Melody Miriuki, from Meru County in Kenya, married at 20, shortly after completing high school. With no formal skills or employment, she relied entirely on her husband, who held two degrees and had a stable job as the family’s sole provider.
This financial dependence put her in a difficult position, as her husband controlled all money for her and their child, sometimes withholding support. At one point, he even threatened her life, which led Melody to leave the marriage and return to her parents’ home.
Seeing her determination, her parents enrolled her in a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution to study welding so she could start building her own life. To support herself and her child, Melody took on casual jobs, including cleaning a church, where she learned about the YW4A programme through the church’s pastor.
She joined the programme as part of Cohort 2 and began attending FEMspace, a safe community space for young women, where she received training from the RiseUp! Transformative Leadership programme. Through these sessions, she learned about her rights and, looking back, recognised the forms of violence she had experienced in her marriage. Melody also took part in storytelling and Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) training, which helped her process and heal from the trauma of her past relationship.
Now, Melody’s confidence has flourished.
She regularly speaks at YW4A reflection meetings as the mistress of ceremonies and even leads prayers in church. On social media, she uses platforms like TikTok to share her journey and life at work, challenging norms in welding, a traditionally male-dominated field. Melody feels empowered and unafraid, facing her male colleagues with confidence. She says,
“Through YW4A, I learned about my rights and realised the violence I had endured. I now participate in discussions on amending the Sexual Offense Act and have gained advocacy skills. Storytelling has allowed me to share my story and inspire others.”
An engineering student in a male-dominated field, Melody initially encountered intimidation and discrimination. However, the skills and encouragement she gained through FEMspaces empowered her to build confidence and assert herself. Today, as a welder—another male-dominated profession—Melody has thrived and broken down stereotypes surrounding women in technical careers.
Melody’s journey has been one of courage, growth, and the determination to help others, as she has become an inspiring voice for change in her community.
