Recently,  GSIF accompanied an international donor on a field visit to Fanning the Dream, a project implemented by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Meru County, Kenya. 

The visit offered a unique opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the project. Our team met the local staff, toured the facilities, engaged with field staff, and listened to the powerful stories of the young women participating in the program. 

Fanning the Dream was designed to tackle one of the region’s most pressing social challenges: the high incidence of gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages. These issues strip many girls and young women of their right to live in safety, complete their education, and build an independent future. The project aims to restore hope, dignity, and tangible opportunities through a person-centered approach and deep community engagement. 

The initiative supports 60 young mothers and survivors of gender-based violence, aged 16 to 29, guiding them through a journey of personal healing, empowerment, and economic independence. Beneficiaries participate in support groups and receive psychological and psychosocial support, life skills training, and emotional well-being activities. These interventions are designed to help them overcome past trauma and rebuild confidence in their own abilities. 

Economic empowerment is a central pillar of the project. Forty participants are enrolled in technical and vocational training through apprenticeships lasting a minimum of six months. Meanwhile, another twenty receive seed capital, business training, and mentorship to launch small, income-generating enterprises. The ultimate goal is to equip these women with the practical tools needed to build an independent future for themselves and their children. 

Alongside this direct support, the project collaborates with families, local authorities, healthcare providers, schools, and community organizations to strengthen prevention and protection systems, while raising awareness about gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies. The underlying belief driving this intervention is that true change cannot be limited to individual beneficiaries; it must engage the entire community, ensuring that every woman and girl can live in a safer, more inclusive environment that respects her rights. 

During the visit, we explored the multidisciplinary approach adopted by the local team and toured the facilities where project activities take place, including the vocational training workshops and dedicated support centers. A particularly moving highlight was meeting with several young women who bravely chose to share their personal experiences. Their powerful stories vividly demonstrated how a tailored support program can transform narratives of violence, exclusion, and vulnerability into journeys of renewal, independence, and hope. The itinerary also featured in-depth discussions with the implementation team, project managers, and local community representatives, providing a comprehensive overview of the project’s methodology and impact.

The visit reaffirmed the value of an intervention model that integrates individual support, community strengthening, and the establishment of robust protection networks. This approach goes beyond merely addressing the immediate needs of the beneficiaries; it aims to drive lasting, systemic change, empowering every woman to reclaim her dignity, take charge of her future, and actively contribute to her community’s development. 

For GSIF, bringing donors into the field is a vital opportunity for dialogue and transparency. Meeting the people, experiencing the local context, and witnessing the project’s results firsthand allows for a much deeper appreciation of the interventions being funded. Ultimately, it strengthens the bond between those who choose to support and the communities that, thanks to their generosity, are building new opportunities for their futures. 

This visit was a powerful reminder that our work isn’t measured in projects or statistics, but in human lives. It’s about restoring dignity and rekindling hope. It’s about proving that when someone chooses to walk beside you, your future doesn’t just continue—it begins again.

(This article is adapted from a reflection shared by, Clizia Straccamore, Executive and Donor Relations Officer at GSIF Rome, following a field visit to the Fanning the Dream Project in Meru County, Kenya.)