“I became a mother at 13.”

Sarah Nalika says it calmly, but there is a quiet weight behind the words. She smiles as she looks back at a childhood interrupted by circumstances she never chose. Today, however, she tells the story from a very different place: on the threshold of graduating from Strathmore University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BIS).

In 2014, Sarah experienced sexual abuse that changed the course of her life. She remembers sitting her KCPE examinations while pregnant, yet somehow found the strength to keep going. “Despite everything I was going through, I performed well and proceeded to secondary school,” she recalls, her voice steady.

Her journey eventually led her to Wings of Hope, a rescue home supporting teenage mothers who have experienced rape and sexual abuse. Sarah joined the organisation in 2017, and over the years, it became more than a place of refuge. It became home. She smiles when she speaks about the girls she met there and the journeys they shared. “Even though justice has not been achieved in my own case, I am happy that some of the girls at Wings of Hope have found justice,” she says.

Their victories, she explains, have become part of her own healing and are among the reasons Wings of Hope feels like home.

Then came a phone call that would change everything.

One Friday, the Director of Wings of Hope told Sarah she would attend an entry interview at Strathmore University the following day. Sarah laughs when she remembers the surprise. University had never been part of her plans. “To be honest, I did not choose Strathmore. I feel like Strathmore chose me,” she says with a warm laugh. The following morning, she walked into the University’s Central Building as the only interviewee. She went through the process and, before leaving, received the results. A door she had never imagined suddenly swung open.

Through a partnership between Strathmore University and Wings of Hope, Sarah’s education became possible. For Sarah, the financial support meant she could focus on her studies without the burden of outstanding fees. “Thanks to Strathmore and Wings of Hope for giving me the hope and wings,” she says. The words carry gratitude for an opportunity that changed the direction of her life.

University came with its own surprises. Sarah laughs when she remembers one of her earliest challenges: Strathmore’s formal dress code. She was not cultured to wear formal attire every day and once had to return home because her outfit did not meet the institution’s guidelines.

But the unfamiliar soon became home. “I became fascinated by Strathmore: the lecturers, the friends I made and the culture,” she says. Gradually, she found herself looking forward to being on campus every day and feeling that she belonged.

Even her course was an unexpected discovery. BIS was never something Sarah had planned to pursue. Yet after attending her first class, something clicked. “After attending my first class at Strathmore, I realised that this was what I wanted to do,” she says, her voice filled with excitement. International relations gradually became more than a degree; it became a possible future.

Behind the academic achievements, however, Sarah was also balancing motherhood, family expectations and the pressure of keeping everything together. There were moments when she felt exhausted and overwhelmed. Eventually, she sought counseling through the Financial Aid Office.  “It was actually the first time I had asked for help,” she admits. That decision taught her an important lesson about vulnerability.

“Asking for help is not a weakness. You cannot reach every destination alone.”

Through the Community Outreach Programme, under the Community Service Centre, Sarah discovered a passion for service. She found joy in mentoring young people, particularly girls. Her face lights up when she talks about returning to Kitui and meeting girls she has mentored who still remember her advice. “When I go to Kitui and meet girls I have mentored, they remember the things I told them about life, womanhood, self-care and the realities young women may face,” she says proudly. In those moments, she sees an opportunity to give another girl what she once needed most: hope.

Her son has remained an important part of that journey. Sarah’s voice softens whenever she talks about him. Now 11, he has grown alongside his mother and become one of her closest companions. “He is one of my best friends,” she says, smiling. “He is someone I can tell anything to, and he will listen.”

For Sarah, motherhood is not simply something she had to navigate alongside university. It is one of the experiences that has shaped and strengthened her.

She is also quick to acknowledge the people who helped her reach this moment. The Directors of Wings of Hope, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin, supported her through different stages of her journey. Her lecturers pushed her beyond her comfort zone, while friends such as Winnie offered support in simple but unforgettable ways. “No one succeeds alone,” She reflects.

She remembers the people around her as leaving “small fingerprints” on her life. Quiet acts of kindness and encouragement that helped shape who she has become.

Now, graduation feels bigger than a personal achievement. Sarah’s eyes light up when she talks about the girls at Wings of Hope looking at her with pride. The organisation has affectionately referred to her as its ‘firstborn graduate.’ “I know it will encourage many of the girls at Wings of Hope and other young girls who may have lost hope,” she says. When she is at home and sees the girls looking at her proudly, she understands that her journey has become a source of hope for others. That is why, for Sarah, graduation is a victory for all of them.

Her dreams do not end with the degree. She hopes to build a career in international development, communication and policy, particularly advocating for vulnerable girls and young mothers who are unsupported and underserved. She also dreams of pursuing further studies. “One day, I want to be called Dr. Sarah,” she says with a laugh. For now, she is already living proof that a difficult beginning does not have to determine the end.

As she prepares to step onto the graduation stage, Sarah carries her son’s pride, Wings of Hope’s faith, the support of her friends and lecturers, and the dreams of girls who are watching her journey. “Graduation means that hope wins,” Sarah says. “This degree is not just mine. It belongs to everyone who encouraged me, worked with me, held my hand, supported me in any way and believed in me.”

She smiles when she reflects on how far she has come.

For Sarah Nalika, hope did not simply survive. Hope won.

Article written by Nekesa Teresa