NANCY AWUOR ODUOR

Nancy is a Kenyan environmental scientist with a keen interest in conservational research in coastal and marine. She is a Co-Founder and Director at ERACOMA-Kenya (https://www.eracoma.net/), has worked as an Associate Research Scientist at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute-KMFRI in the Department of Oceanography and Hydrology, and a Tutorial Fellow at the Technical University of Mombasa and Pwani University, Kenya in Environment and Health and Biological Sciences Departments, respectively. Nancy is a holder of an MSc. in Water and Coastal management and a BSc. in Environmental Science and currently pursuing a PhD in Marine Biogeochemistry and Geology at Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), and Kiel University (CAU) Germany.

“Self-motivation Is Key to Achieving Your Goals”

Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

Growing up in a small village in Siaya, Nyanza, Kenya, as the fourth born in a polygamous family of 8 children, my childhood was marked by challenges. My traditionalist peasant farmer father valued sons over daughters and, due to poverty, accessing quality education was a struggle. Despite being the best student in my village primary school, I lost three years of schooling and failed to join high school due to lack of school fees. My father believed educating girls was a waste of money, as they would eventually get married and become pregnant. After staying at home for a year, my parents lost hope in my education, considering marriage the best option.

However, a new community school opened nearby and, against my parents' wishes, I enrolled myself, determined to continue my studies.

My father opposed my enrolment in the mixed-day school, fearing I would become pregnant like many girls in the area. He withdrew his support, but my mother, persuaded by the head teacher, agreed to provide farm produce as payment for my lunch. This decision changed the trajectory of my life. I excelled throughout high school and qualified for university, defying my father's expectations.

Joining university was possible through government loans, but survival was a challenge as I had to support my younger siblings and work part-time jobs. After completing my undergraduate degree, I was not able to find a formal job and therefore decided to volunteer at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Mombasa, where I began my journey in marine research and conservation. Interactions with scientists opened doors to scholarship opportunities, leading me to pursue a Master's degree in Spain and now a PhD in Germany.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

My society is currently grappling with multifaceted challenges stemming from poverty and lack of access to basic needs. Obtaining food and essentials is still a constant struggle, forcing many pupils, including girls, to drop out of school and engage in income- generating activities to support their families. This vulnerability exposes them to sexual exploitation, leading to high rates of early pregnancies and the spread of HIV/AIDS, which is prevalent in the area. The impact of HIV/AIDS has resulted in low life expectancy, leaving many children orphaned at a tender age under the care of ageing grandparents who lack the resources to provide for them.

Consequently, these children abandon their education to fend for themselves or are married off early to alleviate the family's burden. The lack of comprehensive sex education and mentorship programs exacerbates the situation, as young people lack guidance on navigating these challenges and pursuing their aspirations. Public schools suffer from high student-to-teacher ratios, hindering academic and career advancement. The absence of role models in rural areas, as those who progress often relocate without returning to mentor the young, perpetuates the cycle of poverty and lack of opportunities. Unemployment has also driven many young people into criminal activities, including prostitution, further exposing them to HIV/AIDS and perpetuating the vicious cycle of hardship.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

Growing up in a poverty-stricken, polygamous family presented significant hurdles. As a child, despite being the top student, I had to fight for my education against my parents' will, enrolling myself in high school and walking 5km daily, exposing me to dangers. I attended low-quality village primary school, which we still couldn’t afford, eventually leading to dropping out due to unaffordable fees. My traditionalist father valued sons over daughters, halting payment of fees for us girls, believing educating us was futile as we'd get pregnant and married. After dropping out, my parents considered marriage the best option. However, a new community school provided an opportunity to enroll despite parental opposition over pregnancy fears. With the head teacher’s support, my mother provided farm produce for lunch, enabling me to complete high school as the top student and qualify for university. Defying financial challenges, I took odd jobs at university to support my siblings. Securing a job after my undergraduate degree was impossible, leading me to volunteer without pay, which eventually paid off with a scholarship abroad. I also struggled with balancing parenting and my PhD studies, dropping out initially but overcoming it through delegation, hiring help, and self-acceptance. This perseverance changed my father's attitude, advocating for educating girls after witnessing my excellence without pregnancy, paving the way for further pursuits abroad.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

From my experience, a mentor is crucial in every young person's life, especially for those from vulnerable areas lacking exposure to opportunities for self-development. A mentor acts as a guiding light, enabling us to navigate the path ahead safely and to realise our inner potential. They help us believe in our ability to achieve our aspirations, providing an opportunity for self-discovery and building self-esteem.

