The first intake at Kakenya’s school completed high school in 2017. The top three students from this class were selected to come to Australia to complete their tertiary studies as part of Women for Change’s International Scholars Program. These young women moved to Sydney to attend University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and UTS.

These three girls met at about 10 years of age when they joined Kakenya’s Center for Excellence(KCE). It was here that they started to dream big. They worked hard so that after completing primary school at KCE, they were able to go to high schools across Kenya (as Kakenya’s school did not have secondary education at that stage). While other girls their age were getting married they were able to keep learning.

In 2022, Women for Change was delighted to see each of these young women graduate with a degree. Two of these students are continuing their studies, doing a Masters program. These young ladies are role models to all the students at Kakenya’s school and are changing the paradigm of education for Kenyan girls.

Sharon studied a Bachelor of Medical Sciences at University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She is now pursuing post graduate studies in pharmacy.

Magdeline, whom we know as Peyian, completed a Bachelor Of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at University of Sydney majoring in Chemistry. She enjoys analytical chemistry and is planning to develop her career in this area.

Linet completed a Bachelor of Communications and Information Technology at Western Sydney University (WSU). She had never used a computer before starting her degree. Linet is already mid way through a Masters in IT with a focus on cybersecurity.

In 2021 a fourth graduate of Kakenya’s Center of Excellence started at an Australian University. Cynthia is studying a Bachelor of Nursing at UTS. Due to the pandemic she completed the first year of her studies in Nairobi. Cynthia arrived in Sydney in January 2022 and is studying

Women for Change is enormously grateful to the three tertiary institutions that have provided these educational opportunities to our students. We are equally thankful to Scape, Campus Living and Iglu for providing student accommodation for these women while they were studying in Sydney.

We remain committed to providing exceptional graduates of Kakenya’s Center for Excellence with the opportunity to complete a tertiary degree in Australia in the future.