By Anderson Ojwang
On Saturday, at Serena Hotel, when she strode to the podium with a burst of a smile on her face as the audience and dignitaries rose clapping to welcome her to give a speech, Margaret Koskei was lost in her own world.
In the slow and calculated walk, with a burst of a smile on the corner of her face and the drowning claps and applause, lay the deep secret she bore in her heart.
Margaret walked to the podium into two worlds only known to her and her husband, Mr. Felix Koskei, Head of Public Service — the worlds that shaped her life from childhood to date.
Smartly dressed in radiant blue, Margaret climbed the podium to give her story — a story of resilience, focus, commitment, dedication, and passion for a better world.
Margaret defied the odds from childhood. When her age mates dropped out of school, when culture and economic barriers discriminated against and neglected girl-child education, and when poverty threatened to consume her dream, she rose from grass to grace to tell her story.
For the guests and dignitaries who converged at Serena Hotel, they may have walked back home without knowing her full, true story. They may only know the story of her today and not her yesterday.
But for Margaret, her story of yesterday is the driver that gives her desire, pleasure, strength, and energy to give hope and help write the stories of bright and needy children in the community.
“I had an extremely difficult childhood. I came from a very humble background. Life was hard. I understand the language of abject poverty. But I did not lose hope. One of our neighbors told me, ‘Margaret, the only way to rewrite your story, family, and community is through education,’” she says.
Margaret, the firstborn in her family, was charged with the responsibility of rewriting her family’s story through education or getting married to start her own family. She chose education over marriage and other distractions.
“From childhood, I loved education. I spent my free time reading, and that is why I made it right from Lenana Primary School into secondary and university. A dream come true — but that was just the beginning,” she says.
In secondary school, Margaret relied heavily on community support to pursue her education, and they never allowed her dream to fade out.
“My secondary school fees were paid by the community. Friends, relatives, and neighbors contributed to see me in school. I never let them down — I excelled in my studies and joined Kenyatta University for a Bachelor of Education degree,” she says.
The university boom opened Margaret’s world. She could no longer depend on the community to cater for her education but spared part of her student money to educate her siblings.
Margaret had a mission — to support and give hope to bright and needy children just like herself. Together with her husband, they decided to support needy students in day secondary schools in their home county of Nandi.
“When my husband joined me in the mission to support the education of bright and needy students in our home in Nandi, it was the fulfillment of a journey I was committed to.
We have helped several needy children, and in 2013, I came up with a foundation after a friend advised me to do so.
This enabled me to mobilize funds and operationalize the service to reach a wider community in the country,” she says.
That is why, on Saturday, during the launch of the Chalan Foundation’s strategic plan, she stood tall to tell the success story of the initiative.
“Today is deeply personal for me. Thirteen years ago, this foundation was not born out of theory but from lived experience.
I know what it means to face cultural and economic barriers that threaten to close doors before they fully open.
I know what it means when someone believes in you, when a neighbor offers encouragement, when a teacher sees potential, and when a community chooses to stand with you even with limited resources.
That support changed everything for me. The small support I received became a seed, and that seed became a conviction.
If a community could light hope for me, we could light hope for thousands of children facing the same reality,” she said.
For 13 years, across 10 counties, 350 students have benefitted from scholarships from the Chalan Foundation.
“For 13 years, we have walked into homes and villages across 10 counties carrying one simple but powerful message: you are valued, and your life matters. We have witnessed beautiful transformations — girls returning to school and boys recovering their dignity,” she said.
Margaret said her success story was made possible by the support of various stakeholders.
“To our supporters, thank you for choosing impact over convenience. Thank you for investing in futures.
Thank you for trusting this vision and the team. You are co-authors of every success story we celebrate,” she said.
At the launch were two fresh graduates — one from the University of Nairobi with a bachelor’s in nursing and another from Kirinyaga University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering — both part of the 350 children the foundation has supported through school.
When Mr. Koskei, the patron, rose to speak, he said, “I have witnessed the journey from the very beginning.
I am the husband of the founder. Thirteen years ago, I watched my wife wrestle with a question that would not let her go:
If a community’s small support helped change her life, what would happen if we organized that kindness into an impact?
I have watched that question become a conviction. That conviction became a foundation, and that foundation has become a movement.
Let me tell you why I believe in this work. I have met the children myself. I have looked into the eyes of girls and boys in many counties who, because of the Chalan Foundation scholarships, are the first in their families to complete secondary school education,” he said.
Koskei said the initiative has given his family purpose and meaning by being part of the transformation in the community.
“I will provide unconditional support to the founder, board, and team.
My wife, I have watched you pour life into this mission. I have seen you sacrifice comfort for impact.
I have witnessed your courage in criticism and resilience through setbacks. I am proud of you beyond words.
Today, as we launch the foundation, know that you do not carry it alone. I am with you,” he said.
