age: 23 years, Region / District: Nairobi

Advocacy: More than 276,000 girls who began primary school in 2013 did not make it to sit their final secondary school examinations in 2025. This reality reflects the challenges many young people continue to face, including substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, low self-esteem, and a lack of positive outlets through which to express themselves and develop their potential. This drives my advocacy, From Silence to Masterpiece, a youth empowerment initiative that uses art and creative expression to promote confidence, resilience, and the healthy use of youthful time.

While completing my community service at a public health dispensary, I witnessed firsthand the realities facing vulnerable young women in the community. Seeing the effects of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and limited opportunities for personal development inspired me to explore how creativity could be used as a tool for empowerment.

As an artist, I have personally experienced the power of drawing and painting as a safe space for self-expression, reflection, and emotional well-being. Through therapeutic art workshops, I aim to provide young women with a creative outlet through which they can process challenges, build confidence, discover their talents, and envision brighter futures.

By transforming a blank canvas into a space for possibility, these young women are empowered to redirect their energy, strengthen their resilience, and become the authors of their own stories.

Role Model: A woman, An African, A Kenyan, my mother