Girls with DREAMS: Sheila
Sheila, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.
Sheila, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.
Stories

Girls with DREAMS: Sheila

10th February 2021

By:


Sheila comes from Tura Village in Ahero, Kisumu County.

Tura is a remote village in Kisumu County in western Kenya bordering Lake Victoria. The village has approximately 2600 residents whose main economic activities are subsistence farming and fishing.

Girls with DREAMS: Sheila
Sheila at work with her tools. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Sheila’s father’s death dealt a heavy blow to the family, and her mother’s small shop could not generate enough income to cover her school fees.

Through a DREAMS program, she pursued a course in Mechanical and Motor Vehicle Engineering.

Girls with DREAMS: Sheila
Sheila works at a local open-air garage where she is replacing a worn-out suspension. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Sheila now works as a mechanic at a local garage located in the juakali (informal) sector of Kisumu city.

She makes enough money to support her sick mother and younger siblings and plans to sit for her Grade 3 certification exam soon.

“I was in a place where I could not be seen but I am now visible."

Sheila
Girls with DREAMS: Sheila
Sheila's family dog keeps her company as she works on some drawings for work. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.
Girls with DREAMS: Sheila
Sheila enjoys the atmosphere while watching the World Cup at the local video banda. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Girls with DREAMS

This profile is taken from the PEPFAR Kenya “Our Lens Sauti Zetu (Our Voices)” photo book — a compilation of images captured by DREAMS girls highlighting their own stories.

The following DREAMS girls were the eyes behind the lens and beautifully captured the stories of the young women featured in the project: Dorcas Akinyi Onyango, Agnes Wanjiru Mugure, Flovian Atieno, Faith Akumu, Francisca Ndinda, Effie Awino, Fatuma Lando, Dorothy Oyuga, Linet Odira, Hellen Atieno.

Text and images from “Our Lens Sauti Zetu (Our Voices)” are used with permission from PEPFAR Kenya. Learn more about Girls with DREAMS.