Celebrating Winfred Kiarie, A Trailblazer Empowering Girls and Women in Turkana
World Humanitarian Day 2025
Many of us, if not all, have had a different encounter with beads. It could be your favourite bracelet/anklet/necklace, the decor in your home or go-to souvenir while on a Safari in Masai Mara. Among the Maasai people, beads hold an even deeper meaning. Beyond the adorable aesthetics, they symbolise identity, culture and heritage. For the girls, beads represent a key transition in their lives —from girlhood to womanhood. And as beadwork, a skill mastered and a thriving industry led by the Maasai women, has evolved from grass to glass, so is the world. With education permeating the remotest parts of Turkana, some of the girls have found themselves at crossroads —pursuing education or marriage. Is it possible to adorn both? For Winfred Kiarie, beads became something else: a doorway to reimagining what girlhood could mean.
On her thirtieth birthday in 2023, Winfred, a Trade and Investment professional and alumni of Strathmore University, wanted to take on a selfless kind of celebration. “I felt an urge to do something that is really not about me. Something for other people,” Winfred noted. When her mentor Christina, with whom they schooled together, mentioned about an upcoming visit by Another Kind of Christmas initiative, Winfred was more than delighted to tag along. She had found a perfect birthday gift, which she continues to unwrap with glee and a passion for education.
The Journey North
In December that year, Winfred set for Turkana alongside Christina and other volunteers. As they traversed the scenic, calm, Lodwar Town, down to Nariokotome village, the vehicle jolted along the rough path and the gifts they came bearing jerked in the boot. About 130 kilometres of travel from Lodwar, to add on to their journey from Nairobi, was no small fit. It was a long journey for sure, but the beaming smiles on the faces of the children and other residents as they made an entrance into the village, offered them refreshing energy. The enthusiasm from the children was more than inspiring.
A Bridge to Opportunity
When Winfred joined Another Kind of Christmas, the initiative was relatively new. Initiated by Strathmore University in 2019 as part of the Strathmore Turkana Education Program (STEP), the project seeks to empower girls and women through education and mentorship. Nestled in Northern Kenya, Turkana harbours both good and unfortunate history. Turkana is known for one of the most significant, globally recognised fossil discoveries and embodies a rich cultural heritage. Turkana is also home to one of the world’s largest lakes —Lake Turkana. On the other hand, the region continues to grapple with harsh climatic conditions, including drought, with remote villages bearing the brunt of it all. Having barely any economic activity to lean to, many people in villages like Nariokotome and Kokuselei, are trapped in endless cycles of poverty. Lack of access to education and malnutrition is a constant struggle, and only 3% can access secondary education.
Joining Another Kind of Christmas, Winfred had one mission —to inspire and transform the lives of girls in Nariokotome and Kokuselei through education. As a team lead, she wears the hat of a teacher, teaching Maths and English. Winfred also offers mentorship to the girls, supports the elderly and helps with feeding the children. Prior to the visits in December, she is actively involved in mobilising funds and books for the children. Empowering girls who are out of school is also a key part of the project, where they are taught beadwork. Speaking of one of such girls, who has shown immense progress, Winfred shares about *Katalina. She is juggling studies in fashion design and raising her kids and is a great inspiration to the girls —the silver lining in their dilemma, that maybe they can have both marriage and education?
Advancing the SDGs
Through her work in Nariokotome and Kokuselei, Winfred has become more than a humanitarian worker, she is a bridge to opportunity. By supporting learning for girls both in and out of school, she is helping them imagine futures beyond early marriage and cycles of malnutrition. Girls like Katalina, once resigned to a life of limited choices, now see that it is possible to pursue both education and family, a shift that speaks directly to the promise of quality education (SDG 4).
But education is only one part of the transformation. In a region where very few girls make it past primary school, Winfred and her fellow volunteers have helped nearly ten girls progress through primary and secondary education. Alongside academics, the girls gain practical skills in fashion design and beadwork, empowering them to potentially become financially independent. These efforts help to advance gender equality (SDG 5), while also lays the groundwork for decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and ultimately reduce poverty (SDG 1).
Not Without Challenges
Winfred’s journey has not been without obstacles. Working in remote regions like Nariokotome and Kokuselei means facing limited resources, cultural barriers and at times, resistance to change. Yet, as an African proverb reminds us, “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” The challenges she encounters have only deepened her resolve, shaping her into a stronger advocate for girls and families who often stand at the margins of society. Even for the men, who women are not allowed to speak to, Winfred and her team are working with about four men who play soccer with the young boys and help pass messages to the men.
A Personal Story
For Winfred, this work is deeply personal. She remembers being a timid, self-doubting child herself.
“I was very shy, scared of getting it wrong. That’s why I’m passionate about mentoring these girls — because I know what it means to lack confidence.”
Today, she thrives as a trade and investment professional by day and a humanitarian mentor by passion. Through her presence, girls in Turkana see that they, too, can dream bigger.
“When they see someone with my skin color, someone Kenyan, they can relate. They see it’s possible to go to school, have a family, and still create a different story.”
Looking Ahead
Winfred’s vision is to continue mentoring the next generation, expanding education access through initiatives like Adopt a Village, and inspiring more Kenyans to volunteer. Her message is simple but powerful:
“It doesn’t always have to be money. Just giving your time can change lives.”
How You Can Walk With Winfred
This World Humanitarian Day, as we celebrate Winfred and countless others working in silence to uplift communities, we invite you to walk alongside them. You can support Turkana’s girls by:
- Volunteering your time or skills.
- Amplifying stories like Winfred’s to honor humanitarian workers.
- Supporting initiatives such as Another Kind of Christmas or contributing to the Turkana Fund (Paybill: 7552019 | Account: Turkana Fund).
Because every effort, no matter how small, adds to the ripple of change.