In Ng’ombe, growing up isn’t what it used to be; it is tough. For many children, the joy of childhood is cut short by the heavy realities around them - drug abuse, early pregnancies, and child marriages that begin affecting children as early as age 11.
Boys are often lured into drugs and petty crime, slowly drifting out of school. Girls, still trying to figure out who they are, are exposed to sex too early and pressured into relationships that lead to early pregnancy or marriage. In a matter of months, their lives change course and their dreams are put on pause, or worse, abandoned. Hopelessness takes over their lives.
Behind the statistics are real stories. Real students. Real heartbreak. These are the personal battles our students face daily - challenges that threaten the progress we make through literacy and education. That’s why we recently introduced GROW, a life-skills and discipleship program designed to help adolescents become resilient, responsible, and rooted in truth.
A Safe Space to Be Seen, Heard, and Guided
Every Wednesday, a group of teenagers gathers to talk openly about the things they’re facing - from peer pressure and family dynamics to personal failure and fear. It’s a space of honesty, where tough conversations are guided by Scripture and the belief that God has a greater plan for each life.
Led by one of our Chibanja directors, Priscilla, and our very own Education Mentor, Rebecca, the sessions use Scripture to guide discussions on issues like identity, peer pressure, drugs, and self-discipline. The space is safe, the conversations are honest, and the message is clear: God cares about every part of their lives, and so do we.
“Never Give Up. Never Surrender.”
In a recent session, we explored perseverance. How do you keep going when everything around you - alcohol, violence, the pressure to fit in - pulls you in the opposite direction? It’s a hard question, even for adults. Yet these teens spoke from experience. They shared stories of struggle, strength, and what it means to keep moving forward when it feels easier to give up. The pain of being misunderstood and the need to press on even when it seems no one is noticing.
“Never give up. Never surrender” became the mantra of the day.
One student, Lutricia, a 15-year-old in 8th grade, shared:
“I am so thankful to you for caring and guiding me on the right path. I’ve learned how my decisions and actions affect not only me but also those around me. I’m excited about learning more, and I look forward to our next lesson.”
That’s what GROW is all about - shaping character, not just behavior.
Lutricia (r) participates in the group discussions
Changing the Narrative
Ng’ombe, like many communities, is at risk of losing its children to the streets, to trauma, to hopelessness. Kids are growing up too fast, and they need people who won’t give up on them. People who will remind them of their value and show them a better path. They need places where they’re seen, heard, and challenged to believe in something more.
That’s what we’re building through GROW. A place to heal. A place to discover. A place rooted in God’s Word, where lessons on identity, purity, wisdom, perseverance, and purpose come to life. And we’re just getting started. In the months ahead, we hope to reach even more teens, helping them see that no matter where they come from, no matter their situation or condition, a fruitful and fulfilling life is still within reach. One that God Himself has prepared.