Wanjiku Kabiru grew up in Kenya surrounded by friends and family who always supported her ambitions. “It has been essential to my journey to have relatives who inspire me,” she shares. “I feel like that supportive community is what got me here.”
When Wanjiku decided to leave Kenya to complete her A-level coursework at the African Leadership Academy (ALA) in South Africa, her parents encouraged her. At ALA, she took African Studies courses that deepened her understanding of African history and writing and rhetoric classes that sparked a passion for storytelling. She also learned the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and was part of a student team that run a business during her second year. Her experiences, for her, perfectly aligned with Ashesi’s curriculum and mission to develop ethical and entrepreneurial leaders.
Her decision to attend Ashesi was also fueled by her desire to explore different regions of the African continent. “I spent eighteen years of my life in East Africa and two years in Southern Africa,” she explained. “Why not four years in West Africa?”
Now at Ashesi, Wanjiku is excited to immerse herself in Ghanaian culture and is eager to learn local languages. She also hopes to continue nurturing her writing skills and explore new interests alongside her academic work. “I went from taking writing and rhetoric classes to writing on my blog every week,” she reflects. “Who knows what will happen in the next four years? Stay tuned!”
