Sabina Chepkemoi
At 20 years old, Sabina Chepkemoi is building a future she once thought was out of reach. The recent HER Lab graduate studied Electrical Installation, a field she had never imagined pursuing before joining the program. Today, she speaks with growing confidence about her skills, her ambitions, and the life she hopes to create for herself and her family.
Sabina is the fourth of ten siblings in West Pokot. Growing up, life at home was difficult. Her mother worked as a subsistence farmer while her father was an ECD teacher. Despite their efforts, providing for the large family was not easy, and Sabina recalls her father struggling under the pressure of loans. There were days when tea was the only meal available in the house. In school, she often worried about fees and was frequently sent home because of school fee arrears. Even with those challenges, Sabina remained determined to continue learning. She understood education as one of the few opportunities that could change the direction of her life. High school brought the same uncertainty. During some school terms, she attended classes without knowing whether she would be allowed to sit for exams because of school fee arrears. Still, she persevered and completed her secondary education.
After finishing high school, however, her journey stalled. There was no money for further studies, and she stayed at home helping her mother with domestic work. Slowly, the dreams she once carried began to feel distant.
Then a neighbor shared information about the HER Lab program with her mother. Sabina applied in 2025 and joined the program in May that same year, unaware of how much opportunity would shape her future.
When she first arrived at HER Lab, Sabina was uncertain about which course to pursue. During an orientation session, she listened to a HER Lab alumni speak about electrical installation and the opportunities it could create for young women. “When I heard her story, I realized women could also do this work,” Sabina recalls. “Before then, I had never imagined myself in electrical installation.”
That moment changed the way she saw herself. She chose to study Electrical Installation and learnt practical skills such as wiring homes, fixing sockets, installing lighting systems, and working with solar systems. Through both classroom learning and hands-on practice, her confidence steadily grew.
Beyond the skills gained, Sabina says HER Lab also changed how she relates to herself and others. During a HER Lab podcast conversation with fellow graduates, she reflected on what dignity and respect mean to her in everyday life. “The way people speak to you can either build your confidence or destroy it,” she shared during the discussion. “I believe communicating calmly, listening to others, and respecting people even when situations are difficult is a form of dignity. She says HER LAB program helped her become more confident, more accountable, and more comfortable expressing herself. For the first time, she began setting goals for her future again.
She reflected on how being shouted at, insulted, or treated unfairly can affect a person’s confidence and sense of worth, especially for young women trying to prove themselves in spaces where they are often underestimated. She described such treatment as a lack of dignity and respect. Sabina says HER Lab helped her build confidence, communicate calmly, listen to others with respect, and become more accountable in her work and relationships. She also shared that gaining practical skills had given her a renewed sense of purpose because she could now set goals for herself, plan for the future, and work toward financial independence.
One of the moments that stayed with her the most was during a school holiday, when a trainer encouraged her to practice her skills in the community. Sabina repaired a socket and fixed lighting in a nearby home. Before beginning the work, she remembers feeling nervous because people were watching closely and doubted whether a young woman could handle electrical repairs. “I was afraid of making mistakes,” she says. “But when I finished, and everything worked well, I felt proud of myself. That was the moment I knew I was capable.”
The positive response from community members surprised her. Some openly admitted they had never expected a young woman to perform electrical work so well. For Sabina, the experience became more than a technical assignment. It gave her confidence in her abilities and strengthened her determination to continue in the field.
Sabina recently graduated from the HER Lab program in April 2026 and is doing an industrial attachment to continue building her experience. She dreams of pursuing further studies in electrical engineering and eventually opening her own electronics shop. At home and within her community, perceptions have already begun to change. Her parents now see her differently, and younger girls around her are beginning to view technical fields as possible career paths for women, too. Through her journey, Sabina is quietly challenging expectations and proving that young women can succeed in spaces traditionally reserved for men.
“I want to continue growing in this career and support my family,” she says. “I now believe my future will be different from what I once imagined.”