More than 60 young mothers aged 13 to 26 spent their Friday in a life-changing empowerment and team-building retreat at a hotel in Embu, an event coordinated by Rev. Fr. Dr. Henry Kathuri of the Catholic Diocese of Embu, Kenya.
The full-day gathering, filled with diverse team-building activities, sought to strengthen the self-worth of the girls and women and remind them that early motherhood does not cut short their future.
Fr. Kathuri, who is also a psychologist, emphasized that many of the young mothers were innocent and had been taken advantage of, yet still chose not to abort.
He noted that despite often facing neglect and rejection, they deserve love, support, and a second chance.
“These are mothers who need pillars. Let us not reject them. Let us love them, help them rebuild, and show them that life offers another chance,” he said, urging families and relatives to stand with them.
The event was part of Imarisha Dada, a program by Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in Embu that guides young mothers—mostly from Karurina in Embu West Subcounty—through emotional, social, and economic recovery.
Sr. Jane Wainoi, who helps run the initiative with other sisters and social workers, said the program began in 2024 with the goal of helping the girls and women forgive themselves, heal from disrupted lives, and develop essential life skills.
Because not all can return to school, Imarisha Dada equips them with alternative livelihoods such as small-business training, hairdressing, beauty, tailoring, and catering through apprenticeship.
Sr. Jane said the sisters are pleased to see the mothers regaining confidence and self-love. She encouraged parents to stay close to their children, forgive them, and offer guidance rather than evicting them from home.
The sisters also connect girls and families to psychologists when needed and work with various partners to sustain the program.
Beyond skills training, the Good Shepherd Sisters also run positive-parenting sessions to help parents and communities create supportive environments for young people—an effort Sr. Jane said it is increasingly important in today’s technological era, especially during the coming Christmas holiday period.
Beneficiaries say the program has transformed their lives. Davine shared that before joining, she lived with deep self-hatred and viewed her child as a burden.
Through Imarisha Dada, she has gained self-esteem, learned teamwork, and now nurtures her child with confidence thanks to positive-parenting lessons.
Her colleague, Salome, echoed the sentiment, describing the outing as motivating and uplifting, helping them love themselves more.
Another participant, Angela, said that Friday marked her first outing since becoming a mother. Grateful for the skills and support she has received, she called the Good Shepherd Sisters and Imarisha Dada “God-sent.”
Angela encouraged other young mothers to form support groups to share their challenges and support one another, reminding them that motherhood gives them “two lives to guard.”
The sisters continue to welcome partners and well-wishers willing to support Imarisha Dada and strengthen their mission of empowering young mothers and fostering positive parenting in the community.
To learn more about the Good Shepherd programs in Kenya, click here.
This article first appeared in Arise Media on November 15, 2025, and is republished here with their kind permission.
