Voices of Change Interview Series: A Conversation with Grace Ongong'a
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Host: Trizah Gakwa, Program Manager, Be That Girl Foundation
Guest: Grace Ongong'a, Executive Director at Asembo Skills for Hope
Trizah: Hi, everybody. Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening depending on where you’re joining us from. My name is Trizah Gakwa, and I am the Program Manager at the Be That Girl Foundation. Be That Girl is a private foundation that works with local NGOs to empower women and girls to live self-determined lives.
This is the second episode of Be That Girl’s global Voices of Change interview series, predicated on the understanding that the fight for women and girls’ empowerment is a global movement requiring collaboration, shared knowledge, and bold leadership. We host these conversations with amazing leaders to spark ideas, learn, and strengthen our efforts. If you missed the first episode with Muthoni in May, please check it out on our page. Today, I have the absolute honour of hosting my friend and leader extraordinaire, Grace Ongong’a. Welcome! Please introduce yourself.
Grace: Thank you so much. It’s an absolute honour to be here and talk with you. We’ve shared a journey, and I’m glad to speak about my experiences, challenges, life, and impact. I’m happy for Voices of Change and to be featured in this series.
Trizah: Thank you, Grace. I’m excited to learn from your bold, authentic leadership. Grace and I will have a conversation, but please engage with us in the chat; share your thoughts, questions, and what resonates with you. Let’s get right into it. Grace, what moments in your journey inspired you to become an educator and eventually start a community-based organization for women’s empowerment in Western Kenya?
Grace: I grew up in Asembo, a small fishing town on the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. I witnessed firsthand the challenges girls and women faced: early marriages, teen pregnancies, gender-based violence, and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Many of my female friends dropped out of school and became young mothers with little or no support. I made a promise to myself that I would get out of that town and make something of myself. I went to college, earned a bachelor's in education, and later moved to Rwanda. Though my family provided the basics, I always wanted to shape my own journey.
Every summer, I returned home and connected with friends who were now young mothers. Nothing had changed! They were still stuck in a cycle of dependence, lacking skills, income, and opportunity. Violence was normalized. That’s when I realized these women didn’t just lack jobs - they lacked agency and a future beyond being wives and mothers. This inspired me to start Asembo Skills for Hope, a CBO that provides practical skills, economic independence, and a renewed sense of self-worth. We’re working to break the cycle of poverty and help women reclaim their power and become role models for their children.
Trizah: That’s powerful. I love that even after carving your own path, you felt called to return and serve. How did your experience as an educator in Kenya and Rwanda prepare you for the work you do today?
Grace: Teaching in Kenya and Rwanda shaped everything I am today. Working away from home is tough; you have to adapt fast, blend in, build relationships and stay open to learning and unlearning.
In Rwanda, people weren’t always open to things that are normal in Kenya. But I learned to lead with empathy, create systems that support impact, and work with diverse teams. Teaching revealed that I’m a problem solver, whether helping struggling students or navigating institutional gaps. I rely on people-centered solutions. These are the same skills I now use at Asembo Skills.
Trizah: People often think of educators as confined to the classroom, but clearly, there’s so much more leadership involved. Personally, I think dealing with children in any capacity – even as a parent- will prepare you to some extent for the world. How did you realize your curriculum development skills could bring social and economic change?
Grace: I taught in a rural school in Kenya for two years, then moved to a rural school in Rwanda before joining a top international school in Kigali. The difference was striking. In Kenya, before CBC, education was about memorization and exams. But in international schools, education focuses on critical thinking, social skills, communication, research, and community-based problem solving.
That made me reflect on the education system back home, especially for adults who missed formal schooling. I realized curriculum design could be a tool for economic and social transformation, not just by passing on knowledge but by teaching practical, adaptable skills. At Asembo, we design training that prepares women not just to work but to lead, innovate, adapt to technology, and take charge of their futures. The goal is income generation. Skills must translate to money.
Trizah: You and I are both products of the 8-4-4 system. Cramming the Mole concept in Chemistry still haunts me! But truly, real-world skills like saving money or filing taxes are what we need. I’m curious: how did your upbringing and personal values shape your commitment to women’s economic independence?
