“Young and ambitious, all I needed was an opportunity to go to school.”

Having graduated from the University of Nairobi with first class honours in Economics & Statistics - with a scholarship from Windle International Kenya - Wilo continues to challenge gender stereotypes and is undertaking a Master’s degree in Economics. As a refugee from Somalia, Wilo feels it’s important that girls and women have the support they need to achieve whatever they want - especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) subjects.

“We left Mogadishu - our hometown in Somalia - in search of a better life and, for me, an education. Young and ambitious, all I needed was an opportunity to go to school, and for someone to believe in my dreams and my potential.

“Arriving as a refugee in Kakuma [Refugee Camp in northern Kenya], I was enrolled in primary school. My goal was to excel at school, and to go on to tertiary education.

“Girls are disadvantaged at all stages of education - more so in emergency settings. We face barriers like a lack of investment from our families, discrimination because of our gender, and pressure to marry as children.

“For girls like me who choose to pursue careers in STEM subjects, we have to work even harder to overcome gender bias. I had to constantly deal with the idea that Science and Mathematics were ‘masculine’ subjects; I had to prove that as a girl, I too deserved an opportunity to learn, achieve and excel. I focused on having a positive mindset, and opened my mind to all the possibilities in order to achieve my goals. But besides self-will, girls really need female role models to help boost their motivation and see STEM subjects - and education in general - as worthwhile.

“Being supported by Windle International Kenya (WIK) has been important in helping me to achieve what I have done so. During my undergraduate scholarship application, I didn’t feel limited to choosing a particular course because of my gender; WIK believed in my abilities, and gave me mentoring and career coaching which gave me a lot of support and motivation. Graduating top of my class with first class honours is proof that girls can compete and succeed at the highest levels, when given the chance.

“I believe it’s time for women and girls to be liberated from patriarchal expectations and pressures, and get equal support and access to opportunities.

“I hope to mentor, inspire and be a role-model for girls who are as passionate about STEM subjects as I am, and give them hope that they, too, can achieve their fullest potential.”

For more information about how Windle International Kenya supports refugee women like Wilo, visit their website here.