mdoecapinfo@gssweb.org +254 797 805 414 Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd Sisters, P. O. Box 26076 Kendong Rd, Nairobi

Contact Info

Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd Sisters, P. O. Box 26076 Kendong Rd, Nairobi +254 797 805 414 mdoecapinfo@gssweb.org

GSP Embu

Program Background

The Good Shepherd Program in Embu is established in the year 2000 under the invitation of the then Bishop of the Diocese of Embu, Cardinal John Njue.

Located in Karurina village, the program has community outreaches in the informal settlements of Shauri Yako, Kathita, Gregon, Daalas, and Kimangaru, where it works with 10 women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with a total of 198 women.

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Food Security Project in Embu
Food Security Project in Embu
Food Security Project in Embu
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Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

Through bi-weekly group meetings, the SHGs provided women with an opportunity to receive various training including:

  • Group dynamics
  • Interpersonal relations
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Financial literacy
  • Records keeping
  • Life skills

Children commemorated the Day of the Girl Child to promote gender equality within the Embu community and households also acquired adaptive skills in sustainable agriculture through which they were trained on Corn gardening for farming production and Rearing of indigenous chicken

Annunciation Home (AH)

The Good Shepherd Program in Embu also operated the Annunciation Home (AH), a residential facility offering temporal shelter to pregnant girls and teenage mothers in crisis situations.

In 2024, the AH hosted young mothers and their babies , facilitating access to their basic needs of shelter, food and nutrition, clothing, emotional support, and health care.

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Imarisha Dada Project

Due to high teenage pregnancies and rampant Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Embu County, the Good Shepherd Program initiated the Imarisha Dada project in partnership with Mission Austria in 2024 as a response to the limited community support to pregnant girls and teenage mothers in crisis situations in Embu County.

The project adopted a community-based approach to care for pregnant girls and teenage mothers, offering them:

  • On-going counselling
  • Life skills training
  • Medical and nutritional support
  • Family support, reconciliation, and cohesion

Teenage mothers were enrolled in the project in 2024, clustered into three association groups; Victorious, Mwitethia and Mwivoko

Mental Health Project

The program also implemented a mental health project targeting girls in Embu County courtesy of Misean Cara, an Irish-based organization supporting development work globally.

At least two sensitization sessions on SGBV were conducted in partnership with Kimuri Radio Station, reaching many listeners.

Key Achievements

  • Commemoration of the International Women’s Day and the Day of the Girl Child to promote equality of rights among men, women, boys and girls.
  • Improved community awareness on SGBV, contributing to countering retrogressive cultural practices, breaking social barriers, and ill-treatment of women and girls.
  • Strengthened socio-economic resilience of women and girls through personal development, financial literacy, access to seed capital and micro-credit, and transfer of agricultural skills.
  • Enhanced safety and access to critical psycho-social support i.e. shelter, medical, emotional, psychological, and food and nutritional support to pregnant girls and teenage mothers.
  • Girls and teenage mothers. Improved decision-making, stress management and a positive world view among program participants.