hellen1Hellen grew up in Kabati, an informal settlement in Naivasha. She is the 3rd born in a family of 4 children. Hellen’s mother did not get an education herself and therefore had to rely on casual work at the local flower farms. Such casual labour is very poorly paid so Hellen’s mother was unable to pay for the schooling of her two elder children.

In 2003 the government introduced free primary school education which meant that Hellen was able to go to school and gain a good mark in her KCPE exam. Hellen was then supported by Maisha Bora to go to Bishop Wambari Girls Secondary School for 4 years, finishing with a C+ in her KCSE exams.

After leaving high school, Hellen successfully applied to Kijabe School of Nursing to study nursing. After three years she graduated in 2013 and was subsequently offered a job by Kijabe Hospital as a full time nurse and in June 2016 she secured a job with machokos county government working in Machakos district hospital as a nurse. Hellen is an incredibly hardworking and dedicated young woman whose perseverance and determination to succeed despite the challenges has paid off. She is now able to support herself, support her younger sister who is now in university, her mother and is able to pursue a rewarding career.