Empowering Dreams: Magdaline's journey with Aiducation International to becoming an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
Magdaline’s journey with Aiducation International began with a shattered dream. After being expelled from High School due to school fee arrears, she had given up hope of continuing her education. However, with the generosity of the Principal at Mugoiri Girls High School, who admitted her with no upfront payment, Magdaline was able to return to school. It was during this time that she received the life-changing news that she had been granted a four-year high school scholarship by Aiducation International. This scholarship, coupled with the Realize Your Potential Mentorship Academies, played a significant role in her personal growth, transforming her from a shy and introverted student to a confident and self-assured young woman. Now, having completed her law degree and being admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Magdaline credits Aiducation for making her educational journey possible and looks forward to promoting justice and digital rights in Kenya and beyond.
Discover how a life-changing scholarship from Aiducation International transformed Magdaline’s educational journey and empowered her to become an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya...
In 2011, I watched with a broken heart as my peers went to school while I was forced to stay at home. I was in my second year of high school but had been expelled the previous year due to school fees arrears. As the end of February approached, I had lost all hope of returning to school until the Principal of Mugoiri Girls High School offered to admit me to the school with no upfront payment on the condition that the entire amount be fully settled within the next two weeks. I reported to the school with nothing but a thirst for education and a heart full of hope.
My journey with Aiducation International began in 2010. The previous year I had sat for my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations achieving a score of 392 marks out of a possible 500. I was fortunate to have been sponsored to a private primary school in the aftermath of Kenya’s 2007/2008 Post-election Violence that left a wave of destruction across the country. One year lapsed since my scholarship application and when no word came back, I assumed that I had been unsuccessful.
I recall being summoned to the principal’s office one morning when all hope seemed lost. I walked in nervously expecting another suspension letter as the two-week window for school fees payment had lapsed. To my surprise, I found the principal engaged in a call with Jackson Mwadalu, who was the Chief Financial Officer at the time. They disclosed to me that I had been granted a four-year high school scholarship by Aiducation. The sheer excitement and relief I experienced on that day are indescribable even now. For the first time in my high school journey, I could finally focus on my education without the constant worry of being frequently sent home.
Besides the scholarship, the Realize Your Potential Mentorship Academies organized by Aiducation played a significant role in my personal growth. I vividly recall how shy, apprehensive, and introverted I was during my first academy held at Watamu in December 2011. However, by the time I attended my last high school mentorship academy in 2013, I had undergone a remarkable transformation becoming more confident and self-assured. Jeremy Kambi, Dr Florian Kapitza, and Matthias Meier would jokingly remark how different I seemed compared to our first encounter. Some of my favourite mentors were Dr Erick Otieno and Dan Mugera, who instilled in me the essential skills of public speaking that I still use today. My most unforgettable academy was the one held in August 2012 at Nairobi School, where I had the privilege of curtain raising and introducing Prof. PLO Lumumba, a distinguished Kenyan Professor of Law, who was attending the academy as a mentor. We later had a candid conversation, and for the first time, the idea of pursuing a career in law didn't seem unattainable but rather a work in progress that could be easily achieved. In 2013, I completed my high school education and achieved an aggregate of A- in my KCSE. Subsequently, I secured admission to Kenyatta University, to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB), becoming the first-generation student in my family to join university. Having a strong alumni network made the law school experience easier by providing me with a supportive community of individuals whom I could seek advice from when faced with difficult times. I am particularly thankful to Obrein Teli, who offered me constant guidance and support, including sharing his study notes with me. In 2018, I finally obtained my law degree and was admitted to the Kenya School of Law for the Advocates Training Programme. However, due to financial constraints, I had to take a gap year to raise funds for the program.
Pictures of Magdaline
I was admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya on 2nd March 2023. It has been a long journey one that would not have been made possible without the invaluable support of Aiducation International. Moving forward, I am excited to embark on a new chapter and work towards promoting justice and digital rights in Kenya and beyond. Further, I plan to pursue my Masters in Law (LLM) as I work towards enhancing my skills. In the future, I hope to collaborate with Aiducation International, not only as an alumnus but also as a mentor and to further support the organization in attaining its cause.
Picture of Magdaline, her colleagues and the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Martha Koome and other judges
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the entire team of Aiducation International for their unwavering support and guidance. The gift of education is a privilege I will forever cherish and value. I am especially grateful to my AiduMaker Barbara, without whom my educational pursuit would not have been possible. Thank you for believing in my dream.
Written by Magdaline Wanjiku, AiduTalent from Kenya