How the Mawazo Fellowship Programme impacted the personal growth of a Kenyan Health Scientist
Image Credit: Caroline Ochieng
Author: Naliaka Odera
When Caroline Ochieng first applied to be a 2023 Mawazo Fellow, she believed that her primary need was financial support for her research. As a Health Sciences PhD student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, her research work predominantly takes place in labs and requires substantial funding to cover the cost of expensive materials. However, what she experienced was something else entirely.
During the onboarding process, which was presented as a simple introduction to the Fellowship, Caroline realised that the time was actually dedicated to the mental wellbeing of the Fellows. “It was an open space, where we were encouraged to open our hearts and share with one another,” she explains. She found that the session provided her with a nuanced perspective on the experience of being a PhD researcher. Gradually, as the organisers guided the attendees through the session, she began to forgive herself for moments when she had not met her targets. This process allowed her to centre her self-worth, and nurture a seed of self-love. This newfound confidence empowered her not only throughout the remainder of the Fellowship, but also during her entire PhD journey.
Image Credit: Mawazo Institute
Caroline found herself actively pursuing opportunities that a previous version of herself might have overlooked. “Before I joined Mawazo, I was hesitant to even apply for funding, many opportunities simply passed me by,” she reflects. However, with a newfound sense of self belief, she started applying for more funding options. The Budgeting and Financial Management Course played a crucial role in this transformation, encouraging Caroline to better organise her finances and seek additional funding sources. This course equipped her with strategies to effectively reduce her budget, and successfully navigate the application for the Fellows Fund.
The funding from the Fellows Fund significantly advanced her research work. “When I first joined, I did not have any funds for anything. My work in sequencing is costly and it took me a considerable amount of time to reduce my budget and find effective solutions,” she credits Mawazo. She has also become a beneficiary of the Emergent Ventures grant, a partner of the Mawazo Institute, which allowed her to attend a conference in Dublin, and access necessary funding to progress her lab work.
Image Credit: Mawazo Institute
Confidence stands out as one of Caroline’s biggest takeaways from the Fellowship. This lesson has influenced her life across various domains, not just academically. She declares, “I have learned how to rise up and move forward.” As she continues her PhD journey, she is now eager to pursue more leadership roles, and feels motivated to complete the data collection phase of her research journey.
The Call for Applications for the 2025 Mawazo Fellowship Programme Cohort is now open until Sunday November 10th, 2024, find out more here and apply.