For 10 years, I grew up in an orphanage—a place that shaped my heart and my perspective on life. Those years were filled with countless challenges. I saw firsthand what it meant to lack the basic necessities of life and how difficult it was for children like me to dream beyond our circumstances.

The struggles we faced were immense, but they planted a seed in me, a deep burden to do something meaningful for others who walk the same path.

Living in the orphanage, I saw the pain, the tears, and the longing for a better tomorrow in the eyes of those around me. Yet, I also saw resilience, hope, and the incredible potential that could be unlocked if only someone cared enough to nurture it.

Those experiences touched me deeply, and as I grew older, I realized that I couldn't just move on and forget where I came from. I knew I had to do something.

That's how the dream of Tumaini Africa was born. "Tumaini" means hope in Swahili, and that's exactly what I wanted to bring to people who, like me, knew what it felt like to struggle and feel forgotten.

I envisioned creating an organization that would help the less fortunate in the community—providing education to needy children, advocating for the rights of girls and women, and supporting vulnerable groups like orphans and street kids.

High school was one of the toughest seasons of my life. I had a burning desire to succeed, but the lack of school fees made it almost impossible to stay in class consistently. There were times I was sent home for fees, and the uncertainty of whether I'd ever make it back was heartbreaking.

Yet, I held on to the belief that education was my only way out of the cycle of poverty and hardship.

After years of perseverance, I graduated as a teacher from Kenyatta University. It was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life, a symbol of everything I had fought for and overcome.

That's when I founded Tumaini Africa. With my experiences as a guide, I poured my heart into creating an organization that would address not just education, but also the many interconnected challenges that communities face.