St. Mary's House of Hope
A Place of Hope and New Beginnings
It all began with a small tailoring project—a simple effort to help vulnerable women and girls gain skills that could change their lives. Many came to us with heavy stories: widowed, single mothers, living with HIV, or unable to afford food, school fees, or medical care. Some were teenage girls, full of potential but unable to attend school because they couldn’t pay the fees.
When they arrived at Mary’s House of Hope, we welcomed them with care and dignity. We bathed them, fed them, gave them a safe place to sleep, listened to their stories, and began teaching them. Through crafts like basket weaving, crocheting, and mat-making, they slowly found their confidence. The tailoring department eventually moved in to help expand the program—and soon, we were offering even more: carpentry, hairdressing, construction, catering, and other practical skills.
What we saw was powerful: most of them didn’t just need training. They needed someone to believe in them. Today, many are living happy, independent lives—working, raising families, and giving back to their communities.
The Need Has Grown—So Must We
But now, our small center is overwhelmed. The demand for vocational training has grown with the population and poverty in the area. Our facilities are struggling to keep up:
It all began with a small tailoring project—a simple effort to help vulnerable women and girls gain skills that could change their lives. Many came to us with heavy stories: widowed, single mothers, living with HIV, or unable to afford food, school fees, or medical care. Some were teenage girls, full of potential but unable to attend school because they couldn’t pay the fees.
When they arrived at Mary’s House of Hope, we welcomed them with care and dignity. We bathed them, fed them, gave them a safe place to sleep, listened to their stories, and began teaching them. Through crafts like basket weaving, crocheting, and mat-making, they slowly found their confidence. The tailoring department eventually moved in to help expand the program—and soon, we were offering even more: carpentry, hairdressing, construction, catering, and other practical skills.
What we saw was powerful: most of them didn’t just need training. They needed someone to believe in them. Today, many are living happy, independent lives—working, raising families, and giving back to their communities.
The Need Has Grown—So Must We
But now, our small center is overwhelmed. The demand for vocational training has grown with the population and poverty in the area. Our facilities are struggling to keep up:
- The kitchen is in poor condition. We urgently need a modern, well-equipped kitchen to provide proper meals and train future caterers.
- There is no workshop for building and construction training.
- We lack proper lavatories for both students and staff.
- There’s no security post to monitor who comes in and out.
- Water is a constant challenge—we need high-capacity tanks and proper collection systems.
- We dream of a dining hall and a multipurpose space where we can celebrate graduations and gather as a community.
- New dormitories are also urgently needed—our current sleeping quarters are overcrowded, and we want every girl and woman to have a safe, comfortable space to rest and heal.