Mentors offer a safe space for mentees to speak out, be heard and find relief. In my case, my mentor has been like a big sister who has walked the path before me and is aware of the way. She has guided me through academic and social challenges, helping me build self-esteem and believe in myself. A mentor is a torch-bearer in the darkness, illuminating the safe zones for our next steps and enabling us to unlock our true potential.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

Life has taught me the importance of humility, resilience and the ability to adapt. These qualities have enabled me to survive and thrive in any environment, regardless of social class. I've learned that perseverance, determination, and an unwavering pursuit of change through education are essential for success. Despite numerous ups and downs, my determination to improve my life through education has remained constant.

Mentors have played a crucial role and I ensure that those who have significantly impacted my life remain in my circle. Education has been transformative, not only changing personal circumstances but also influencing societal attitudes, as evidenced by my father's shift in perspective on educating girls. I've also learned the value of a strong support system, including family, friends and supervisors/mentors, which has facilitated the pursuit of my dreams. Adaptability, finding solutions like part-time jobs, volunteering, and seeking scholarships have been instrumental in achieving academic and career goals.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

Mr. Austin Barrack Warom, a principal at Argwings Kodhek in Siaya County, is making a remarkable impact on improving lives. More than just a teacher, he has changed the trajectories of countless youngsters through innovative ideas that enable students from underprivileged backgrounds to stay in school and achieve their dreams. For over two decades, he has nurtured and provided a parental figure to students whose parents have given up, even establishing 'safe homes' to ensure they complete their studies. Mr. Warom has given teenage mothers a second chance at education, allowing them to return to school and finish their studies. He has also built confidence in girls attending mixed schools, where they were once stigmatised for menstruation. Mr. Warom was not only my high school teacher who allowed me to see the light but has helped hundreds of students I know and he continues this transformative work.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

Despite progress, women continue to face significant challenges in various aspects of life. In leadership positions, their representation remains disproportionately low, hindering their influence and decision-making power despite my country’s constitution advocating for gender equality and a third representation of women in public leadership positions. Employment opportunities are often marred by the persistent issue of sexual exploitation, which can undermine women's self-esteem, work performance and career advancement.

Moreover, women bear a disproportionate share of family responsibilities, creating additional burdens and obstacles to their professional growth. Tragically, many women who choose to pursue their careers, particularly those involving international travel, face the harsh reality of divorce, with their husbands remarrying and some even losing custody of their children. This sobering reality highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the need for societal changes to support and empower women in their personal and professional endeavours. Addressing these deep-rooted challenges requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders to create an environment that values and uplifts women, enabling them to thrive without sacrificing their aspirations or family ties.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by. 

I have always been my number one fan, and the motto that I live by is that ‘A weaker half clap from inside is better than 1000 claps from outside’ i.e. self-motivation is key when it comes to pursuing one’s goals than seeking external validation. When you are your number one fan, you will automatically push yourself further to unimaginable achievements.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

My dream is to establish a foundation that supports bright students from underprivileged backgrounds in my locality, providing them with school fees, basic necessities and mentorship to pursue their professional aspirations. This foundation will collaborate with local primary schools to identify talented students before national exams, ensuring they don't waste valuable years before transitioning to high school. Currently, I am working with five schools in my area, including my former high school and its head teacher, where I have already begun offering support in various ways. My goal is to mentor young girls in my community, and despite financial constraints, I have been partially providing financial assistance to bright girls from poor backgrounds, similar to my own upbringing. Additionally, I regularly visit my former high school and others in the locality, sharing my story and setting career goals with the students. This is a dream I envision expanding beyond the few schools I currently support. I aspire to create a platform and safe havens where bright students, especially girls, can find refuge during school holidays, avoiding exposure to risks, receiving basic necessities like school supplies and sanitary pads, benefiting from career guidance and comprehensive sex education. This foundation will not only provide financial support but also a nurturing environment that empowers and equips these students with the tools and knowledge necessary to overcome their challenges and achieve their full potential. I believe that, by investing in their education and personal development, we can break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for the generations to come.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?

I am always happy to share my story, hoping that it will change someone's life. I appreciate any platform to share it and motivate others struggling with challenges like mine, especially those from poor developing countries.