At the heart of Protect Girl Image Organization (PGIO) in Kirinyaga stands an extraordinary woman-Mama Rachel. Known for her unwavering compassion and tireless dedication, she is not just our matron-she is a symbol of hope, healing and transformation for countless children and teen mothers.
A Mother to Many, A Matron With a Mission
Mama Rachel’s responsibilities go far beyond traditional roles. On behalf of PGIO, she personally pays school fees for our beneficiaries, attend school meetings on our behalf and ensures every child is ready for a new term – complete with uniforms, stationery and other essentials. She identifies children whose uniforms are either worn out or too small, and ensures they receive replacements. For pupils lacking the most basic school supplies, she shops and delivers them herself.
But her care doesn’t end there.
Through a careful vetting process, she also identifies families in urgent need of household shopping—those who lack even the most basic necessities. Mama Rachel addresses these needs with a warm heart, empathy and zero judgment. Her dedication to the children’s welfare and discipline is unmatched, and she leads with an approach that is firm, yet overflowing with love and compassion.
The Soul of Our Rescue Home
Before our rescue home was sadly vandalized, Mama Rachel was its soul and heartbeat. She lived there with the teen mothers, offering not just a place of safety—but a nurturing, supportive environment.
She helped facilitate daycare services for teen moms going back to school or attending vocational training. But more profoundly, she instilled a culture of sisterhood—where every girl became her sister’s keeper. Teen moms whose schedules allowed took care of each other’s children. As one came back from class or training, another would take her place. Duties were shared. No one was left to struggle alone.
This unique system created a community of compassion, where young women supported one another through the highs and lows of young motherhood. They found strength in shared experiences, encouraged one another and learned that what they feared was abnormal, was often just part of the journey. With Mama Rachel’s leadership, they reduced the emotional toll and anxiety of parenting, knowing they had each other.
Because, as they say, it takes a village to raise a child—and Mama Rachel made sure these girls didn’t walk alone.
Her Journey to PGIO
Long before she joined PGIO, Mama Rachel was already a quiet force in the community. While others gossiped about children seen as “wayward” or “lost,” she reached out with kindness. Whether it was a child engaging in risky behavior or one struggling silently, Mama Rachel offered guidance, not judgment. She tried to redirect them toward brighter paths—toward education, dignity, and purpose.
Her empathy caught PGIO’s attention early on.
In villages where children often grow up in trauma—raised in homes plagued by domestic violence, drug abuse, or neglect—Mama Rachel saw not problems, but potential. She understood that many of these children were not “misbehaving” but hurting, carrying responsibilities far too heavy for their young shoulders (see Mwitha’s story for deeper insight). They needed support, not shame. They needed a guiding hand—and Mama Rachel offered exactly that.
A Trusted Bridge Between PGIO and the Community
When PGIO launched operations, much of our communication with government offices in Kirinyaga happened over the phone from our Nairobi headquarters. But we needed someone on the ground. Someone the community could trust. Someone who would respond with urgency and wisdom.
That someone was Mama Rachel.
She volunteered even before she was officially appointed. And soon after, she was chosen to lead our Kirinyaga branch office. Today, she remains the direct link between PGIO and our local beneficiaries, handling vetting, case assessments, school and home visits, and urgent intervention calls.
Why She Matters—Now More Than Ever
In a time when many children are silently suffering and young mothers are overwhelmed with fear and isolation, Mama Rachel is proof that one person can spark transformation. Her presence continues to change lives—one school visit, one conversation, one rescued soul at a time.
She is not just the matron of PGIO. She is its beating heart in Kirinyaga.
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Support our mission. Help us reach more children like those Mama Rachel touches every day.
Together, we can build a future filled with dignity, healing, and hope.
📍 Read more stories of transformation on our website; cases and updates.
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