Two Futures Changed: Nancy & Esther Jana’s Story

Supporting a Child of an Incarcerated Mother in Kenya

Nancy was only a young teenager when she faced circumstances that would overwhelm most adults.

Her mother was in prison in Kenya, and the grandparents who had cared for her had died. Without the family support a young girl desperately needed, Nancy came into the care of Building Families For Tomorrow.

Then Nancy learned she was pregnant.

BFFT became the support system she no longer had. While preparing to become a mother, Nancy was also continuing her own education, working toward completing eighth grade and trying to imagine a future for herself and her unborn child.

Becoming a Mother at Fifteen

More than two months before her baby was due, Nancy went into premature labor. Serious complications required an emergency cesarean section, and her tiny baby girl was placed in an incubator.

At just fifteen years old, Nancy found herself recovering from major surgery while wondering whether her premature daughter would survive.

She named her baby girl Esther Jana, choosing “Jana” in honor of BFFT founder Jana O’Guin.

With medical care and the support of BFFT, both mother and baby grew stronger.

And Nancy did something equally remarkable: she returned to school.

Education and a Different Future

Rather than allowing motherhood and the circumstances surrounding her mother’s incarceration to end her education, Nancy continued working toward a different future for herself and her daughter.

Her story illustrates why Building Families For Tomorrow’s work extends beyond women leaving prison. Children affected by a mother’s incarceration need safety, education, healthcare, stability, and people willing to walk alongside them.

Without that support, the effects of poverty, family separation, and incarceration can continue from one generation to the next.

For Nancy, support came at a critical moment—not only in her own life, but at the beginning of her daughter’s.

Breaking the Cycle for the Next Generation

Nancy and Esther Jana represent two generations whose futures are deeply connected.

By supporting Nancy’s education, providing a safe and stable environment, and helping her navigate motherhood as a teenager, BFFT was investing in more than one young woman’s future. We were also investing in the future of her daughter.

At fifteen, Nancy faced circumstances that could easily have ended her education and severely limited her opportunities. Instead, she was given the support to keep moving forward—not only for herself, but for the little girl whose future was now intertwined with her own.

Two lives. Two generations. Two futures being changed.