Joyce

Joyce’s Story

From when she was a little girl living, Joyce grew to care and protect domesticated animals. She herded her family’s cattle, sheep and goats and walked far away from home to water them; the typical life of a young pastoralist Maasai girl in a rural setting.

She had seen many families lose their herds to diseases, pests and droughts and dreamed of becoming educated to someday be able to boost the quality of life in her community through their traditional way of livelihood. When she eventually graduated from Egerton University with a degree in Animal Science, she knew it was about time. 

“My business had to be where I grew up so that I can practice my skills while also giving back to my community directly,” she said.

Joyce garnered practical skills as an intern and volunteer on different farms. She returned to her roots, Kimanjo Village in the Laikipia plains and launched her small business supplying veterinary drugs and treating livestock. She moves around the community on a regular basis ensuring that any livestock in need are taken care of.

It is horrifying to imagine that her vision, dreams and skill would have gone to waste years ago when she was forced to undergo Female Genital Mutilation as a measure of allegiance to her community’s traditions. A successful FGM ritual was often followed by marriage, a step she narrowly missed.

She is a renown human rights activist in her village who during her spare time visits local primary and secondary schools to educate young boys and girls on the importance of education and the dangers of cultural practices such as FGM and child marriages. Her movement started after she graduated high school by mentoring a group of 6 girls, then 3 neighboring communities and eventually 6 schools.