For the past year, I have been meeting with 25 teen mothers in Kanyagwal, Ahero, Kisumu County. My goal has been to equip these young women with essential skills in digital literacy, parenting, and financial literacy. Through a Community Organization, I founded in 2024, called Christal Crafts Creation, I have witnessed some encouraging transformation-four girls have gone back to school, two received scholarships from a local trust, and two are currently training at a regional vocational centre.
This journey has been personal for me. Growing up in Ahero, I watched with deep concern as more girls dropped out of school due to early pregnancies. In 2012, while pursuing a degree in Community Health and Development, I felt compelled to act. One morning after prayer, Nehemiah 2:17 stirred my heart: “Arise and rebuild the broken walls.” After praying and seeking guidance from trusted mentors, I realized God was calling me to work with the teenagers in my community.
During my school breaks, I began to engage with teenagers in schools, offering them comprehensive sexual education. One day, a boy in one of those sessions asked, “How can I be a good boy?”His question opened my eyes to much more I needed to consider, so I stepped back to reevaluate my approach.
Around that time, I got an internship with a church, which eventually led me to Eldoret. A friend who worked with EPTF in Eldoret introduced me to the Navigators. This is a ministry focused on sharing the gospel and fostering growth in individuals’ relationships with Jesus, through life-on-life discipleship.
My involvement with the Navigators was transformative; I joined the team to serve as a Personal Assistant to one of the team leaders. At first, I viewed my role as any other job. This role connected me with a community dedicated to advancing the Gospel in all areas of life. You see, being a disciple of Jesus is not just being part of a church and giving tithes and offerings. It is also living out the truths of scripture in everyday life, surrendering to Jesus each day so that everything you do is for his glory. This experience equipped me to answer that young boy’s question and refined my call to rebuild broken walls.
Engaging with EPTF challenged me to address unemployment, poverty, injustice, and corruption. After seven years in Eldoret, God called me back to Ahero. I wanted to support teen mothers not only to know God but also to become champions against teen pregnancy.
Back to Ahero
Twice a month, I meet with these girls to delve into God’s word, and over time, we have grown to trust each other. Recently one girl shared with me, “When you met me, I had gone to the hospital twice for an abortion, but both times, the doctors were unavailable. Thank you for coming into my life—you encouraged me to keep going.” It fills my heart with joy to see her back in school.
Through EPTF, Christal Crafts Creations received computers, which the girls use weekly to improve their digital literacy. Our meetings also cover topics such as financial literacy and mental health. The girls have even formed a table banking group where they save a small amount each week. Mental health is crucial, especially for those girls who have faced abuse and need counselling and support as they work towards healing and forgiveness.
I am excited to share that now I’m also involved with EPTF in Migori. For the next year, we will be working at empowering marginalized youth and women through mentorship, entrepreneurship training, access to funding, and value chain support. I firmly believe that without economic empowerment, lives struggle to flourish. Yet, I also recognize that our greatest need is a relationship with God. Guided by the vision of the Navigators, I’m working to build trust and relational networks in Migori as we share skills in entrepreneurship and financial literacy, relationships that will create a platform for the advancement of the Gospel. My vision is for EPTF’s work to promote economic empowerment and transformational change through the gospel.
I invite you to pray for the work we’re doing. Please pray for more labourers for the Lord’s work in Ahero and Migori (Matthew 9:37-38) and resources needed to help more girls return to school and the women and youth grow in entrepreneurship skills.
Blessings,