From House Help to Chef: How Joyce Transformed Her Life Through Kimlea

In many parts of Kenya, opportunities for women with limited formal education are scarce. One common job for women in this situation is domestic work — being a house help. While honest and important work, it often comes with long hours, minimal pay, and little chance for career advancement.

Before joining Kimlea, this was Joyce’s reality.

Life Before Kimlea

Joyce, a mother of three, also cared for her cousin’s son. She was determined to support her family, and her first attempt was selling vegetables in her local market.

Her day started at 4:00 am — traveling to the wholesale market in town, buying fresh vegetables, and rushing back to sell them. Despite the effort, the profits were painfully small. On a good day, she might earn KES 200–300 (about USD 1.50–2.50), barely enough for basic household needs.

To improve her situation, Joyce took a job as a house help. In Kenya, house helps in urban areas typically earn between KES 8,000 and 12,000 per month (about USD 60–90), sometimes with food and accommodation provided. While this was a small improvement, it also meant living away from her children.

The Turning Point

One day, Joyce learned about short courses in food production — something she

had always dreamed of studying. She asked her employer for time off to attend a training module. The employer agreed, but only if she accepted no pay for that period.

Then came a stroke of luck. Joyce discovered that Kimlea Girls Technical Training Centre offered exactly the course she wanted and provided scholarships. She applied immediately to the Kimlea Business Centre— and got in.

Balancing Work, Study, and Family

Joyce was a fast learner. Inspired by her classes, she applied for another job as a chef at a local establishment. By good fortune, she was hired and was able to negotiate a schedule that allowed her to work and attend her afternoon classes at Kimlea Business Centre.

Her new role came with a salary closer to KES 18,000–25,000 per month (about USD 135–190), more than double her earnings as a house help. Most importantly, she no longer had to live away from her children.

Skills That Changed Everything

At Kimlea Business Centre, Joyce learned:

• Professional food production techniques

• Nutrition and balanced meal planning — so she could improve her own family’s diet

• Micro-entrepreneurship — how to start and run a small food business

• Savings and financial planning — skills she never had before

Today, she dreams of opening her own snack-making business. Her plan is clear: start small, keep saving, and eventually become her own employer.

Why This Transformation Matters

For Joyce, this was more than a career change — it was a path to dignity, financial independence, and family stability. In Kenya, moving from informal, low-paying domestic work to a skilled trade like professional cooking can mean the difference between living hand-to-mouth and building a secure future.

“Thanks to Kimlea, my mentor, and my sponsors, I have hope for my children’s future,” she says. “I can now provide for them and still be present in their lives.”

The Bigger Picture

Joyce’s story is one of hundreds from the Kimlea Business Centre — proof that short, flexible, and practical training programs can empower women to break out of low-income cycles, start businesses, and create better lives for their families.

If you, or someone you know, is ready to turn skills into a livelihood, the Kimlea Business Centre is ready to walk that journey with you.