For James, leaving the children’s home in Nakuru at 18 was a bittersweet moment. “It felt like I was being thrown into the deep end with no lifeline,” he recalls. The security of the home was gone, replaced by the uncertainty of adulthood. His first few months were tough. Nights spent in a shared room with no job, no income, and a gnawing fear of failure.
Things began to change when James was introduced to a mentorship program through a local youth transition center. His mentor, Peter, a self-taught tech professional, became the guiding light he desperately needed. “Peter didn’t just teach me how to code; he taught me how to believe in myself,” James says with a smile. Under Peter’s guidance, James built his first website, secured a remote job as a freelancer and started earning his first paycheck. Today, at 24, James is a web developer and dreams of creating a startup to help other young people in his situation.
Amina’s journey was no less challenging. Growing up in a Mombasa children’s home, she had always been ambitious, but leaving at 19 left her feeling adrift. “I had no family, no money, and no one to guide me,” she shares. After months of struggling to find work, she joined a mentorship program that matched her with Sophia, a young entrepreneur.
Amina effortlessly made beaded jewelry for fun. Sophia taught Amina how to budget, market her skills, and be a valuable person to her customers. “She showed me that my past wasn’t a limitation; it was a source of strength,” Amina says. With Sophia’s support, Amina launched a handmade jewelry business that now ships products across Kenya. She also mentors young ladies who’ve aged out of children’s homes, helping them find their footing in life.
For James and Amina, mentorship was more than guidance, it was a bridge to hope and success. Their stories highlight the transformative power of having someone who believes in you and walks with you. For Kenyan youth leaving children’s homes, programs like these aren’t just helpful; they’re life-changing.
Daraja la Amani 