How Kimlea is Rewriting the Stories of Kenya’s Daughters

Food Poduction class in session

There exists a reality—one too often overlooked, yet heartbreakingly common—in the narrow corridors of Kenya’s rural homes and informal settlements. It is the story of a girl who finishes her KCSE, not with dreams of college, but with worry etched in her eyes. Her family cannot afford the luxury of waiting for opportunities. She takes up casual work: maybe in a local kiosk, someone’s house, or a tea farm. Sometimes, she becomes the breadwinner before she has even had a chance to find her own footing.

This is the reality for thousands of girls across Kenya.

But it doesn’t have to be the end of their story.

At Kimlea Technical Training College, we believe in second beginnings. Since 1992, we have stood as a lifeline for girls from low-income backgrounds. Located in Kiambu, surrounded by tea plantations that employ hundreds of women and girls in casual labour, Kimlea offers more than training—it offers transformation.

A Pathway Out of the Cycle

Mixology Class in session

With support from generous donors and partners, Kimlea offers highly subsidized and fully funded scholarships for diploma and certificate courses in hospitality, food production, housekeeping, front office, and entrepreneurship. Girls who would otherwise be locked into a lifetime of low-paying, unstable jobs now walk into professional kitchens, reception desks, and even their own startups—with confidence, skills, and dignity , rewriting the stories.

“When I finished high school, I thought my story had ended. But Kimlea gave me a second chapter. Today, I’m a chef in one of Nairobi’s top restaurants.”— Faith, Kimlea alumna, 2023 graduate

The Impact in Numbers

• Over 20,000 women and girls trained since Kimlea’s founding.

• 92% employment rate within 6 months of graduation.

• 70% of students come from households living below the poverty line.

• 60% of graduates are the first in their families to receive formal training beyond high school.

These are not just numbers. They are lives changed. Families lifted. Communities empowered.

Beyond the Classroom.

Kimlea students

Kimlea’s training goes beyond technical skills. Students are mentored in professionalism, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. They receive career guidance, nutrition education, and even basic business coaching—tools that are vital for long-term success, especially for those who dream of opening their own ventures.

Moreover, Kimlea fosters a sisterhood of hope—a safe space where young women who once felt invisible find their voice, their worth, and their future.

A Call to Rewrite More Stories

We believe every girl deserves a chance—not just to survive, but to thrive. And while the need is great, so is the potential.

But we cannot do this alone.

Partner with Us. Sponsor a Student. Fund a Dream. Whether you’re an individual, a corporate, or an organization that believes in women’s empowerment, your support could help change the course of a young woman’s life.

Because when one girl is educated, a whole community is uplifted.

📩 Reach out to us today to sponsor a student, partner with Kimlea, or make a donation.🌐 Visit our website at www.kiandafoundation.org/kimlea