Victoria posing for a picture in one of her programs// Photo Courtesy
As a way of easing burden to her widowed mother, and relocating to Mathare in Nairobi, Victoria Anyango Ochieng, did not know that there will come a time when she’ll fly outside the country and be a beacon of hope and future to young generations.
Now in the United States under the Canada Mathare Education Trust (CMET), Victoria, born in Winjo village in Nyatike Constituency, Migori County remembers how his father died, barely six years after her birth.
“I was born in Winjo village, Migori County, in 2004 as the firstborn in a family of four. I was partly raised in Winjo and later relocated to Mathare, Nairobi, to live with my aunt after losing my father in 2010. With three children to care for, my mother faced many challenges as a single parent, so I moved to Mathare to help ease her burden,’’ she narrated to the Nyanza Review.
She could not fathom that this was the alpha of her beautiful journey, despite the challenges they faced.
Before moving to Nairobi, Victoria tasted the Winjo Primary school’s education system. When she set foot in the city, she was admitted to Tumaini Primary School but later transferred to Mathare 4A Primary school, where her thirst was finally quenched. She performed brilliantly scoring 395 marks out of 500 in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2017.
Her performance paved way for the better part of her journey. A sponsorship came her way, and amazingly, with smiles on her face, she stretched her hands to receive the aid.
Canada Mathare Education Trust chipped in and Victoria embraced them, with a heart of gold, and a mind of prosperity, and by abiding by the then 8-4-4 system, Victoria was admitted to Asumbi Girls High School
“I joined CMETrust in 2018 after completing my primary education. As a CMETrust scholar, I received support for my high school fees at Asumbi Girls High School and participated in holiday programs that have greatly contributed to my growth in leadership and community engagement. CMETrust has been deeply impactful in Mathare, and I am grateful for the opportunities it has provided,” she stated.
Change is inevitable, and indeed, she changed from that mindset of a girl to a full grown lady, not just a lady, but a lady with a future. She was groomed for leadership responsibilities and a brand for CMETrust.
Her mother, Olivia Ochieng could not really tell that her daughter, who left for Nairobi in a deplorable condition to live with her auntie Janet Asuke, jetted outside the country to pursue her university education.
In August 2023, Victoria hit the sky to explore gems hidden overseas. She was flagged off by her family, friends and the CMETrust staff as she joined Davidson College, North Carolina in the USA.
Two years are gone, Victoria is enlightened and her visions are as sharp as eagle’s eyes. She is leaving no stone unturned. She is embarking on a journey for the betterment of her country, making sure that education thrives, despite challenges.
Victoria remembers how her future was shaped by programs in the CMETrust, skilling her with requisite power to engage and drive change.
“I benefited from holiday programs that allowed me to develop my leadership and community engagement skills. These programs have played a significant role in shaping who I am today,” remarked Victoria.
She attributes to joining the organization as her best achievement in life, for having given her the opportunity to experience university education, which has been her dream all along.
“One of my proudest achievements has been achieving my lifelong goal of pursuing post-secondary education. This has always been my dream, and I am deeply grateful to CMETrust, KenSAP, and Davidson College for making it possible,” she asserted.
Now with a mind entitled for change, Victoria is ferocious. She wants nothing but change. Profiling her journey, she has a line of activities to drive change.
She must start the change from home, as the love for her people is beyond fairy tales. She co-founded a reproductive health safe space for young people in her village, Winjo. Through partnerships with local organizations and support from the area chief, they provided a safe environment where youth can access information and support on sexual and reproductive health.
On this service, they also distributed sanitary pads during school holidays and conducted workshops on self-development.
Still motivated for change, Victoria volunteered as a program officer for Child Space Organization. She was also a member in Confidence in Red Initiative, which has supported over 200 girls monthly by providing resources and mentorship programs.
“I’m committed to serving the community, regardless of where I am. Back in Kenya, I volunteered with Child Space Organization as a Program Officer and led the Confidence in Red Initiative, which has been able to support over 200 girls monthly by providing resources and mentorship,” she confirmed.
Victoria also has a talent. When change disturbs her solitary mind, she turns to a story teller – a storyteller for change. Through these stories, important issues affecting communities are brought to light.
“One skill I’m passionate about is storytelling, which I have embraced as my way of making a difference. Whether through writing or speaking, storytelling has become a powerful tool for me to advocate for my community and shed light on important issues,” she said.
On August this year, she was invited by CMETrust to conduct a workshop on storytelling and change for fellow scholars from Mathare. She says that it was an incredible opportunity to inspire these people to use their voices to bring positive change to their homes and communities.
Through her talent, she has also been able to advocate for education for people with poor backgrounds.
“I’m also collaborating with friends on a project to use storytelling to promote education for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. There’s more to come on this, but if you’d like to learn more or support us, I encourage you to check out the various stories we have been able to support, which have inspired many,” continued Victoria.
At Davidson college , her home away from home, the 20 – year old Victoria is a Bonner Scholar, which allows her to volunteer regularly with community organizations. She currently serves as a Development Intern with the Davidson Housing Coalition.
Victoria also revealed that she is a co-founder of Koredo Koir, an entrepreneurial company under the leadership of Kevin Odhiambo in Kwale. This is an enterprise that is growing and is currently on the verge of building an household name in the business and innovative outfit.
“Alongside my career aspirations, I’m also committed to entrepreneurship and will continue dedicating time to our startup, Koredo Koir, where we are working on sustainable projects with coconut husk waste in Kwale in partnership with Kevin Odhiambo and Judy Juma, fellow co-founders,’’ she disclosed.
The CMETrust scholar did not leave without a word to the young people. She encouraged them to always hug opportunities with confidence and when these opportunities finally accept their invitations, they should ensure they grow alongside others.
“Live to your fullest potential. Embrace opportunities with confidence, as if you deserve them, and when you get them, make the most of them—not only for your growth but also for the growth of those around you,” she urged.
While still continuing with her studies, Victoria is ahead of time. Her mind is filled with aspirations. She hopes to further her education more, considering pursuing a master’s degree.
“As for my future, I’m still exploring potential paths. I’m currently considering postgraduate opportunities and may pursue an MBA. My goal is to work in strategy, management consulting, or finance,” she narrated.
CMETrust is dedicated to supporting education and empowerment in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements. It provides scholarships, mentorship, and community engagement programs, enabling young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue education and create positive change in their communities. CMETrust’s work is supported by a dedicated team and partners who share a commitment to empowering Mathare’s youth.
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