respond and settle into our house
These little children could break your heart with their stories but if you came to Rafiki Mwema you would meet a house full of children in different stages of their therapeutic journey. There is love, laughter and sadness at Rafiki Mwema and we welcome all of it. If a child can truly laugh or show sadness, we know she is beginning to reengage with the emotions we all take for granted, and her journey can begin.
Your support brings hope to hopeless children.
There is no alternative to the support that is given – without it they would be in remand centres, orphanages or back home in their abusive environment.
Their childhood would have been stolen forever and they may continue into a cycle of abuse.