My Journey from Kibera Slums to Pursuing my Master's Degree in Italy

I can’t change the natural forces of this world, but I can steer my wheels towards the direction of what I want to achieve."

My name is Romario. Years ago, living in Kibera with my single mother, the dream of a university education seemed completely out of reach. Life was defined by hardship, but my heart was set on finding a way to lift my community out of the cycles of poverty, disease, and food shortage.

Then, I found the St. Vincent de Paul Community Development Organization. When I had lost all hope for a better tomorrow, they stepped in and changed my life forever. They sponsored my university education, enabling me to study Biochemistry at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

I wanted to learn how to use science to fix real-world problems. Through biotechnology, I aimed to research environmental conservation and design climate-resilient crops to protect food security.

Today, I am overjoyed to share a massive milestone: I have officially graduated, and I am now living in Italy pursuing my Master’s degree

Finding an organization so selfless in a world that often values individualism is a true blessing. St. Vincent de Paul understood that education breaks down hurdles, defeats ignorance, and destroys poverty.

Thank you, St. Vincent de Paul, for believing in a young boy from Kibera and helping me unlock my potential on a global scale. Education truly is the key to all success

Author : Romario Otieno / Beneficiary of scholarship program