Her Story

One Girl Can Become a Civil Engineer

Name

Kathy

Graduated

2019

School

University of Nairobi

BEFORE

Where her story started

Kathy’s story started in Kariobangi, where the rent was affordable, but safety was not guaranteed thanks to poor sanitation and drug trafficking. With their children’s welfare in mind, Kathy’s parents relocated to a safer neighbourhood—a neighbourhood four kilometres from their school.

Together, Kathy and her older brother would walk the four kilometres to and from school every day until her parents were able to transfer her to a school closer to home. At just nine years old, she assumed responsibility of her younger brother between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Even in the face of adversity, Kathy dreamt of more: A career in engineering. She knew her dream was limited by circumstances beyond her control, but she was a top-performing student, scoring 406 out of 500 on her high school entrance exams. So, she began searching for a university scholarship.

“The struggles we faced as a family motivated me to work harder so we don’t have to continue to live in poverty.”

Kathy

One Girl Can Graduate & Assistant Projects Engineer

DURING

Her One Girl Can experience

Kathy’s father met our founder, Lotte Davis, at the hotel he worked for in 2013. It was there Lotte learned about Kathy’s academic performance and gave Kathy’s father her contact information, encouraging Kathy to reach out and introduce herself. Thirteen years later, Kathy is so grateful she did.

In Kathy’s words: “I remember [the day I received a scholarship] vividly: For the first time, I knew I had a clear path to university without the constant worry about school fees.” Gratitude, happiness, hopefulness—for a different future. For knowing her dream was finally within reach.

Throughout her One Girl Can programming, Kathy noted our conferences played “a significant role in building my confidence and strengthening my public speaking skills” and provided opportunities to form meaningful friendships with other girls and expand her personal and professional networks.

“Before One Girl Can, I was very shy and lacked confidence in expressing myself. [One Girl Can] transformed me into a great public speaker.”

Kathy

One Girl Can Graduate & Assistant Projects Engineer

AFTER

The next chapter of her story

Today, Kathy has fulfilled her dream: She graduated from university with her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. She’s been practicing civil and structural engineering since 2019 and now dreams of establishing her own engineering firm, creating opportunities for women in STEM.

To her One Girl Can university sponsor, Kathy says, “Your decision to sponsor me through university has been truly life-changing. It transformed my story and opened the door to opportunities I once only dreamed of. Today, my life is profoundly better because of your support.”

Kathy became a civil engineer because one girl can do anything.