Amina, not her real name was born into a poverty-stricken family, she envisioned a life where she could be the rescue for her family. She carried the thoughts of her family’s financial struggles on her fragile shoulders.  Her parents, overwhelmed by the hardships of life, saw her not as a daughter but as a burden—a burden they hoped would be alleviated by her departure to an Arabic country where she would work as a domestic worker and send money to her family to save them from the shackles of poverty. Even though she was 22 years old, had no income, and depended on her parents through the support of her sister, Amina was not willing to go.

The whispers of opportunity and prosperity beckoned from Arabic countries, where promises of financial salvation danced in the air. Amina found herself at the crossroads of a decision that would either break her or bind her tighter with her family. As tales of other girls who had ventured to these distant lands reached her ears, Amina's heart quivered with trepidation. The stories spoke of hardships, mistreatment, and broken dreams, painting a stark contrast to the glamorous mirage of wealth she had envisioned. 

Reluctantly, Amina agreed to undergo training for a journey that she could not fathom. Deep inside, a yearning for an alternative solution gnawed at her, a solution that did not involve a perilous journey but promised a way to lift her family from poverty. In desperation, Amina toyed with the idea of marriage, hoping to find a wealthy man who could rescue her from the impending ordeal. Yet, the uncertainty of finding a good man weighed heavily on her heart.

It was at this critical moment that Amina reached out to a staff member from Moving The Goalposts(MTG), the only beacon of hope for girls like her. In a heartfelt plea for help, Amina confessed her fears and her unwillingness to embark on a journey that held no guarantees and even threatened to commit suicide if no one would understand her.

The organization, recognizing the depth of Amina's distress, sent a staff member to conduct a home visit to her place. The mother, torn between the fear of her daughter's plight and the withdrawal of the financial support she received from one of her daughters who had decided for Amina to go to the Arabic country, reluctantly revealed her reservations. Her love for Amina transcended the weight of poverty, and she expressed her desire for an alternative path.

Even though Amina’s mother was filled with uncertainty, and the fear of losing the financial support her daughter provided her, she recognized the profound risk Amina faced and chose to prioritize her well-being over the transient relief that financial support brought. Amina, no longer a pawn in a risky game, found her voice and her strength.

This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of organizations like Moving The Goalposts to step in and safeguard the rights of young women and girls in the coastal region of Kenya. It is a call to action, urging us to stand against the exploitation of vulnerable lives and rewrite narratives with threads of empowerment, liberation, and compassion.