The Wings of Hope Rescue Centre, Kamulu, is a home that shelters young mothers aged 13 17 who are survivors of sexual abuse. They find their way to the home through government authorities, and there, their education as well as their children’s needs are catered for from before delivery up until the young mother can provide for herself (that is, after college). At the time of our visit, the home hosted 28 girls and 25 children. The Wings of Hope (WOH) project under the Strathmore Law Clinic partners with the home, such that clinicians make regular visits to spend time with the girls, assist with duties, make donations, and give legal aid in cases against the perpetrators.  

On the 7th of February 2026, alongside my fellow WOH members, I got to visit the home for the first time. My anticipation knew no bounds (and yes, I was not disappointed). After quite the lengthy drive to Kamulu, we arrived at the immense joy that filled the home, and I was instantly struck by the proof that traumatic experiences do not mark the end of life. Bubbly introductions dominated by hearty laughs followed, and we soon settled into conversation with the girls and games with the children. It was very nostalgic to play hand coordination games as well as “broken telephone” once more.  

As the visit was a collaboration with Strathmore’s Community Outreach program, our task for the day was non-legal.  After the icebreakers, we split into teams to help prepare the day’s lunch and keep the children company. Some of us headed to the kitchen to prepare pilau, beef stew, cabbage, green grams, wedges, and amoeba-shaped chapati. It was incredibly interesting to watch clinicians attempt to roll a perfectly round chapati on their first try. 

Another group engaged in colouring activities with the children in the dining hall, while others chatted away with our hosts to pass the time. Meanwhile, at the open field in the compound, the older children played football with some clinicians, while others sang along and danced to the music booming from the speakers. 

During the day we were joined by students from St. Christopher’s International School as well as other visitors who joined in the activities, making the experience even more exhilarating. After that upbeat morning, we were all glad to sit down to a hot meal. The lunch was scrumptious – not because I am supposed to impress you, but because it truly was. I am certain I did not eat for the next 24 hours. To top it all off, we had cakes (yes, plural) courtesy of various visitors as a way of celebrating the girls with Valentine’s Day approaching.

The end of our visit was marked by a moment that has stayed with me. Linda, a nurse by profession but a mother figure within those walls, gave a heartfelt speech of gratitude, urging us to return. Her words brought me the quiet and subtle kind of fulfillment. It was a reminder that though it may be easy to overlook the work that we do at the clinic, to dismiss it as just a few hours of our Saturday, our work has meaning. It was a reminder of why the clinic was established: to do work that makes a difference, and only upon hearing the recipient’s account was I able to acknowledge the magnitude of that impact.  

Fulfilled, we concluded our visit, ecstatic to have put smiles on the girls’ faces, and all the more eager to do it again.

Written By: Shallom Waswa