Keza’s Story

I was born into a family where love and togetherness were our foundation of seven siblings, my parents, and me. Life wasn’t easy, but we had each other, and that was more than enough. I was the youngest girl, always cared for and protected by my family. Yet, nothing could have prepared me for the life-altering moment when I was just 14 years old.

I was raped and found out myself pregnant.

The news hit me like a storm. It felt as if the world stopped turning for a brief second. Fear, confusion, and shame consumed me. How could this be happening? I was just a child, my dreams still felt so far away. My education, my future, my chance to become someone, everything seemed to be slipping through my fingers.

Telling my parents was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I feared their disappointment, their anger, and most of all, their judgment. I feared the world’s judgment. My heart ached as I saw the pain in my mother’s eyes, the woman who had always been my strength ,who now sat silently, broken by my news. My father, usually my protector, was speechless. His silence was deafening.

Despite their hurt, my parents chose not to turn away. They chose to stand by me. They chose to support me through the darkest time in my life. The journey ahead was uncertain, but in their love, I found a glimmer of hope. I gave birth to my child, and though I was not ready, I found the deepest love I’ve ever known. But that love came with responsibility, a responsibility that I wasn’t sure I was capable of shouldering.

I knew that in order to move forward, I had to return to school. But how could I? The judgment, the whispers, the stares—they felt unbearable. I didn’t know if I could face my classmates, my teachers, or even myself. But then, the Carolyn Palmer Foundation stepped into my life.

The Foundation didn’t see me as a girl who had failed! they saw me for who I truly was: a young woman with potential, with dreams still worth fighting for. Through their support, they gave me the courage to rise above my fears, to return to school and reclaim my future. Their belief in me became the light I needed to keep going.

Today, I am in my second year of high school. Every morning when I wake up, I remind myself that my past is not my future. I have the power to shape my destiny, and though the road has been difficult, I am no longer defined by my past. I am defined by my resilience, my commitment, and my dreams.

I share my story with you because I know I am not alone. There are many girls who, like me, are struggling to see a way forward. Girls who feel like their past mistakes have ruined their chances for a bright future. To them, I want to say: “You are not defined by your circumstances. You are not your mistakes. Your journey is far from over. Your story is still being written, and you have the strength to rewrite it, to rise, and to shine.”

This is my story! A story of pain, growth, love, and hope. And though the path hasn’t been easy, I am still here, still writing it, with courage and determination that only comes from believing in a brighter tomorrow.