Grace: I grew up in Asembo and saw how economic dependence limited women’s choices. Early marriage, struggling to support families... that was everyday life. My stepmother, who raised me, was my biggest influence. One time in class, I was teaching the story of Cinderella, and all my students said stepmothers are evil. But I told them, “I am who I am today because of my stepmother.” She supported the entire family with grit, gave me every opportunity, and always pushed me to go further.
My values are rooted in justice and equity. I believe everyone - especially women - should have the agency to decide their future. That belief led me to create Asembo Skills for Hope, a space where women can build skills, confidence, and independence. To me, economic independence means dignity and choice. It breaks the cycle of poverty and allows women to fulfill their potential. But we must change mindsets - both the women’s and the communities. Many women are raised to believe they’re weak, meant only to stay home and give birth. We must walk with her as she reclaims her power, and we must do it as a community.
Trizah: That’s powerful... That your strength came from being raised by a stepmother, and now you're challenging societal norms. I’d love to hear more about your experience teaching in Rwanda. What lessons did you learn about education, community engagement, and cultural sensitivity, and how are those lessons relevant today?
Grace: Teaching in Rwanda, especially at Green Hills Academy, taught me that education thrives when connected to families and communities. You can’t talk about Rwanda without mentioning the genocide. This is a country that has experienced deep trauma, but also reconciliation, forgiveness, and collective healing. That history shaped how people relate to education and trust. Understanding that helped me build meaningful relationships.
When I reflect on where Kenya is today, I can also see positive shifts like young people becoming more politically engaged. Before, many people didn’t vote. Now they say, “I’ll use my right to make a better decision for my country.” We are custodians of future generations. At Asembo Skills, we’re cultivating critical thinking, confidence, and leadership - empowering women not just to learn, but to reclaim their bodies and agency.
Trizah: That’s so relevant, especially now with the protests in Kenya. Leadership is demanded of everyone. The women you work with are juggling so many responsibilities. How do you design your programs and curricula to honour that reality?
Grace: First, we acknowledge that these mothers are balancing childcare, household duties, and informal work. So, we break content into manageable modules, teaching in local languages, emphasizing hands-on learning, and working to remove barriers. We offer on-site daycare, emotional wellbeing support, and counseling. We must start from where they are and not where we want them to be.
My teaching experience taught me that context matters. Learning must be practical, relevant, and immediately applicable. If a woman spends a month learning, she should be able to turn that into income. That’s why we focus on income-generating skills like tailoring. We’re now adding construction and financial literacy, so they learn both the trade and how to run a business. We also integrate life skills: confidence building, parenting, family planning, sexual and reproductive health. Self-belief is just as important as technical skills. We even offer stipends to help cover transport and groceries, recognizing that by attending training, they’re giving up a half-day they could have spent earning.
Trizah: I’ve seen how you structure your days, with one group in the morning and one in the afternoon. It’s such a thoughtful, context-aware approach. What was the turning point for you? Was there a specific story that solidified your decision to focus on vocational training for women?
Grace: I rarely share this, but I do have permission. One of the biggest turning points was watching my sister go through a violent, emotionally draining marriage. It started with fertility struggles, then escalated. Her husband infected her with HIV/AIDS, and every time she tried to leave, she ended up going back. She had dropped out in class 8, so she had very few options for work. Going back to school wasn’t realistic either.
I asked myself, “What skill can you give a single mother with limited formal education, something she can learn quickly and use to earn a living?”
We began with basket weaving and tailoring, and now we’re adding tiling and painting. But we realized that technical skills aren’t enough - they also need entrepreneurial skills: How do you start and run a business? Do you know your customer base? Do you have a business plan? What capital is required? We also added wellbeing support for trauma healing and confidence building. Watching my sister reminded me that economic empowerment is more than a job - it’s about dignity, agency, and having options.
Trizah: Thank you for sharing such a powerful and personal story. It’s something we’ve been reflecting on at Be That Girl Foundation too: what other pathways exist outside formal education? Not everyone can follow the secondary-to-tertiary-to-job route. Vocational training is a solid and accessible option, especially for women and girls in difficult circumstances. From what you’ve shared, Asembo Skills for Hope is a comprehensive program. Can you walk us through how you actually prepare your graduates to earn sustainable income?
