I am a humanitarian figure and always will be

I am an active volunteer, a change maker, an innovator, a go-getter, a humanitarian and a social rights activist with a strong passion for education (literacy advocate) and community service. Having grown up in Kilifi North Sub County in Kilifi County- Kenya and experienced first-hand the negative impacts of illiteracy I saw the urgent need for someone to champion the rights of education for every child in Kilifi County and I decided to step in personally and assist vulnerable and disadvantaged students to access and continue with their studies. Through my volunteer work, I have become actively engaged not only in my community but also traveled to other parts of Kenya met and mingled with different kinds of people and build a strong network with like-minded people. These networks enabled me to set up Smiles of Hope community-based organization which was brought to life in 2015, working against Teenage pregnancy, early child marriage, illiteracy and offering educational support to disadvantaged children with our campaigns Zero% school dropouts.

As at today Smiles of hope, Kenya has enrolled children in schools and mentored more than 3000 students in Kilifi County as well as provided school necessities including geometrical sets and sanitary pads, established Reading clubs in 18 public primary schools leaving an impact on the lives of many vulnerable students through our annual book drives and book donations, last year we had a Book Run, the very first in Kilifi County where we collected 3220books both new and gently used. Plans are underway for holiday Boot camps for girls, training of trainers for peer to peer initiatives, Life skills to counter youth unemployment and emphasize throughout my presentation the violated Human rights like child abuse, Domestic violence, misogyny, sexism, discrimination on gender, cultural differences and teaching/ learning methodology used to interrupt teenage pregnancies and how much resistance from the secular, cultural, religious and administrative bodies this type of approach has been criticized with no tangible solutions being offered.

At Smiles of hope, we have sent back to school teenage mothers and to vocational training more than 10 young mothers including the youngest case we rescued from child marriage who had 3 children at the age of 17. We have rescued 2 cases of child marriage and sent back to school now one in form 3 and one just did her primary level of education, looking forward to joining the secondary. For 2 years consecutively, through our Form Four leavers Initiative dubbed “Kilifi County for Higher Education,” we have managed to reach and mentor more than 1000 youths, this project targets school dropouts and form four leavers in the county in a goal to empower them to join institutions of higher learning and vocational training.

Through my volunteer work, I was selected as a Board Member of the Equity Group Foundation in charge of Wings to fly Scholarships where I have served for 2 years and I am currently the Chairperson Kenya Scouting Association in Kilifi South Sub-County an Executive Board Member Shomela Secondary School, 2 years a volunteer with Child Welfare Society of Kenya committee that worked hand in hand with Child welfare in service delivery for the vulnerable child in Kilifi County. For the last 2 years, I have been a board member Single Mothers Association of Kenya. I am currently a volunteer with St Johns Ambulance SOS Division-Coast Region. I am an award-winning 2019 Community Heroine in community service within Coast region of Kenya, mid last year, I was identified and appointed as the Coast region of Kenya WaveMaker with Female Wave of change ( FWoC ) a global platform for women accelerating change, towards end of last year I  was happy to be recognized as a  World Pulse Ambassador, a social networking connecting women worldwide for change and on 20th Jan 2020 I officially got the encourager badge.  I also hold the title Global Good Will Ambassador whose main vision is to unify all the humanitarians across the globe hence creating a network where GGAs can interact, learn, share ideas and collaborate together. Our main goal together is to love, share and care for humanity.

While some people may think that volunteering is a waste of time because it does not earn you a paycheque or give academic benefits, I believe that the benefits are so many and could open more doors

My passion is to inspire and motivate everyone I meet and encourage more people to take up volunteering.