Nelly Langat Mogher was born in a remote village in Nandi County, overcame hardships through education, earned a university degree, and eventually landed an opportunity to build a life abroad.
For many, the ‘happily ever after’ of the story would be in a successful career overseas. However, for Nelly, there is no true happiness unless she can help children from disadvantaged backgrounds to have opportunities she never had.
After studying in Europe, building a career at French drugmaker Sanofi, and travelling to all continents, Nelly says her greatest achievement is the impact of the small non-profit she founded to support schoolchildren back home.
“My philanthropy work started as a way of giving dignity to school-going children because, growing up, I didn’t have that privilege,” she says.
"To achieve all that we think is possible, we must first attempt the impossible, and to be all that we can be, we must dream of being more."
As a child, Nelly carried books to school in a polythene bag while her school uniform offered little protection from the biting Nandi cold. There were few role models.
Today, through her charity, Textiles Advancing Impact for Education (TAI4Education), she is working to ensure children experience school differently.
Financed largely through her income and savings, TAI4Education has produced career-themed exercise books and school bags made from recycled fabric for children in marginalised communities.
The organisation also recruits mothers as education ambassadors, mentoring girls to stay in school while promoting menstrual health to reduce absenteeism and school dropouts.
If one more child stays in school, dares to dream bigger, or believes that a better future is possible, she marks that as victory.
“To achieve all that we think is possible, we must first attempt the impossible, and to be all that we can be, we must dream of being more,” she says.
— Vincent Owino