Nancy Cheptoo defies odds to lead her peers
Youth for a Sustainable WorldNancy Cheptoo was born in Kacheliba, West Pokot where tradition once sought to bury the dreams of young girls. As a girl, she stood at the edge of surrender, facing the looming threats of FGM and child marriage, especially during the silent grip of the pandemic.
“Growing up in Sangakai village, I often felt as if my future had already been decided for me. The expectations of undergoing FGM and child marriage weighed heavily, especially during the pandemic when everything seemed to pause — except those harmful traditions. I was afraid, confused, and isolated,” she says.
Her turning point came through the peer learning sessions supported by the YOEP project. Surrounded by fellow youth, Cheptoo found a space to listen, learn, and rise. She gained knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and right, understood the harmful impact of FGM, and learned how to access referral pathways for survivors of gender-based violence. These sessions not only equipped her with information, but they also awakened her purpose.
“That space became my lifeline. I met other young people who were also trying to find their voices. I learned about my rights, about how my body is mine, and how harmful practices like FGM are not my destiny. The sessions didn’t just give me information; they gave me clarity, confidence, and the courage to rise,”Cheptoo add.
Now a student at Kisii University, she returns to the same hills that once tried to silence her, this time as guide, a sister, a spark for others.
“I am proud to return to my community, not as a victim of my circumstances, but as someone who can make a difference. I speak up now. I mentor others. I am living proof that change is possible when young people are given the knowledge and space to grow.”
