In this episode of A Cup of Care, I welcome Mercy Kamau, the Executive Director of the Mathare Children’s Fund in Nairobi. With clarity, warmth, and deep experience, she speaks about the everyday realities of girls and young women living in informal settlements — teenage pregnancy, stigma, poverty, and different forms of violence. Mercy explains how her team supports young mothers with education, vocational training, psychological counseling, and a daycare center that allows them to continue their studies. A key part of their work is the fight against menstrual poverty: teenage mothers sew reusable sanitary pads that reduce school absenteeism and strengthen girls’ confidence. We also talk about technology-facilitated violence, patriarchal structures that shape daily life, and Mercy’s own story — from her childhood in poverty to her leadership and advocacy today.

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