Kenya Works Helps Two Girls, Their Family, and Their Community Heal the Wounds of Female Genital Mutilation

Kenya Works Child Protection Center Miale ya Tumaini is a safe and nurturing refuge for children in need of care and protection. It serves as a temporary home for vulnerable children as we work diligently to find long-term alternative-care solutions, primarily through reintegration with extended family members.

The Shelter provides not only safety but also emotional support, basic needs and a sense of belonging during a critical transition period in each child's life.

We recently received a call to provide immediate care and protection for two young girls who had been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The girls are members of the same family and were forced to undergo FGM on the same day. Concerned community members became aware of the incident and reported it to the authorities, prompting swift action that resulted in arrests.

As the legal matter went before the court, the girls were temporarily placed in the custody of our child protection center to receive the holistic care and compassion they so urgently needed. They received initial medical attention before arriving at the shelter, and our staff ensured their treatment plans were carried out, following through with prescribed medication and attending follow-up hospital visits.

Beyond their physical wounds, the emotional scars would run deep. Psychosocial support became a lifeline, offering them a safe space to begin processing the trauma they had endured. Their education, abruptly disrupted, was another loss we worked quickly to restore, helping them regain a sense of normalcy and hope. Every effort was guided by one purpose: to walk with these girls on their path to healing—rebuilding not just their bodies, but their spirits and their futures.

From the moment they arrived, we were open and honest with them. We explained that their stay with us—along with their enrollment in a nearby school—was temporary. We emphasized that this was a safe space, created with their well-being in mind, and that we were working closely with the authorities to determine the best possible outcome for their future. Most importantly, we assured them that they would eventually return home, but only once it was deemed completely safe to do so.

This message gave them hope. Despite the trauma they had endured, the thought of one day returning home to a transformed, safer environment brought light back into their eyes. Their spirits began to lift, and slowly, we watched them blossom. They started participating actively in school, made friends, and engaged with our psychosocial support programs.

Their liveliness was incredible. Every day, they would eagerly ask us, “Have the courts communicated anything yet?” Their longing for home was evident, but so was their understanding of the need for justice and safety. They were patient and strong, and their trust in us grew steadily as they saw our commitment to their wellbeing.

During their stay, we worked closely with the girls, relevant authorities, their families, and community leaders to ensure a safe and supportive reintegration when the time came. Our exit plan was thoughtfully crafted and shared with everyone involved. When the court approved a structured return, signaling that justice had been served, we confirmed that all safety measures were in place before beginning the reintegration process, with a focus on the girls’ ongoing healing and stability.

Reintegration and Continued Monitoring

We first conducted a home visit without the girls to assess the environment and provide the family with education and support to ensure the girls could thrive when they returned home. We also partnered with local organizations that had engaged with extended family members, helping to coordinate the upcoming visit. Prior to this, we held several phone conversations with the family, the child protection office, and community members to lay the groundwork for a successful reintegration.

We began the home visit, accompanied by a social worker and a pastor. After passing through interior security, we were warmly escorted to the home by the area chief, ensuring a safe and well-coordinated approach. During the visit, we held meaningful and heartfelt conversations with family members, emphasizing the importance of supporting the girls’ continued healing after their return. We encouraged the family to work together in unity, fostering love over blame, to create a nurturing environment. The visit also served to prepare them for the girls’ upcoming return and the information was received with warmth and readiness.

In the days that followed, we focused on preparing the girls for this next chapter. The transition was carefully planned with guidance and emotional support from the social work team at the shelter. When the day finally arrived, the girls said their goodbyes at school and at the centre—moments filled with warm hugs, joyful tears and deep gratitude. They parted with the friends and caregivers they had come to see as family, carrying with them the strength, love and resilience that had been nurtured throughout their stay.

Today, the sisters are safely home, continuing their education and thriving in their community. We remain in contact, monitoring their progress and offering support where needed. Their story is evidence of the power of timely intervention, the importance of justice, and the enduring strength of a child’s hope.

Building Safe Communities for Children at the Centre, in their Homes and in Communities

The journey did not end here; we organized a Kenya Works Community Works training workshop to sensitize the community on child protection, harmful cultural practices such as FGM and early marriage, and the importance of education for girls. The four-days of training also focused on parenting skills, trauma-informed care and how to create a safe, nurturing home environment that supports the psychological and emotional recovery of rescued children.

We made a deliberate effort to ensure that the training space, as part of their home community environment, was welcoming and compassionate, and that the community was equipped to end these harmful cultural practices.

Through open dialogue, culturally sensitive approaches, and collaboration with community leaders, the workshop laid the groundwork for long-term behavior change and community-led protection initiatives.

The training venue was the Mashuru area of Kajiado East—a vast region predominantly inhabited by farmers and pastoralists. Effective mobilization efforts ensured strong representation from various parts of the sub-county, allowing for a diverse and inclusive training session. This location was central to the communities from which the girls came, making it a meaningful and strategic choice.

This Kenya Works Community Works workshop left our hearts full. The Deputy County Commissioner, the Assistant County Commissioner and several area chiefs not only attended all four days, but they also actively participated alongside the Kenya Works facilitators in building community learning and action plans. They ensured that the lessons would be shared with community members in various chiefs' barazas, among other meetings. It was truly an inspiring experience.

By engaging both hearts and minds, we are working toward a future where every child in Kajiado East—and throughout Kenya—can grow up in safety, with love and dignity as well as opportunities for their futures.