Ashura Bakari has a plan for girls in Kenya’s automotive industry 

Ashura Hamadi Bakari, a 21-year-old peereducator, is one of 24 young people trained byDSW Kenya on life skills, GBV, leadership,human rights, and advocacy. 

“I was inspired during DSW leadership training in October 2022 when they encouraged girls to take up leadership positions and aspire to be what men can be. As I conducted my community peer learning sessions with fellow youths, I got challenged when I heard stories of young girls getting pregnant because they lacked basic needs. This pushed me to aspire to be better,” she said.   

 DSW Kenya linked Ashura with Dream Girls Organisation that sponsored her to undertake a mechanical course at Mtongwe Vocational Training Centre in Mombasa. She started her 12-month course in January 2023 and completed it in December 2023.

“I’m able to change a vehicle spare wheel, do bleeding for vehicles and even support replacement of engines. I was discouraged by my father and the community that I will not get someone to marry because I chose a male-dominated course that is very dirty, but I want to be a mentor to many girls who wish to explore male-dominated careers”.

Hailing from Lungalunga Sub County, Ashura is the firstborn of five children. After her mother remarried, she was in and out of school due to lack of school fees, forced to do odd jobs, and eventually moved in with her grandmother.

After completing her secondary school education in 2021, she wanted to keep herself busy and raise money to pay for her higher learning. She joined Mchongo Vanga Community Based Organisation.

While at the CBO, she participated in advocacy through dance and drama. In 2021, DSW Kenya identified her as a peer educator, and she participated in numerous training sessions.

At home over the weekends, Ashura continues to facilitate youth-led community peer sessions and works as a part-time mechanic at the garage in her home village in Vanga.

In the future, she wants to open her own automotive workshop in Ukunda town, where she plans to employ and support girls who wish to grow in that industry. In the meantime, she plans to continue mentorship of other girls through peer learning sessions as she completes her vocational training.