Securing More than a Scholarship

Contributions by Nancy Muga | Written by Hannah Bain

Despite mastering her primary school courses, Nancy Muga had to repeat a class before enrolling in secondary school. She did not repeat the class because she needed extra help but rather because her parents needed extra time. They could not afford to support two children through secondary school simultaneously, and Nancy’s older brother had a year left before graduation.  

Due to the financial constraints facing her family, Nancy had two options: wait for her brother to graduate from secondary school or secure a scholarship for herself. Strong-willed and determined to continue her education, Nancy applied for funding through CFK’s Angaza Scholarship Project. She received a scholarship in 2015 and immediately enrolled in secondary school.  

While the scholarship eased the financial burden on her family, it also provided Nancy with the opportunity to explore career paths and experience personal and professional growth through mentorship and visits to local universities.  

“I am very grateful for CFK, and not just for the financial support,” Nancy said. “[Through the Angaza Scholarship Project], we had programs where we were mentored, guided, and taught life skills to help us make the right decisions.” 

Nancy Muga with some of her school material. (Photo credit: Nancy Muga) Growth Beyond Academics: Service, Skills, and Savings

Like many young people involved with CFK, Nancy did not participate in just one program. In addition to Angaza, she volunteered at CFK’s Lishe Bora Mtaani Nutrition Centre, which offers an eight–week malnutrition management program for severely malnourished children under five years old. At the nutrition centre, Nancy assisted staff with administrative tasks and helped feed and care for the children. 

To fulfill her secondary school Community Social Responsibility requirements, Nancy worked with Joshua Omweno, CFK’s Angaza Scholarship Program Officer, to develop a mentorship program for students who completed their Form 4, grade 12, exams. She and Joshua collaborated on the curriculum, which includes college-related topics such as applying for Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS). 

After completing secondary school, Nancy continued developing her skills. She joined CFK’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training program, where she learned how to skillfully use digital applications such as Microsoft Office. 

Inspired and informed by financial literacy classes at the ICT Centre, Nancy and a group of peers founded the Young Billionaires Association to offer credit to youth in Kibera. The group received a grant of 60,000 KES to start the project, and they invested it into various business ventures, such as selling shoes. Nancy and the other group members also received a soft loan from the Kenya Network Marketing Association (KENEMA) and are learning how to manage loan repayments and interest. 

“Some of our businesses have made losses, and some have made profits,” Nancy said. “Overall, we have gained real-life skills in budgeting, bookkeeping, and entrepreneurship. The profits we make are saved in our accounts, and I still have my savings with the group.” 

Continued Ambition: The Path to International Marketing

Nancy is currently pursuing her diploma in marketing and is on track to graduate in December 2021, but she initially had an interest in law. 

“I was inspired by everything about lawyers, from how they dressed to how they spoke,” Nancy said. “But when I started my diploma in marketing, I realized that it is relevant across many different fields and could allow me to work for a variety of companies.” 

Though Nancy is completing her diploma this year, she does not plan to stop there. In 2022, she hopes to start a degree program in either international marketing or law to further develop and tailor her expertise. 

“If I decide to continue with marketing, I would like to venture into food companies, the hotel industry, or tourism,” Nancy said. “I have not had a lot of opportunities to leave Kenya, but I love traveling and would love to travel to new places and work with people all over the world.” 

While Nancy has invested a great deal of thought into her professional goals, she also hopes to continue giving back to and improving the community where she grew up. 

“In the near future, I would like to work with CFK to develop programs that  help the community at large,” she said. “I would like to participate in more CFK activities to help the nation, and I am looking forward to a time when girls in Kibera can help generate employment for people in the country.” 

 

Join us in investing in young leaders like Nancy, and learn more about our Education and Livelihoods initiatives.  

Stories of Progress Securing More than a ScholarshipWith her parents unable to financially support two children through secondary school, Nancy Muga had two options: wait for her brother to graduate or secure a scholarship for herself. Promoting Healthy Decisions through Counseling and ConnectionsVictrine Oluoch was born to be a counselor. Growing up, she frequently offered advice to her friends, and, after serving as a peer mentor in high school, she recognized that her interest could lead to a purposeful career.  2020 Year in Review: Our Work in PicturesIn 2020, CFK expanded its impact in Kibera, responded to emergency needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and celebrated milestones across its programs. Moving forward, CFK seeks to expand its programs and services to additional informal settlements in Kenya.Read more stories

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