Lydia grew up on a farm with her aunt and her older brother. While at home, Lydia often helps her aunt on the farm and enjoys dancing and making jokes with her brother. During her free time, Lydia can be found eating mangoes and spreading laughter among her friends.

Lydia began her education at a nearby day school. She says she “used to wake up early in the morning and walk over an hour to reach the school.” She remembers that there was a shortage of textbooks and had to share one book with three or four other girls. But that didn’t stop her from reading. She explains that “my teachers were very proud of me because I knew how to read early. Before I started school, I would sit with my brother and he would teach me how to read.”

When she was in seventh grade, Lydia learned about Kakenya’s Dream. “I used to tell my aunt, ‘I need to join Kakenya’s Dream,’ and she would tell me to do better in school.” So that’s exactly what Lydia did. Two years later, her academic merit earned her a spot at our high school. She says being admitted “was really amazing for my life. That’s the day I found out I’m changing my life.”

When asked about school, she smiles with pride saying “I’m proud of my school because my teachers are close to me and I have everything I need. Here, you always have your own books.” Lydia says “education is the key to success” and she’s sought to inspire her peers outside of our school to continue their studies. During the school break when she returned home, she observed, “not many of us are in school now, many have kids. I encourage them to go back to school and dream, even if they fear that it may be hard.”

Lydia is proud to speak up for what she believes in. She hopes to make advocacy part of her future by pursuing a career in law. Her motivation to become a lawyer developed after an experience where she saw “people suffering when they were forced to leave their land.” Equipped with an education and ample passion, Lydia is sure, “I’ll achieve my goal. The school is providing for me and I will make sure that I achieve my goal and become a successful person in the future.”