Written by Daniel Kariuki, HHFL Alumni

Having been sponsored by Hanne Howard Fund has meant a lot to me. I come from the slum of Lenana and education would not have been possible for me without this help. Hanne Howard Fund took me when I was very young and enrolled me into primary school. During school, life for me at home was very challenging.

I managed to clear primary school but could not join high school. I thought I was a bit older for high school and I was also trying my best to find ways of earning some living to support my dad. My mum was an albino and she passed on when I was still in primary school. She used to do some jobs to support our family and after her death I knew my dad would be much burdened with our needs.

I therefore approached Hanne Howard Fund because I love baking and cookery. In 2013, I joined Amboseli Institute of Hospitality & Technology for a food production course that took me 9 months followed by a three-month internship in Mombasa. After the internship I wanted to continue into the diploma level but I had to find a job.

I got referred by a friend to the Good Food Company Kenya that has its headquarters in Nairobi in September 2015. I was told they were looking to hire a chef and I dropped my CV after which they called me for an interview. Ten of us turned up for the interview but in the end I was picked with another guy.

I started working in the cold kitchen to prepare salads and sandwiches and then into the hot kitchen where we make Italian, Indian, Chinese and Kenyan foods. We do catering to companies and organizations such as the American Embassy, The United Nations offices, Westlands Towers where the Tullow Oil, the company that is mining petroleum in Kenya has its offices, Sony Erickson offices, The Hub Mall – Karen in the Kafor and Ocean Basket and recently we have started serving Mkopa Solar Solutions Company.

I still live in Lenana because I have to stay close to my ageing father and my little brother who is in primary school. With the salary I get, I am able to cover all my expenses and pay house rent for my dad and find pocket money for my brother. He goes to boarding school.

I feel very independent and will always thank HHF, HHFL and all the people who supported us around the world for getting me this far.