Sewing Her Way to a Brighter Future.

Mitchelle Ngalechon, is 20 years old. She lives in Kibera with her mother and siblings. She is the second born in a family of five. she says that life has not been easy for her after losing her father in 2014. Her mother is a single parent and has worked tirelessly to support them, but there were many times theyr struggled. She said that before moving to Nairobi, she was raised by her grandmother in Busia. When her mother couldn’t afford to send money, her grandmother would harvest cassava from the farm so that they could have something to eat. Often, They would have dinner and very little for breakfast.

“After finishing school, I stayed at home with no opportunities and little hope for the future. But I always had a dream to become a fashion designer and own my own shop one day. After my grandmother died, we moved to Nairobi, I heard about the Kibera Women’s Empowerment Program and saw it as my chance to pursue that dream” She said.

Since joining the program, Mitchelle says that she has learned how to sew dresses, skirts, and shirts. Recently, she made a skirt for someone, to practice her skills and it turned out really well! It made her believe that she can actually do this.

One of the biggest challenges she face to wait long hours before she can get a turn to practice, which slows down her learning. Despite this, her classmates have been supportive. They help her whenever she doesnt understand something, and they’ve also helped her come out of her shell and become more social.

“When I graduate from the program, I hope to open my own tailoring shop, support my family, and inspire other young girls who may feel like they have no options. This program has given me the skills, confidence, and hope I needed to start building a better future” She said.