Life After Care: How to Rebuild When You Feel Behind

For many young adults in Kenya, leaving a children’s home feels like being released into a world that never waited for them. While others your age seem to be building careers, getting degrees, or starting families you may feel stuck, confused, or like you’re starting five steps behind everyone else.

But let this truth settle in your heart: you are not behind you’re just rebuilding, and that takes time.

It’s not uncommon to feel like life has moved on without you. You scroll through social media and see your peers in graduation gowns, engagement photos, or new jobs. Meanwhile, you’re trying to figure out where your next meal will come from, or how to even write a CV.

This gap can make you feel:

Ashamed that you don’t have it all together
Anxious that time is slipping away
Frustrated that your past held you back

But your starting point doesn’t define your destination. What matters is what you do next.

Rebuilding Starts With a Brick, Not a Castle

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start. Here’s how to begin rebuilding when life feels scattered:

1. Accept Where You Are But Don’t Stay There

Own your story without shame. Your past may be messy, but it’s not a life sentence. Start from truth, not comparison.

2. Set Small, Achievable Goals

Instead of saying, “I want to be successful,” say, “I’ll apply for 3 jobs this week” or “I’ll join a short course on Coursera or Ajira.” Small wins build momentum.

3. Find Guidance and Mentorship

You don’t need to rebuild alone. Mentors, youth programs (like Daraja La Amani), and even supportive church groups can help you make better decisions and stay encouraged.

4. Do What You Can With What You Have

Don’t wait for the “perfect opportunity.” Clean houses. Sell mitumba. Do boda boda. Run errands. Every honest hustle teaches you skills, discipline, and resilience. It’s not about starting big it’s about starting faithfully.

5. Rebuild Spiritually Too

Your heart needs healing as much as your wallet does. Reconnect with God. Journal. Pray. Surround yourself with people who speak life into your dry bones.

“Though your beginnings were small, your latter days will be very great.” – Job 8:7

You Are Not the Only One

“I was 20 when I left the home. I didn’t know how to cook, budget, or even talk to strangers. For months I slept hungry. But I started selling clothes from Gikomba. I met a mentor, got connected to a training program, and now I run my own small business. I’m not where I want to be but I’m no longer where I was.”

— Purity, 25

There are hundreds of young people just like you rebuilding quietly, one step at a time. Your journey is valid, and so is your pace.

Your Future Is Still Possible

Life after care is hard but not hopeless. You may not have family money, connections, or a perfect background. But you have God, grit, and grace. That’s more than enough.

So if you feel behind, remember: you’re just rebuilding. And some of the strongest buildings rise from broken ground.