Quote: “Education is a strength, a potential, and a sanctuary. It gives me a voice that is heard.” -Latifa

Latifa is a 15-year-old Meru girl from Laikipia East and will graduate from Daraja with the Class of 2028. She is from a community near Mount Kenya where most families depend on farming. The village often faces challenges such as water scarcity, pollution from charcoal burning, and wildlife destroying crops. Her family lives in a simple one-room stone house. Latifa lives with her mother, who supports the household through casual work such as farming and washing clothes. After her father passed away from cancer, Latifa witnessed her mother’s daily struggles, and school fees were often difficult to afford.

Despite these challenges, Latifa has remained committed to her education. She has shown outstanding leadership in school, serving as deputy school president and as a peer counsellor. Latifa loves reading novels, reciting poems, and public speaking because it makes her confident.

She dreams of becoming a nurse so she can treat the sick and serve her community. Latifa believes that educating a girl is the best choice one can make, because women are changemakers.