Against All Odds: Cecilia’s Rise to Purpose
As a child, Cecilia watched her mother suffer without proper medical care. This stirred a passion in taking care of people and today, she is a nurse, an entrepreneur, and a mentor transforming her family’s future.
Cecilia Mukui, a WOVEN, Light Up Hope scholar standing at Murang’a Level 5 Hospital’s pavement, smiling.
Photo credit: Gracious Aganda/ Light Up Hope
When Cecilia Mukui was a young girl, she watched her mother struggle with illness while lacking access to proper medical care. The experience left a deep impression on her heart and planted a dream that would one day define her future.
Raised in a humble family of six children, Cecilia’s parents worked tirelessly to make ends meet. Her father was a small-scale farmer while her mother sold fruits on the streets to provide for the family. School fees and even daily meals were often uncertain. Despite the hardships, Cecilia remained determined to pursue education and create a better future for herself and her family.
That dream began to take shape in 2016 when Cecilia earned a scholarship after scoring above the required cut-off mark. “I knew this was my opportunity to change my life,” Cecilia recalls. “I did not want to disappoint my mother or lose the scholarship.”
Determined to succeed, Cecilia worked hard in school and graduated from secondary school with a commendable B grade (66 points).The scholarship continued from high school to university where Cecilia and fellow scholars were guided in courses and university selection. She later joined Kenyatta University where she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health.
Education Opened Doors During Life’s Hardest Moments
Although the Light Up Hope scholarship eased the financial burden, Cecilia still faced emotional and psychological struggles brought on by her family’s situation. Adjusting to school life while carrying the weight of responsibility at home was difficult.
During this season, Cecilia found support through the mentorship and counseling programs within Light Up Hope. She credits Madam Victoria, Light Up Hope’s education adviser, and the mental health support department led by Jacinta for helping her regain focus and emotional strength. Peer counselors who shared similar experiences also became a source of encouragement and comfort.
“The mental health support really helped me during hard times in university,” Cecilia shares. “Talking to people who understood what I was going through gave me strength to continue.”
Cecilia in her early campus years at Kenyatta University.
From Scholarship Student to Compassionate Healthcare Professional
Today, Cecilia is undertaking her nursing internship at Murang’a Level 5 Hospital where she earns an average monthly salary of KES 70,000 (541 Dollars) . Every day at the hospital reminds her why she chose nursing in the first place; to ensure others receive the care her mother once lacked.
Beyond treating patients, Cecilia has become a mentor and peer counselor to students from vulnerable backgrounds. She encourages young people to pursue scholarships, remain focused in school, and believe in their potential despite difficult circumstances.
Her impact extends to her own family as well. Cecilia now supports her parents financially and pays school fees for her younger brother. What once felt impossible for her family is now becoming a reality through education and opportunity.
Cecilia sanitizes her hands, ready to tend to a patient.
Photo Credit : Gracious Aganda/Light Up Hope.
Rabbit Farming Enhanced Income, and Food Security
In 2025, Cecilia identified a gap in proper nutrition and sustainable farming practices within her community. Through a business grant from Light Up Hope’s WOVEN program, she launched a rabbit farming project focused on producing organic manure and improving food production at home.
The project quickly grew into a sustainable family enterprise. Cecilia currently keeps 18 rabbits and has also started rearing goats. Through rabbit sales and meat supply to local buyers and NGOs, the business generates an additional KES 10,000–15,000 (100-150 Dollars) every month. Rabbit waste is converted into organic manure, reducing the need for harmful fertilizers while improving crop yields.
For the first time in nearly ten years, Cecilia’s family is harvesting significant amounts of maize, beans, and green grams for home consumption. Her father now manages much of the farm work and has also secured employment earning approximately KES 7,000 (70 Dollars) monthly thanks to the skills gained through the rabbit project.
“This agribusiness has changed our family,” Cecilia says proudly. “We now have food at home, and I am able to support my brother by paying his school fees.”
Today, Cecilia stands as a nurse, entrepreneur, environmental advocate, and role model. Her story is a powerful reminder that when young women are given opportunity, mentorship, and support, they can transform entire communities.
Cecilia shows off fully grown rabbits at her home.
Photo credit : Gracious Aganda/ Light Up Hope
Cecilia, like many of her peers who received the Light Up Hope scholarship, got a chance to actuarize her dreams. For every girl picked, many more are left behind.
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