Karibu Magazine July 2022 (updated)

DR GILLIAN
LAKAREBER
Founder - JOWA Initiative
I was born and raised in East
Africa. For the most part, I
grew up in a township called
Soweto in Nairobi. I spent my
early childhood years with my
grandparents. My formative
years were challenging but I was
always excited about education.
I attended a local nursery school
and Thawabu Primary school
up to class 7 before moving to
England. Always hungry to read,
I would often rummage through
rubbish dumps for discarded
newspapers and books.
Life in Soweto was a melting
pot of diverse ethnic cultures
from Kenya. But times were
tough in Soweto. Some days
I walked home from school
only to find nothing at all to
eat and then walked back to
school hungry. Sometimes we
just drank water in the evening
and went to bed. One day I
came home from school to find
my grandmother locked out
due to unpaid rent. We were
forced to relocate to a oneroom
dwelling which became
our kitchen, bedroom, and
lounge. Cracks on the wooden
walls greeted passers-by on the
street. When it rained the water
gushed through a corrugated
iron roof riddled with holes. The
cold, muddy floor was littered
with plastic containers to catch
rainwater. In Soweto only those
who adapt to change survive.
Soweto gave me a sense of
toughness I have never quite
experienced anywhere else
since.
But as they say, ‘No situation is
permanent.’ My dream finally
became a reality when I moved
to London for a new life. London
was a total contrast to Soweto.
Suddenly I had an excess of
everything. Now I had real hope
as my misery turned to joy. I
joined a local high school for
the second chapter of my life.
Fast forward a few years later,
I successfully completed my
GCSEs, A-Levels, and University.
After years of perseverance
and effort, today I hold a PhD
from California Intercontinental
University, an MSc degree from
Liverpool University, and a BSc
degree from the University of
Kent. I am also a multi-awardwinning
professional with
years of experience in clinical
research. The hard work and
perseverance from Soweto were
key to shaping the person I am
today.
Recently, I set up the JOWA
Educational Initiative to
collect and distribute books
to children in Africa. The word
‘Jowa’ is a Luo/Lwo expression
for ‘loved ones/our people’. I
am enthusiastic about helping
children in rural areas access
books. I firmly believe that
education and the power of
imagination give children hope
for a better future. Instilling
confidence in children from
a young age can help them
make informed decisions and
achieve better outcomes in life.
The JOWA initiative is a way to
give back to my community and
encourage children to never
give up on their dreams. All
proceeds from my new book go
to fund educational resources
for children.
405TH 5THEDITION | | JULY 2022
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