Sandra Kimokoti

Joined ALA in 2009

My name is Sandra Kimokoti and I am the fourth child in a family of seven, with three older brothers and one younger one. Ever since I can remember, my parents have always encouraged me to pursue my passions and to do my best at everything. With this mentality, I enrolled at Alliance Girls’ High School, where I was for two and a half years before joining ALA. When I was in form two, one of the students from my school was admitted to ALA. Out of curiosity, I found out more about and applied because I wanted a new experience. I was intrigued by the opportunity presented of working with young passionate people from all over Africa, the leadership, entrepreneurship and African Studies curriculum and the strong academic system here.

At ALA, I was the Head Producer of the first World Literature play in the school, helping to promote the Arts during our drama and arts festival. Additionally, I was involved in the Community Service Project called Grow Green Itsuseng, working to promote sustainable agriculture in the informal settlement of Itsuseng. In this project, I was the External Relations Officer and helped to secure a donation of 200 earth-boxes worth 60,000 rand, for the community we work with. My experience during the first year at ALA inspired me to teach during the summer holiday and I taught Biology and Chemistry to Grade 9 and 10 students at the New Dawn Educational Centre in Kenya. I also represented ALA at the South African National Science Olympiad, where I was part of a team of students that came second in the province won ALA 7000 Rand worth of laboratory equipment.

I am currently at Brown University, with the intention of majoring in Biochemistry and minor in French. Looking into the future, in the next ten years I intend to be involved in the energy sector of Kenya and other African countries as a research scientist, working to improve sustainable biofuel production in the country.