Latifa Noor, 24, is a software engineer and digital marketer based in Mombasa County. She comes from a family of single mothers with five children. Many financial difficulties arose when she was still studying in high school.
Humble Beginnings
When the KCSE results were announced, her peers were excited to enrol in colleges and universities. On the other hand, her tale was different; she wasn’t as excited to start college.
She thought it was selfish of her to go to college when two of her other siblings were still in school because they were at a more vital time.
She put her goal of becoming a forensic scientist on hold and went to work for KES6,000 per month.
She outlines her life journey on her own.
I felt frustrated for a while and decided to seek something more rewarding. So, with my few funds, I enrolled at a local college to study computer software. During the training, I saw a social media notice of admission to Pwani Teknowgalz, a technological hub for ladies.
Earlier, my high school had received outreach from the organisation to encourage students to study science and mathematics. They took advantage of the chance to encourage girls to pursue careers in technology, and it was here that I fell in love with the field.
I enrolled and learned many technical courses. The issue was that further modules required monthly tuition costs, which I could not afford. So, using a borrowed laptop, I designed a mechanism for listening in on lessons.
When One Door Closes Another Opens
Because of my passion, the company directors decided to make me one of their first beneficiaries.
I was now able to learn coding, computer languages, Cisco, and a variety of other fascinating technical programs for free.
I came in early to conduct household duties as a way of giving back. I was opinionated, a fantastic storyteller, and a natural socializer. The directors at Swahili Pot Hub, the community-based organization that housed several creative businesses, including Pwani Teknowgalz, were impressed by my people-relations abilities and offered me a job as the community director.
I attended Pwani Teknowgalz’s outreach activities to mentor female students in technology while they were still there. They also began offering computer training for adults, and with my credential, I was promoted to the instructor and began earning money from both professions. I was now able to provide for my family.
Lady Luck
Because of my technology skills, I joined another firm, Tech Kidz Africa, where I mentored and taught youngsters about computers, earning me extra money. I also used my networking talents to provide consulting services to several other firms within the hub.
I had learned much too much at this time, was satisfied, and had forgotten about college.
In the meanwhile, I applied for a Google scholarship and was picked for the back-end technology course out of 10,000 applicants from East Africa. This inspired me to apply for more Google scholarships, and with each certificate, I was able to showcase my newly gained skills to the job market.
My most recent credential is in communication, which has led to a position as communication director at Teknowgalz. I also handle digital marketing and provide content production services to assist new companies to gain traction.
Final Thoughts
University education is not a deal-breaker; one should not blame their parents for not being able to send them to college, as unfortunate as that truth may be. Despite my achievements, I have had difficulty finding work due to a lack of documents.
I strive to be an inspiration to young women who have dropped out of school for various reasons, including pregnancy. I’ve sobbed myself to sleep on occasion, but I’ve since recovered. My desire for achievement has put me in a position where I can now stand on my own.
