Strength in Resilience – Mama Desmond’s Story

In Kenya, many women are known not by their own names, but by the names of their firstborn children. It’s a tradition that acknowledges the significance of motherhood—a role that defines them and binds them to their community.

For one of our mamas, that name is Mama Desmond. Desmond is almost 1.5 years old and was born into the Angaza Mama Program last year. His mother has faced some of the most challenging circumstances we’ve seen—a high-risk pregnancy complicated by physical and mental disabilities and chronic health conditions. Throughout her pregnancy, she relied on the REHMA Center team for support, care, and a safe place to find hope. Today, Desmond is a thriving, healthy boy.

Resilience Training: Finding Strength Through Challenge

Recently, a group from Canada visited REHMA Center to conduct an Enhanced Resilience Training Program for the mothers in our program. The week-long program combined taekwondo with psychological exercises to help mothers process trauma, build confidence, and experience the joy of movement.

For Mama Desmond, the training was an entirely new challenge. Despite living with scoliosis and walking at an angle, she participated fully—kicking, punching, and even breaking through a wooden board with one powerful punch. At the end of the week, she stood up to speak to the group, her confidence visibly renewed. With a smile, she shared that for the first time in her life, she felt strong and capable, just like everyone else.

Building Community, Strengthening Families

At REHMA Center, we believe that when a mother is strong, her child is strong. We see it every day in mamas like Desmond’s mother, who are overcoming adversity, building resilience, and creating a foundation of strength for their children.

This month, we also closed the center for two weeks to complete much-needed renovations and prepare for the influx of new mamas in 2025. During that time, we continued to serve our community through home visits, ultrasounds, and emergency support. And even in those two weeks, new life entered our program—a set of healthy twin girls born to one of our mothers.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, we are preparing for a new chapter at REHMA Center. In January, we will begin transitioning the center into a registered maternity clinic. This will allow us to provide more comprehensive medical care for women in need and ensure that every child has a chance to thrive from the very beginning.

Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us as we build a stronger, healthier community for mothers and children in Mombasa. Stay tuned for more updates and stories of resilience and hope.