A young girl from the Congo, Aline Uzamukunda was only 14 when she met a man in Rwanda who promised he would bring her to Kenya for a better life. When they arrived in Nairobi, however, the man locked Aline up and declared her to be his new wife. After countless days, Aline managed to escape from the man who held her captive and found sanctuary in Zakat Foundation of America’s (Zakat Foundation of America) Safe House Program in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Zakat Foundation of America Safe House Program provides shelter to refugee children and refugee women who are either homeless or are victims of violence and abuse.
Residents are given the opportunity to recover in a safe and peaceful environment and given emotional support through therapy and counseling.
During the month of November 2011, there were 36 residents residing in the safe house: 13 under the age of 5, 15 between the ages of 6 and 17, and 8 residents over the age of 18.
Chantal Nyamuch, 19, also from the Congo, is another young resident of the Safe House Program. Chantal was thrown out of her home because she was pregnant. Until she arrived at the safe house on November 1, Chantal had never had a prenatal check-up. Nine days later Chantal gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Manzi, and both mother and son are doing well thanks to the Safe House Program.
Pregnant women and young mothers have benefitted most from the Zakat Foundation of America’s Safe House Program. Individual and group counseling is provided on site. In group counseling sessions, participants with children discuss issues related to their experiences in parenting.
The women and children also engage in relaxing activities to provide a place where they can forget about the problems they had before entering the Safe House Program. Art projects, plays and music are a few of the activities that residents of the Safe House Program enjoy during their free time.
You can donate to the Safe House Program in Kenya or to similar programs by visiting our donations, click the donate now button below.