At The Hijabi Mentorship Program (THMP), we believe healing and empowerment take many forms, and for the women of Nikumbuke, sometimes it begins on the football field. In this story, Grace Mwadime shares her journey in her own words: a powerful testimony of courage, rebuilding, and community transformation. Nikumbuke is more than a soccer initiative ,it is a safe space where women reclaim their voices, dignity, and futures.
GRACE MWADIME: HEALING, HOPE, AND FOOTBALL
By Grace, in her own words
My name is Grace Mwadime, a 33-year-old single mother of three from Kwale County. A few years ago, I walked away from an abusive marriage that nearly destroyed me. I left with nothing but my children and the hope for a safer life. Even after leaving, I carried a weight that felt impossible to lift, fear, shame, and a deep pain that followed me everywhere. I lost my confidence, my self-esteem, and the sense of belonging every mother needs to hold her family together.
In October 2023, I finally decided that I needed to rebuild myself. Through friends and a community outreach, I heard about The Hijabi Mentorship Program (THMP) and the Nikumbuke Women’s Soccer Team, a space where women come together not only to play football, but to heal, learn, and grow. I had always loved football, even though it’s often viewed in our community as a man’s game. Still, something in me said, try. So I joined.
When I first arrived, I was quiet and reserved. I didn’t speak about my past. But the THMP staff and my teammates welcomed me with open arms. One of the program officers encouraged me to slowly open up and gave me small challenges, journaling, joining discussions, or leading warm-ups, tiny steps that helped me reclaim pieces of myself I thought I had lost forever. With time, I felt my confidence returning. I began to heal.
Through THMP, I also accessed therapy, learned about smart money habits, and received training from program partners on how to build and grow a small business. I had always dreamed of selling mabuyu (baobab snacks), and the trainings helped turn that dream into reality. I learned how to budget, track sales, and save. My first batch sold out during football practice, my teammates became my first customers! I started earning Ksh 800 a month, and with consistency and better marketing, my income grew to nearly Ksh 5,000 monthly.
Balancing motherhood, business, and football wasn’t easy. Sometimes I had to bring my baby to practice. I remember breaking down once after my child fell ill because I was so distracted during a match. But over time, something beautiful happened, the community began to support us. Men who once mocked women for playing football started staying to cheer us on. Some even offered to carry and watch the babies so we could focus on the game. That shift in attitude gave me hope. It reminded me that when women are empowered, the entire community begins to transform.
By 2024, I had become one of the most active players on the team. During the Nikumbuke Women’s Tournament, I won the Best Player Award, a moment I will carry in my heart forever. That award wasn’t just about football; it was proof that I had survived, and risen, despite everything.
Today, I am proud of the woman I’m becoming. My business is growing. My children are thriving. And I have regained the confidence and joy I once lost. I plan to expand my mabuyu business to local shops and markets. I also want to mentor other survivors of gender-based violence, to give them the hope and courage that THMP gave me.
As I look forward to joining the Jasiri Project, a program supporting GBV survivors with psychosocial, legal, medical, and financial assistance, I feel prepared for the next chapter of my life. My journey has taught me that healing is possible, and sometimes, it begins with a single kick of the ball.
Grace’s journey reflects the heart of our work, creating spaces where women can heal, learn, and lead. Through mentorship, GBV prevention programs, psychosocial support, economic empowerment, and community-driven initiatives like the Jasiri Project and Nikumbuke Soccer, THMP continues to build a generation of resilient girls and women across Kwale County.
If you would like to support our work or learn more about our programs, contact us at info@hijabimentorship.org or visit our website.
