Sophia Ngugi

The boy who almost missed an opportunity

Post 2 of 4 — Sending the Lift Down: The boy who almost missed an opportunity Mentorship is powerful. Encouragement matters. Yet, at times, the barrier facing a child is not motivation—it is financial. Across Africa and globally, this is not an isolated reality. An estimated 251 million children and youth remain out of schoolContinue reading “The boy who almost missed an opportunity”

Sending the Lift Down: The stairs that called me back

Sending the Lift Down: Stories from Mang’u PrimaryA reflection on mentorship, community, and the quiet power of small actions. Part 1 Every so often, I receive requests for mentorship. At other times, I find myself reaching out to others seeking mentorship. Occasionally, someone tells me that I mentored them—without even realizing it. I am alsoContinue reading “Sending the Lift Down: The stairs that called me back”

A Cow, a Feast, and a Decision she never made

A certain event remains vivid in my mind, even decades later. One morning, my paternal grandmother woke as she always did—before the sun had fully risen, before the day had announced itself. Her routine was steady and unremarkable, as most women’s labour often is: necessary, repetitive, and rarely acknowledged. Her day revolved around farming onContinue reading “A Cow, a Feast, and a Decision she never made”

When school fees stand in the way of a dream

I often say that if I had a magic wand, I would ensure that every child could access the education they desire, and that school fees would never be a barrier. That wish is deeply personal to me. It comes from lived experience, from memories of struggle, and from the quiet determination of my parents—whoContinue reading “When school fees stand in the way of a dream”

Losing mum over and over again: the grief of dementia and death.

Today, I read this article, “The never-ending grief of dementia,” which brought back many memories and experiences in the never-ending grief of dementia. This article really resonates with me, especially in light of my own experience of losing my mother—not once, but twice. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when Mum started losing her memory, butContinue reading “Losing mum over and over again: the grief of dementia and death.”

When it is time, you can say goodbye.

The Weight of Unspoken Words I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I don’t feel like writing about it. Yet, it still matters. Those were the words swirling in my head over the past few months. Writing has always been therapeutic for me, yet I have felt stuck—unsure of where to begin or howContinue reading “When it is time, you can say goodbye.”