SALLY AWUOR RADUK

Sally is an enthusiastic, young woman in the energy sector. She has a passion for energy research which she pursues with a lot of zeal. Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Science in Physics, specialization in Energy Technology at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where she has been able to show excellence in her work. Her vision is to create a world where clean energy is available to everyone through sustainable technologies.

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

I grew up in a small village in a remote area near the shores of Lake Victoria. Life there was simple, but access to basic necessities—especially energy—was limited. We used firewood as our primary source of fuel for cooking and a kerosene lamp for lighting. Unfortunately, this led to frequent respiratory issues; my siblings and I suffered from persistent coughs and other infections due to the smoke and fumes.

Studying at night was a major challenge. My parents could only afford a small amount of kerosene each day, which meant the lamp would last only a few hours. As a result, we had to do most of our studying either very early in the morning after sunrise or in the brief hours of the evening. This situation affected our academic performance, especially when compared to students who had access to electricity.

The main economic activities in our village were fishing and small-scale farming. Despite the hardships, I have fond memories of my childhood. One that stands out is our neighbour’s television—perhaps the only one in the entire village. It was a small, black-and-white cathode ray tube TV with a large back, powered by solar energy. Because of its limited power source, it could only be watched in the afternoon. My friends and I would gather outside their house just to watch our favorite show, “DJ Afro,” through the window. That experience not only brought us joy but also sparked my early fascination with solar energy and its potential to transform lives.

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

Low rates of employment. Early pregnancies and school dropouts.

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 my village, one of the biggest challenges I witnessed was the high rate of early pregnancies, early marriages, and school dropouts—especially among girls. Breaking away from that cycle has not been easy, but I’m proud to say that I’ve remained focused on my education. I’m currently pursuing my Master’s degree, and I have not had a child outside of wedlock—something I consider a significant personal achievement given the context I come from.

More importantly, I have a clear vision of the life I want for myself and my future children. I know the kind of marriage I admire and the values I want to build my family on. I believe that when the time is right, everything will fall into place, and God will make the desires of my heart beautiful.

I can't point to a specific formula or strategy for how I overcame these challenges. But I can say that my greatest source of motivation came from my family and community—ironically, by showing me what I wanted to change. There were so many things I didn’t like about the way we lived: the limitations, the poverty, the lack of opportunities. I deeply desired something different, something better.

For me, education became the key to that change. I truly believe it’s the most powerful tool we have to fight poverty and transform lives—and that belief has been my guiding light through every hurdle I've faced.

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

It's very important to have a mentor, especially when navigating life uncertainties or pursuing ambitious goals. A good mentor not only offers advice, but they provide guidance, perspective, encouragement and accountability.

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

Failure is an orphan but success has many fathers.

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! 

I really admire Lucy Chepchumba, executive director at Good Kenyan Foundation. This is a non profit that mentors, empowers and equips high school graduates, grouped into cohorts, through a four-month programme.

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

We majorly face early pregnancies. The good thing is that nowadays even young mothers are allowed to back to school to pursue education as well as nursing their babies.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by.   

Where I come from does not define where I am going.

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

Well, I really admire and love babies/children. I have always thought o starting something which supports the well being of children. Let's say starting a day care, a Kindergarten or maybe a school later in life. The vision is not yet very clear, however, I hope to gain clarity with time.

Q: How is technology utilised for social impact in your country? For example are there mobile apps that support gender equality, inclusion, understanding of cultures?

Safe-city: This platform allows anonymous reporting of gender-based harassment, creating maps to identify unsafe areas. This data aids in advocating for improved public safety measures.

Braiding Nairobi App: Launched in May 2024, this app connects hair braiders with clients, providing an online presence for women who may lack digital literacy or access to social media, thereby promoting economic empowerment.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?   

I am glad to be part of this mentorship programme and I look forward to becoming a better person than I was before I joined.