Ugwa: Education As A Pathway To Self-Reliance

By Diana Karua , Communications Manager

My name is Ugwa, and I am from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Back in my home country, my dad was a government chief. He fled from the Congo due to insecurity and sought refuge in Kenya. My younger brother, my mom, and I moved to Burundi, where we spent most of our time near the lakes, farming and fishing.

After a while, we relocated to Kenya to live with my dad. When we arrived in Kenya, my brother and I immediately enrolled in primary school. I was then sponsored for secondary education up to 10th grade. After that, the sponsorship stopped, and I dropped out of school. It was painful for me to stay at home while my colleagues proceeded with their studies. Seeing my classmates in uniforms and going to school saddened me. With no other option, I joined my sister, who was working in a salon, where she taught me how to do hair and nails.

In 2022, my sister introduced me to RefugePoint, where I was referred for education support. Luckily, I was given the opportunity to choose a course I wanted to study, and I selected the Auto Wiring Engineering course. When I was informed that I had the opportunity to pursue my studies under the RefugePoint scholarship, I was very happy. I was happy because I could wake up in the morning, go out and do something, and come back in the evening, rather than being idle and staying at home.

Before taking this course, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, but in 2019, I saw women working in a garage on television. One of them was being celebrated as a ‘mwanamke bomba’ (a great woman) because she works as a mechanic in a garage. Immediately, I decided to pursue the same course because I also wanted to be celebrated and congratulated in the media one day for my work.

What I like most about this course is that it is more practical. We study theory, and then we apply what we have learned in practice. I enjoy it because I’m always busy. I’m no longer struggling or wondering how to pay my school fees. Knowing that this is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime makes me study hard.

Again, knowing that RefugePoint motivates me and provides for my primary needs is great. My mind is focused; I can study without so much struggle.

Besides school fees, I also get mentorship from RefugePoint. This organization keeps in touch with me by sending messages, asking how I’m doing. I feel good because there is someone who cares about me. RefugePoint shows me kindness and love, and it encourages me in my studies.

This opportunity has been important because it restores hope for my future. Previously, I could see myself ending up doing what my sister does, such as working in a salon and waiting for clients. When there are no clients, we do nothing the whole day.

In the future, I hope to start my own large garage, which will have multiple branches. Remember, I will not just open it and go, but I will work there personally, and I will employ other people in my garage.

Since I started this course, I have become more important to my family because I will never lack; my work will provide for my family.

Since I started this course, I have become more important to my family because I will never lack; my work will provide for my family. Also, right now, my family understands that I’m the future breadwinner; if I need more support in my studies, they will provide it because they have faith in my career and have seen that I’m undertaking a good course. Now I’m always busy working.

During my free time, I often visit Google to study, allowing me to discover more about various types of cars and learn more about my career. My phone is full of different car images, and I’m always on social media conducting personal research.

I thank God because he gives me a reason to smile every day. I also take joy in seeing my family members doing well; above all, RefugePoint also provides the courage and hope to move forward.

I encourage my fellow refugees not to lose hope because today’s situation is not the end of our lives. No matter where you are, you can take one more step and move on.