On 14th February 2025, Valentine’s Day, the Nuru ya Akina Dada Legal Aid (NALA) project under the Human Rights Unit of the Strathmore Law Clinic conducted a visit to the Kenya base of the Maisha Foundation in Nairobi, specifically in the Kibera area. The visit was meaningful, as it combined celebration, solidarity, and legal empowerment for young mothers and pregnant girls living in vulnerable circumstances. 

The Maisha Foundation is a nonprofit organization born out of a collaboration between Chile and Kenya. It is committed to promoting dignity by accompanying women, mothers, and young people through challenging stages of their lives. Its mission is to support and offer growth opportunities to pregnant women, mothers, and young people in vulnerable contexts. The organization envisions becoming the main support network for women, ensuring that every mother welcomes her child in the dignified conditions they both deserve. During our visit, we found that most of the girls were either close to delivery or had just given birth, making the engagement even more significant. 

The primary aim of the visit was to spread love and encouragement on Valentine’s Day to the mothers and their children. However, beyond the celebration, the visit also had a strong legal educational focus. As part of NALA’s mandate to promote legal awareness, we conducted a teaching session on key constitutional principles, specifically: equality before the law and the full enjoyment of rights. These topics are central to human rights protection and particularly relevant to young mothers who may face discrimination, stigma, or marginalization. 

We left the university at around 9:00 a.m., accompanied by Sheena Kuchio, our graduate assistant, who supported and guided the team throughout the visit. Upon arrival, we began with introductions, both from our project members and from the girls at the foundation. 

To ease tension and build rapport, several project members facilitated icebreaker games such as Concentration and Mafia. These activities brought laughter and energy into the room, helping the girls feel more comfortable and safe around us. The games also allowed us to connect with them on a personal level before transitioning into the more formal teaching session. 

The legal education session was highly interactive. Rather than delivering a lecture, project members encouraged discussion, questions, and shared experiences. The girls actively participated, demonstrating curiosity and a desire to understand their rights. To make the session engaging and fun, we gave out sweets to participants whenever they contributed. This small gesture added excitement and encouraged even the more reserved girls to take part. It was inspiring to see them recognize that they are entitled to equality before the law and to the full enjoyment of their rights, regardless of their circumstances.

 After the teaching session, we shifted to celebrating Valentine’s Day. We cut a cake together with the girls, symbolizing unity and shared joy. Each girl was also given a rose flower as a token of love and appreciation. The simple act of sharing cake and flowers created a warm atmosphere, reminding them that they are valued and not alone. 

Before leaving, we said our goodbyes and took project photos to capture the memorable moments of the day. We departed at around 12:00 p.m, feeling both sad that the visit had come to an end but also happy that we were able to impact lives that day. The visit was not only about teaching the law but also about affirming dignity and spreading love in a meaningful way.

Written by: Doris Kidero