Grace: Sure. Our programs are structured into three key phases:
Skills Academy – A 10-month program where women learn practical job skills like tailoring, basket weaving, and construction. We also teach business and life skills, all designed to match community needs.
Well-being Support – In parallel, we offer emotional and psychological support: counseling, confidence building, family planning, and problem-solving tools. This support continues after graduation.
Post-Graduate Support – We call this phase ‘Skills to Prosper’. Every graduate joins a 2-month internship with a local entrepreneur to gain hands-on experience. Then, they either start their own business or join an existing one.
We assign each woman a Graduate Success Lead who provides tailored mentorship, business coaching, and helps access microloans to jumpstart ideas. We also have an alumni network and savings group, where women can support one another, grow their businesses collectively, and stay connected. In total, women spend 1 year in technical training and 2 more years in post-training support; a full 3-year journey to transition them into independence.
Trizah: That’s incredible. The focus on self-determination really stands out. For other like-minded organizations or TVETs, what advice would you give to help ensure they keep up with market trends and provide relevant income-generating skills?
Grace: First, understand the community and the market. We stay in touch with local employers, monitor job trends, and learn from our alumni about what the market is asking for.
I once visited Berlin, where technical training works the other way around - companies connect students directly to training centers based on job needs. Students learn and intern simultaneously, making employment more likely. In Kenya, our systems aren’t linked; the curriculum is often outdated, and agencies don’t listen to trends or communities.
At Asembo, we prioritize modular, flexible learning, so we can quickly adapt. The goal is to strengthen vocational training through transformative partnerships, with employers, government, and schools, to promote skills that actually lead to sustainable futures.
Trizah: Absolutely. And the onus is on us to initiate those conversations with the government and partners. Being a Founder and Executive Director is no small task. What responsibilities do you consider most critical to achieving your mission?
Grace: As a leader, you’re at the center of everything. Strategic planning is the most critical thing. It ensures everything we do - programs, partnerships, investments - aligns with our long-term vision of empowering women in Asembo. Without it, we risk being reactive instead of transformative. Next is fundraising. We need resources to run and scale our work. And then staff oversight - making sure the team is motivated, aligned, and equipped to deliver quality programs. So, for me, its strategy, fundraising, and people.
Trizah: There’s no school to learn how to be a founder or executive director. How did you learn? And how do you create a culture of innovation and accountability within your organization?
Grace: I learned by doing. My education background helped, but I knew I didn’t have all the tools. I intentionally built a supportive team of friends who believed in the mission. But the real turning point was joining the Collaborative Learning Initiative (CLI), a fellowship by the Isroff Family Foundation. It came at the perfect time when I transitioned from teaching to being a full-time Executive Director.
Through CLI, my team and I gained skills in program design, finance, HR, board development, and created our first 3-year strategic plan. That plan helped us grow, reflect, and plan our future. The fellowship also connected me to a network of leaders across East and North Africa, opening doors for collaboration and learning. To foster accountability, we start by getting to know our people. This year at our retreat, instead of just talking strategy, we sat in a circle and shared our personal stories.
I shared my journey - from Asembo to Rwanda, to coming back to build Asembo Skills. I shared my mistakes and asked my team to do the same. Then my team opened up: stories of gender-based violence, suicide attempts, and financial hardship. That moment reminded me, we support women going through a lot, but our team is going through things too. We now prioritize clear roles, KPIs, a committed board, ownership of the program, and a culture of grace and growth. I made many mistakes launching our construction program, and I give that same grace to my team. We’re building something together.
Trizah: We grew up thinking leadership had to look like power, strength and bravado, but true leadership is human, vulnerable, and grounded. Your team is out there supporting the community, but they also need community themselves. There’s a question here: once the women graduate, you connect them to local enterprises for internships. How do you build those relationships? Do you offer incentives?
