Together Women Rise funder talking about Clean Start Africa
https://togetherwomenrise.org/programfactsheets/clean-start-africa

Together Women Rise is funding a $45,000 Featured Grant to Clean Start Africa.

"Clean Start Africa works with women, girls, and children impacted by the criminal justice system to restore their dignity and hope for a successful reintegration. It addresses systemic and socio-economic injustices that lead to the imprisonment of the vulnerable and poor, through advocacy, bridging the capacity gap to mitigate the limited capacity of prisons to rehabilitate and reform inmates. Clean Start Africa offers a variety of programs including Dignified Rehabilitation (mental health support and trauma healing), Dignified Re-entry (economic empowerment, peer support, job training and placement, and financial literacy), Children and Girls (enhancing family bonds, improving the well-being of mothers and children, and facilitating successful reintegration upon release), and SOTO – Sisters On The Outside (a support community for women who were formerly incarcerated).

The organization was founded by Teresa Njoroge, who currently serves as CEO. In 2009 – after being falsely accused of, maliciously prosecuted, and sentenced for a crime she did not commit, Teresa Njoroge and her three-month old baby began a one-year sentence in Nairobi, Kenya. This experience inspired Teresa to devote her life to helping imprisoned and formerly imprisoned women to reintegrate back into society, which led to the founding of Clean Start Africa. Read more about Teresa’s story.

Today, 80% of the organization’s staff are women who were formerly imprisoned. Teresa is a TED Speaker, and she and Clean Start Africa have received numerous awards.

 

Impact Story

Meet Beatrice

Beatrice is a resilient, 52-year-old living in Nairobi. Her story is one of endurance, determination, and the power of support systems to rebuild a life once derailed.

https://togetherwomenrise.org/programfactsheets/clean-start-africa

Beatrice’s challenges started early. Married with three children, ages 12 to 16, she faced devastating hardships following her divorce in the early 2000s. Without formal education or vocational skills, she was desperate and lacked options.

In her struggle to help her family survive, Beatrice learned to shoplift from supermarkets. Between 2007 and 2013, she was repeatedly arrested and charged with petty theft, serving multiple sentences of six months, eight months, and up to a year. Trapped in a cycle of crime and poverty, she eventually escalated to fraud, which led to her imprisonment at Lang’ata Women’s Maximum Prison in 2014, where she served a three-year sentence.

While in prison, Beatrice found the time and space to reflect on her life. It was during this period that she learned about Clean Start Africa and their work with women impacted by the criminal justice system. Inspired by their mission, she resolved to chart a new course once released, marking the beginning of her incredible transformation.

In 2018, a year after leaving prison, Beatrice enrolled in Clean Start Africa’s Ufunuo Leadership Program, which offered emotional and mental well-being support while equipping her with the tools to heal and rebuild her confidence.

Beatrice also became an active member of a peer support group through Clean Start Africa. The 10 women meet regularly to share experiences, encourage one another, and learn collectively. These peer connections have proven to be a lifeline, strengthening Beatrice’s sense of belonging and purpose.

Recognizing Beatrice’s potential, Clean Start Africa helped her enroll in carpentry training in 2022 through a partnership with Build Her, a vocational training organization. After four months of intensive training, she graduated with technical skills that opened new doors. She secured a job at a carpentry workshop, enabling her to provide for her family and rebuild her life with dignity.

Today, Beatrice is not only financially independent but also an inspiring role model for others who have faced similar challenges. She lives with and helps support her divorced daughter and her grandchildren. Beatrice credits Clean Start Africa and its supportive community for helping her rise above adversity.