Grace Mbaye, Marion Ngoya, and Sora Qalla Sora
In this focus-group discussion, three Digital Divide Data graduates talk about what shaped them beyond technical training. All three came to DDD from difficult circumstances—Grace Mbaye after two years of domestic work in Nairobi, Marion Ngoya from rural Homa Bay County with no phone number on her application, and Sora Qalla Sora from Mukuru slum at age 17 without an ID. What transformed them wasn't just the work-study program that put them all through Kenyatta University, but the culture of mentorship and the risk DDD took by employing teenagers straight from high school. "Employing someone from high school is a risk," Marion says. "And it is my responsibility to see where I fit in." They learned workplace discipline through after-hours classes in financial literacy, CV writing, and typing competitions. More importantly, they found mentors like social impact coordinator Calvince Odemba, who pushed them toward leadership and taught them to listen more than talk.
The ripple effects are visible in what they do now. Grace stayed at DDD and rose to training lead, designing programs for the next generation. Marion co-founded Gweth Foundation, which has enrolled over 100 vulnerable girls in high school in Homa Bay, while running a clothing business and pursuing a master's degree in Florida. Sora left for a dance company but spent 12 years using dance to mentor youth in his community, combating early pregnancy and substance abuse, while working in banking and planning an NGO. All three emphasized that DDD alumni stay connected through WhatsApp groups for job opportunities and mutual support. Their advice for DDD's next 25 years: partner with more companies to create pathways for graduates, reach beyond Nairobi to find talent in rural areas, and formalize the mentorship that shaped them. "Coming from an underserved community, with all the challenges you go through, and you transition to a place where people are helping you, you would also want to give back," Grace says.
