Stephen grew up on the slopes of Mount Kenya in the small town of Nanyuki with four siblings. He was a highly motivated student who wanted to do well in school and pursue a career in the medical profession. Stephen’s aspirations almost didn’t come true, because his parents were very poor and couldn’t afford to pay for his secondary school education. With the help from a local scholarship, Stephen was able to attend Thome Secondary School, which is one of the neighboring schools of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Since he was hard working, achieved high grades, was curious and knew how to work with technology, Stephen’s teacher selected him to be a student leader and participate in the Butterfly Effect. Stephen did an excellent job in the Butterfly Effect program, so after two years, he was chosen to be a part of the second group of Butterfly Effect students to come to Canada. The experience was shocking for Stephen culturally, because in Kenya “you get what you give”, whereas in Canada, he experienced people doing things out of pure kindness, like his homestay families, who welcomed him in during his visit. Stephen learned a lot: he improved his English, learned about Canadian culture, learned about religious freedom as well as Canadian manners and lifestyle. He really enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experiences in Kenya with many young Canadian students. “PA-MOJA transforms lives,” Stephen reflects. “PA-MOJA encouraged me to adopt an open mindset to various aspects of life.”
Stephen is very resilient, dedicated and passionate about his aspirations. As of 2022, Stephen is studying nursing and wishes to become a doctor in the future to give back to the community that made it possible for him to get to where he is now. “PA-MOJA has the capacity of transforming society for good”.
