Before her life took a dramatic turn, Jackline Syombua worked as a hotel waitress and lived a quiet life with her brother in Athi River. Later, while working as a domestic worker in Syokimau, she was accused of assaulting a child under her care, an allegation that led to a 10-year prison sentence. What followed was a decade behind bars, marked by pain, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil.
Prison life, Jackline recalls, was far from easy. The days were long, the future unclear, and her heart carried heavy burdens. But amid the hardship, she chose resilience. Over time, she developed the strength to endure, learning to coexist with women from all walks of life and to see beyond her immediate circumstances. “It was in those dark moments that I learned to live with people so different from myself,” she says. “That taught me humility, tolerance, and strength.”
When the gates finally opened after ten long years, Jackline stepped into freedom, but not without fear. She worried about how society would view her. Would she be judged? Shunned? Cast aside like many others who return from prison? Instead, what she found was something unexpected and deeply moving: acceptance.
“I was super surprised by the support and warmth I received,” she shares. “I expected stigma and rejection, but my community embraced me. That gave me back my confidence. It made me believe I could belong again.”
That powerful moment of reintegration was just the beginning of her next chapter.
Through Clean Start Africa’s UFUNUO program, Jackline embarked on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. The program, tailored for women impacted by the justice system equipped her with entrepreneurial skills, emotional intelligence, and the courage to reclaim her story. But more than anything, it taught her the power of forgiveness: forgiving others, forgiving society, and most importantly, forgiving herself.
“There were moments during the training that shifted everything for me,” she says. “I discovered who I am and what I’m capable of. I used to think I could never run a business, but now I believe I can. That’s my dream to start something of my own.”
As Jackline builds toward that dream, she remains passionate about encouraging others. To women still behind bars or recently released, she says: “Don’t take these lessons for granted. Healing is possible. Growth is possible. Nothing is impossible.”
To society, she offers a heartfelt plea: “Please embrace those who’ve served their time. Don't shut the door on us economically, socially, or emotionally. Give us the space to rebuild, just like anyone else would want if they fell and needed to rise again.”
