Women Building Stories of Strength In Kenya

From Chapatis to Cabinetry: Grace’s Journey

At just 20 years old, Grace* was a mother to a three-year-old and facing an uncertain future. Financial hardship forced her to drop out of school, and she spent the days helping her mother run a small chapati stall near their home in Kibera, one of Kenya’s largest informal settlements.

“I didn’t want to depend on anyone, but I didn’t know how to move forward,” Grace said. “Life in the informal settlement can make you feel like your dreams are too big for your reality.”

Everything changed when Grace heard about a Mary Ward International-funded carpentry and cabinetry training program run by Sr Leonida Kwamboka ibvm. The program aimed to equip women with practical skills in construction and technical trades. She applied without hesitation.

Though it wasn’t easy entering a male-dominated field, Grace was determined to build a better life for herself and her daughter. During her internship, she volunteered under a cabinetry supervisor, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship. Twelve months later, the supervisor offered her a paid position.

Today, Grace earns a steady income and takes on side jobs such as door fittings to supplement her earnings. She can buy food and clothes for her daughter and even save for her school needs. “I now wake up with purpose, knowing that I have skills people value. I’m not just helping out anymore, I’m building something of my own.”

At her graduation, Grace was recognised as the best student in carpentry. “Holding that certificate in my hands, I felt so proud, not just for myself, but for every young woman who’s ever been told she can’t. From selling chapatis on the roadside to being recognised for my skills, it felt like I was stepping into a new chapter of my life.”

Grace dreams of one day opening her own workshop and training other women. “You gave me a chance, and I did not waste it. I believe that with time, hard work, and continued support, anything is possible.”

Painting a New Path: Josephine’s Story

After losing both parents at the age of five, Josephine’s* grandmother raised her. She became a young mother while still in school, but with her grandmother’s support, she went on to complete her secondary school exams. With children to care for and no money for college, she turned to beadwork, crafting traditional Maasai designs to earn an income. But as the market became saturated, her earnings dwindled.

When her mother-in-law introduced her to the women’s livelihoods program, Josephine was drawn to the idea of learning construction skills. She enrolled and chose to specialise in painting and decorating.

“The day I graduated from the course was one of the proudest moments of my life,” Josephine said. “I never imagined I would wear a graduation gown or receive a certificate with my name on it. I had given up on education after high school, thinking that was the end for me. But there I was, standing tall, smiling, and holding proof that I had made it.”

Today, Josephine works as a professional painter, earning a stable income and is proud to be able to pay rent, buy food, and send her three children to school.

“I received a chance I never thought I would,” she says, “and now I have the confidence, skills, and strength to build a better life for my children and myself.”

Building Skills and Confidence Beyond Construction

Grace and Josephine’s stories are part of a broader initiative, supported by Mary Ward International, to build women’s confidence, especially in financial decision-making and future planning.

The program extends beyond construction training, offering a ‘Street MBA’ course that teaches essential business and entrepreneurship skills, including managing finances, pricing services, and attracting customers.

Many graduates have started small businesses, while others have joined complementary programs in cooking and housekeeping, launching food enterprises or improving their families’ nutrition and wellbeing.

By gaining skills in carpentry, painting, and business, Grace, Josephine, and others like them have transformed their lives and are emerging as new leaders in Kibera, demonstrating to their community that with determination and the right support, anything is possible. Their stories remind us that when women have the tools and confidence to succeed, they build brighter futures for all.

* All names changed for privacy.

Street MBA – Building Stronger Women & Community in Kibera

Street MBA is a socioeconomic empowerment program providing business and entrepreneurship training for women aged 18 to 40 living in informal settlements in Kibera, Kenya. Most of these women are Ugandan refugees or belong to the Maasai community and have had little formal education.

Thanks to our generous donors, Mary Ward International is proud to now support this initiative.

The Kibera settlements on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, comprise one of Africa’s most densely populated and impoverished urban areas. An estimated 1.6 million people live in this sprawling neighbourhood in extreme poverty. Gender-based violence, malnutrition, crime, and a lack of access to medical support, education and clean water are prevalent.

The Street MBA program was initiated by our new partner, Wanawake Kwa Wanawake (meaning ‘women for women’ in Swahili). Participating women will gain practical business and entrepreneurship training, cooking and housekeeping skills, and accredited building and construction skills. These newfound skills will increase their employability and promote entrepreneurship, leading to financial stability and improved wellbeing for themselves and their families.

The initiative stemmed from the women’s deep desire for self-sufficiency through business skills training. Designed to be led and managed by the local community, the program features training sessions conducted by qualified local facilitators and experts, ensuring maximum participation and engagement. Women are actively encouraged to take on leadership and decision-making roles within their businesses and communities.

Through ongoing participation and discussion, the community takes a lead in providing feedback and input to continue improving the program to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in uplifting the lives of women in Kibera.

The transformation in the women in Kibera is compelling. They emerge from the training with newly acquired practical skills, newfound confidence and a strong drive to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Strong women lead to strong communities, and the women in Kibera are on their way to breaking the cycle of poverty.