One Girl Can: Empowering Kenya’s Girls to Break Barriers and Build Brighter Futures

Girls across Kenya are rewriting their destinies and transforming the lives of their families and communities, thanks to One Girl Can’s unique initiative. Once faced with limited opportunities, these young women are now breaking the cycle of poverty through education, financial empowerment, and mentoring other girls to follow in their footsteps.

At the center of this transformation is One Girl Can’s Cycle of Empowerment, a unique model that ensures girls are supported at every stage of their journey. The journey begins with identifying top talent from marginalized backgrounds in rural Kenya, and awarding them scholarships to complete secondary and university education.

Girls then receive annual mentorship and career development workshops, culminating in real-world internships and leadership training. Finally, graduates begin their own careers, and as a way of paying it forward, many girls return to the program to mentor other girls and reinvest their skills into their communities, completing a cycle that sustains itself and multiplies impact.

The results are already profound: more than 1,500 scholarships to university and high school awarded, over 11,000 girls mentored annually, and thousands of success stories of resilience and ambition.

Take Maureen Uchi, for example, who used her scholarship to complete university and is now mentoring younger girls in her village.

“I never thought my story could inspire others. Today, I see girls around me daring to dream bigger, and I know that’s the ripple effect of opportunity,” she says.

Another beneficiary, Celline Nthenya, remembers how uncertain her future once looked:
“Back in high school, the idea of joining a university felt like a distant dream. Everything changed when I received a One Girl Can scholarship. It opened doors I never thought possible, reignited my confidence, and gave me a renewed sense of purpose,” she reflects.

Through the Cycle of Empowerment under the pillars: We Educate, We Train, and We Mentor, One Girl Can ensures that when one girl succeeds, her success sparks a chain reaction—lifting not only herself but entire communities.

Building on these successes, One Girl Can is proud to host its 9^th annual conference called I LEARN FROM HER, taking place September 12–14, 2025, at the Argyle Hotel in Nairobi. The three-day event will gather almost 150 university graduates and accomplished female leaders, who will exchange stories, gain mentorship, build networks, and take strides towards their transition into the professional world.

The conference program includes powerful keynote talks, interactive workshops, and a Career Speed Networking session that directly connects top talent with employers, HR professionals, and business leaders.

I LEARN FROM HER is a platform for high-value, professionally-mentored university graduates to step into the career chapter of their journey with confidence and clarity, and for successful leaders to witness the power of the girls whose paths they’re helping to shape,” said Lotte Davis, Founder of One Girl Can.

For nearly 20 years, One Girl Can has been a driving force in transforming opportunities for young women in Kenya. Its impact includes:

• Building and renovating over 130 school facilities.
• Awarding more than 1,500 high school and university scholarships.
• Providing leadership and career training to over 35,000 girls.

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