Feel
This story is just one story but instead of giving you all the statistics of teen pregnancy and sexual assault victims here in Kenya, we wanted you to hear it first hand. Numbers are just numbers but we believe that once you hear stories, you can’t not do something.
Kutoa Project will never give actual names of any of the youth we work with. We value protecting them, their story, and who they are. We hope by sharing their story, we can walk with them as they are restored through the healing of our mission and by the power of Jesus Christ.
“It all happened when I was 14 years old. My mother remarried and I was the forgotten stepchild of a man who did not want me. My mother did not work, so her husband ran the house. He would often forget about me and would make me find my own way.
On the first day of school, I was excited to get away from everything as I love school very much. Before I even got to class, I was sent home because my school fees had not been paid. I talked to my mother and she told me she did not have the money. I knew that meant asking my step father, who I knew would tell me no.
So the next day, I was out and this man came up to me and asked what was wrong. I was nervous at first to tell him anything, but he insisted. He took pity on me and paid for my school fees and uniform. Excited, I went to school the following day. The next week he asked to meet with him, as he had more supplies to give to me. When I got to the area, I saw he was next to a car with the door opened. Nervous, I approached the car and greeted him. He threw me into the car and I found myself with his brother and another guy.
We ended up at a house and I told him I needed to get home. He told me to just stay for dinner and sodas because the journey will be long. Out of fear I stayed. I took the soda, but then I realized this was not any ordinary soda. Before I knew it, I woke up and it was morning. I was naked on a bed, scared, and in pain. I asked what had happened and he would not tell me anything. Sometimes I am thankful I had the drugs because I do not think I really want to know what happened to me that night.
I went home but knew I would never be the same. I became pregnant and was unable to keep attending school. You see, here in Kenya, in most schools, if you become pregnant you can no longer keep attending. Once my mother and step-father noticed I was pregnant, I was kicked out of the home. I was left on the streets until someone helped me. Through God’s help, I got connected to a rescue home. My son is now two years old and I am still going to school but this journey is not easy.
We are thankful for the community we have here at Wings, but being a single teenage mother and going to school is very hard. I hope to one day go into law. To help make sure everyone has justice for their wrongdoing.”
Lauren*, 16 years.
*Name changed for privacy.
