Step Into Power: Launching Our First Pearls Into Adulthood
Something beautiful is happening at Pearl House — a kind of milestone we’ve never reached before. For the first time, three of our Pearls are stepping into a brand-new season of life: adulthood. And we’ve been savoring every moment of this transition with them.
These three remarkable young women have recently wrapped up their years in high school and vocational training. With diplomas and degrees in hand, they’ve also completed their National Service — a rite of passage in Ghana that places graduates in government offices or schools for a year, giving them real-world experience and a small stipend. It’s a stepping stone into independence, and for our oldest Pearls, it’s the final chapter of their time under our roof.
Launching them into adulthood isn’t something we take lightly. It’s a first for us, and we wanted to do it with intention, care, and celebration. So, we created something special: a weekend program called “Step Into Power.” It was designed not only to honor their journey but to equip them with final tools for the road ahead. The sessions covered topics like purpose, self-respect, relationships, mental health, finances, and the importance of giving back. Our caregivers were there, not just to support but to underline how meaningful this moment is.
On a Sunday afternoon, we gathered in a quiet, powerful circle — what we called an empowerment circle. The three young women stood at the center, surrounded by their sisters, our Pearls. Each girl held a letter, one they had written to their future selves. Around them, each Pearl wrote letters of encouragement. Then came the blessings. One by one, each Pearl and Mom spoke a word of life over them — a prayer, a scripture, a vision. And at the end, each graduate received a graduation certificate: a simple but profound symbol that they are now stepping into the world as adults.
But they are still Pearls. Still precious. Still deeply loved.
They’ve absorbed so much — knowledge, courage, grace — and now they carry that with them as they begin to shape their own futures. They’re going out to impact families, communities, and a nation. And we’ll be right here, cheering them on, waiting for the day they return to share the stories of who they’ve become.
Written by Courtney Quist-Therson