Her Story

One girl can become  a Software Developer

Name

Rita

Graduated

2025

School

Kabarak University

BEFORE

Where her story started

Rita’s story started with an interest in computers. But, growing up in rural Kenya, she had no role models in STEM—in fact, the members of her family and community discouraged her from pursuing STEM on the false stereotype that courses and professions in STEM are harder for women than men.

Rita was doing well in school, but not her best. When she wasn’t in school, she was helping at home, on the farm, and in her village. But Rita wanted more than village life. She wanted to travel the world and become a career woman—but she didn’t know how to become the woman she envisioned.

She had ambition, but not direction—until One Girl Can came to her classroom.

DURING

Her One Girl Can experience

While attending high school, Rita was introduced to One Girl Can: Although she wasn’t a One Girl Can scholarship recipient—yet!—Rita and her classmates all participated in our Empower Me workshop series, designed to acquaint girls with their personal interests and possible career paths.

During the workshop series, Rita learned about our university scholarships. In her words, “I knew that getting a scholarship would expand my life and have a tremendous ripple effect on the lives of those closest to me.” So, she got her grades up, applied, and was overjoyed to receive a scholarship.

Throughout her One Girl Can programming, Rita noted her experiences at our conferences were life-changing, introducing her practical skills like goal-setting, budgeting, and personal branding, and soft skills like emotional intelligence, confidence, and leadership. Skills she still employs today.

“Through One Girl Can, I was exposed to women living their dreams, bigger than mine. And so, I learned to dream even bigger.”

Rita

One Girl Can Graduate & Software Developer

AFTER

The next chapter of her story

Today, Rita has fulfilled the dream she never thought possible: She graduated from university with her Bachelor of Science in Business Computing. She works as a software developer and volunteers with One Girl Can in our Pay It Forward program, mentoring the high school girls she once was.

To her sponsor, Rita says, “The ripple effects of your sponsorship have trickled down to positively impact not only my life, but the lives of many other young women and girls. Thank you.” She says One Girl Can showed her that achieving your dreams is possible—despite your background.

Rita became a software developer because one girl can do anything.