STARS Foundation

Meet Janet

Janet when she first came to the Wema Centre

Janet’s parents divorced when she was very young, and she and her siblings lived with their mother and grandmother. After their mother died, their grandmother found herself unable to afford food or school fees. Janet dropped out of school and started hawking molasses for money, but it was never enough to feed four people. Following advice from some of her friends that life was easier on the streets, Janet decided to take her sister and leave home.

The two girls stowed themselves on a train to Nairobi, and from there on to Mombasa. They remained in the station in Mombasa for three days. Eventually someone took them to the children’s department in Mombasa, who referred them to the Wema Centre.

At Wema, Janet was given intense counselling and support, and settled in well. She made up her mind to work hard and forget the past. With Wema, Janet completed her school education, and went on to study Accounting at university, from which she graduated with honours in 2009.

Janet now works for Essar technologies and is also pursuing a Masters degree in Strategic Management at the Nairobi University. She is currently the leader of the Wema alumni group and supports her Wema brothers and sisters through their personal challenges.

“Wema has been my home for the last 12 years. It’s a home that I am very proud of. It has been my mother and my father and has shaped my future and destiny beautifully through continuous love and encouragement.” – Janet