Grace: In the beginning, we donated school uniforms to students who couldn’t afford them. That helped us build trust. Because we train women for 10 months (longer than most programs) local businesses began coming to us. We also created a shop selling materials and accessories so tailors in the area could always get what they need.
But most importantly, these women are part of the community - they’re wives, sisters, daughters of local leaders and business owners. It’s not us vs. them, it’s all of us building together. Now we approach schools for contracts and can deliver bulk uniforms, which makes us more reliable. Our Graduate Success Program Lead works closely with businesses to match needs, get feedback, and maintain trust.
Trizah: Earlier you mentioned fundraising. Let’s go deeper. What fundraising strategies have been most effective for Asembo? Any partnerships that really made a difference?
Grace: Fundraising is a journey. I started by reaching out to organizations doing similar work, learning from their mistakes and strategies. That’s how I met Delphine, founder of Our Sisters' Opportunity, who later joined our board. She introduced me to Gabby, and that’s how I joined Isroff and CLI - my major turning point.
Three strategies I’ve found helpful:
Know your why. Be clear on your purpose and tell your story well.
Be intentional about where you show up. Don’t fear funders! Introduce yourself and ask for connections.
Focus on building genuine relationships.
“Ask for money and you’ll be given advice. Ask for advice and you’ll be given money.”
Trizah: There’s even a Pitbull song that says that.
Grace: Fundraising isn’t just proposals: it’s people work. If all you do is ask for money, you sound like a cash machine. But if you’re curious, collaborative, and genuinely interested in their work, people will invest in you.
Trizah: So true. There’s more to gain than just money. Let’s talk about measuring impact. How do you track both quantitative outcomes like income and qualitative outcomes like increased self-esteem and confidence?
Grace: We track more than just numbers trained. We measure real outcomes: income increase, employment, savings, and agency. We visit participants at home and collect data at four points to help us track immediate progress and long-term impace:
Before training
Two months after graduation
One year follow-up
Two-year follow-up
On average, most women go from earning $6 to $70/month, working toward the goal of $100/month.
89% are saving with purpose, and there’s a 90% reduction in emotional and physical violence.
Women now make informed choices, from family planning to keeping children in school and making household decisions.
Trizah: That’s generational impact. If you had unlimited resources, what would you do next with Asembo Skills for Hope? And how can people support it?
Grace: Three things:
Establishing our social enterprise – for bulk clothing production, school uniforms, and textiles. It would create immediate jobs for graduates and support our financial sustainability.
Complete our campus – We’re building our first Skills Academy, which will serve 80 women per year and allow us to expand our construction program.
Grow our Graduate Success Program – Scaling microloans so more women can start and grow businesses.
Support can go towards funding construction or training, but also through introductions, recommendations, and partnerships. Our annual budget is $200,000 (including construction). The core program runs on $100,000/year.
Trizah: That’s crystal clear. I encourage everyone to invest. This has ripple effects throughout the community. We’ll share Grace’s contact details. Many people want to start a nonprofit or make a difference. What’s one mindset shift they should embrace?
Grace: Listen - truly listen - to those around you. Understand what they need. Then, start small, stay open to learning, and trust the process. You don’t have to do it alone. Find the people who are already doing the work and walk with them.
Trizah: Final question - how do you prioritize your own wellbeing?
Grace: Day by day. At first, I said I could take breaks whenever, but the truth is, it’s harder to step away when you lead. Now, I intentionally take time off. I also don’t take rejection personally. If a grant doesn’t come through, I just say, “you win some, you lose some.” Most importantly, I try to separate Grace, the Executive Director, from Grace, the person. I’m still figuring that out.
Trizah: That’s the first step. When you love your work, that boundary can blur. You’re doing a great job. Any final words?
Grace: Education in Kenya isn’t free. Not everyone gets from secondary school to university to employment. That’s especially true for girls and women. Add in patriarchy, early marriage, and a culture that silences their dreams. That all changes when you give a woman skills and empowering education. She moves beyond survival, uplifts her family, and becomes a powerful agent of change. Empowering women is not an act of charity - it’s a bold investment in generational transformation.
Trizah: Thank you, Grace. We’re deeply inspired. Thank you all for joining us. See you in the next episode!