Daring to dream

I grew up in Musokoto in Busia County as the first born in a family of seven. After completing my high school education in St. Francis, Makemo, I came to Nairobi to look for a job. A friend of mine who is a housekeeper in Kangemi told me about Kibondeni College of Catering and Hospitality Management.

Mr Carsten Wappler, the Managing Director of Park Inn presents Mercy with her certificate with her father standing by

03/21/2018

“I had always loved cooking and would receive many complements whenever I would cook a meal for visitors. I decided to apply and was offered a place at the College.”

Although her financial situation was precarious, Mercy resolved to join the College. “I had to combine studies with work in order to support myself. I often worked in several homes over the weekends and during the holidays.”

She initially enrolled for a one year course where her exemplary performance earned her a scholarship from the Maite Iglesias Foundation that enabled her to take up the the KNEC (Kenya National Examination Council) Craft Certificate in Catering and Accommodation Operations. She excelled in her exams and was awarded a Distinction by the KNEC.

Valedictorian, Felistas Njoki with her mother during the graduation in January

Elated on her graduation day, she commented on the challenges that she had faced in the past three years, “I received a lot of support from my mentors, Ms Gacugu and Mrs Makau and especially from Mrs Sanya, my class teacher, who even hosted my parents during my graduation. I am very grateful to them for always encouraging me to pursue my dream. I am now working as an executive housekeeper and intend to assist in educating my siblings and then I will do the Diploma Course.”

Mercy and 100 of her classmates graduated on the 12^th of January 2018 in a colourful ceremony graced by Mr Carsten Wappler, the Managing Director of Park Inn by Radisson. He encouraged the graduands to be enthusiastic about the service profession and its capacity to make others happy.