Jennifer Mwandoe always dreamed of attending university, but financial struggles and family expectations forced her to put those dreams on hold. Now, as a mother of two, she is determined to rewrite her story. Read how she is navigating marriage, motherhood, and academics—proving that education has no expiration date
Throughout her five years of marriage, Jennifer Mwandoe has faced significant challenges that led her to decide to return to school. Balancing motherhood and academics can be overwhelming, but for her, it was the only way to empower herself and create a solid foundation for her children’s future.
Jennifer graduated from Murray Girls Secondary School in Southeastern Kenya in 2014, earning her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and a placement in a public university. Despite receiving an admission letter at the time to join Pwani University to study a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, she still stayed at home because of financial constraints.
Jennifer also felt pressured to conform to traditional gender roles, which hindered her from pursuing her dreams. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her father’s and relatives’ demands, ultimately choosing to settle into marriage.
“When I got pregnant, I never considered continuing my education due to the pressure and stress I was experiencing,” she shares.
Marriage was not easy for her, especially due to financial challenges, as her husband did not have a stable job. At one point, she was forced to take on odd jobs, leaving her children in the care of her mother-in-law.
“At some point, I found myself working as a house help to cover my children’s school fees and provide for food supplies,” she adds.
One of her aunts often brought up the topic of education whenever they spoke. She consistently encouraged Jennifer to reconsider going back to school.
Following her aunt’s advice, she visited a local university to explore available courses and eventually secured admission to Taita Taveta University.
Despite her doubts about her financial capabilities, she embarked on her educational journey and is now a student at Taita Taveta University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
While in her second year of studies, Jennifer applied for funding through the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project bursary scholarship program. She has also submitted her application for a second round and is waiting for feedback.
The scholarship program was established at the request of community partners to address the challenges of accessing education in the project area. Many students like Jennifer have benefited from this initiative, which has supported thousands of learners in their educational pursuits. According to the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project scholarship report, since 2012, 43,837 students in the project area have received school bursaries through the educational investment program, with the cumulative disbursed amount exceeding Ksh. 273 million. These students come from secondary schools, colleges, tertiary institutions, and universities.
“My family is still skeptical about me returning to school due to financial constraints. They worry that I might be wasting my time and that there may come a point when I am forced to drop out,” she says.
Despite these challenges, Jennifer is determined to complete her education, knowing it will set an example for her children. “I wouldn’t want my children to experience the hardships I have faced. Every day, during our conversations, I emphasize the importance of education and encourage them to take their studies seriously,” she adds.
Her advice to young girls considering giving up on education is simple: there is always a way. “It’s always hard at the beginning, but it takes determination and commitment to stick with your decision,” she says.
Jennifer is grateful for the financial support from the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project and hopes that many other girls will also benefit from the program.
As she continues her studies, the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project would like to wish her all the best. We would like to thank our community partners and landowners for making this program possible through forest protection.
