Nyalenda, the largest informal settlement in Western Kenya’s Kisumu City. The narrow alleys hummed with the chatter of children and the calls of hawkers, dust rising in the midday heat as families struggle to survive; typical daily order of the neighbourhood. Elizabeth Anyango Odaga’s story begins here.
Growing up in a large family with limited resources, Elizabeth supported her mother in her casual labour of selling paraffin, Simsim/sesame, mangoes and sweets by the roadside. Every coin mattered, and every day taught her a lesson in resilience. These early experiences shaped her understanding of hardship and quietly built the courage she would rely on throughout her life.
Elizabeth’s teenage was a chilling experience . Her father, frustrated by the absence of sons in the family, took a second wife. Elizabeth watched her mother endure humiliation and belittlement.
The past years left a mark on her young mind, planting the first seeds of a lifelong commitment of agitating for women’s rights and dignity. She understood the value of defending mothers and she remained adamant to the cause.
At 17, her life took a dramatic turn when she became pregnant. Disowned by her father, she had nowhere to turn. With her newborn daughter, Bonita, she sought refuge with her grandmother in Siaya. Teenage motherhood, Elizabeth says, came with its own burdens, exhaustion, judgment, and the relentless pressure to provide, but she refused to let her dreams die.
“Becoming a mother at seventeen was the hardest moment of my life. I felt abandoned, disowned by my father and terrified about the future. But I knew I could not give up on myself or my daughter. Every challenge became a lesson in resilience, and I promised myself I would create opportunities for others facing similar struggles.” Elizabeth said.
Determined to build a life for her child, Elizabeth moved to Mombasa, where she trained as a hairdresser. The business offered independence and a path forward, but life had more lessons in store.
It was in Mombasa that she met the man who would become her husband. Their connection grew slowly, forged through small acts of kindness, shared laughter and mutual understanding. When the opportunity arose to relocate to the United Kingdom, excitement was tempered with fear.
Leaving her daughter, her grandmother, and the family in Kenya, she stepped into a world of unfamiliar accents, foreign rules, and quiet isolation. Nights were long and often lonely, yet beneath the fear, Elizabeth carried the determination that had guided her through childhood struggles and teenage motherhood.
Education became both refuge and purpose. In classrooms filled with foreign ideas and unfamiliar voices, she threw herself into learning. Counselling psychology allowed her to understand suffering in ways she had experienced personally, while law, politics, and sociology at Cambridge University gave her tools to challenge systems of inequality. Each lecture reminded her of the children, women, and elderly people she had left behind.
Elizabeth’s resolve eventually gave birth to the Change Africa Foundation. From the UK, she began mobilizing resources to support vulnerable families in Siaya County.
Through the organization, she has been helping widows pay school fees to the vulnerable and building modest houses for the elderly and orphans. The organization was formerly registered in Kenya and became fully operational. Elizabeth explains the philosophy behind her work:
“CAF began with small acts, paying school fees for one child, helping one widow rebuild her home. But I knew that real change required vision and persistence. Today, seeing young people learn skills, women regain dignity, and families rebuild their lives reminds me why every small effort matters.” Says Elizabeth.
The foundation now supports hundreds of students, paying school fees, supplying uniforms, and providing mentorship. Art and skill centres established by CAF train in: welding, tailoring, beauty therapy, computer studies, motor mechanics, hairdressing, and plumbing.
Young people are trained and given resources to help them earn a living. Elizabeth’s commitment goes beyond education and vocational training. Environmental conservation is central to her vision.
Working with over thirty schools across Siaya County, CAF has planted thousands of indigenous trees, initiated kitchen gardens projects and integrated environmental education into classrooms. Children lead eco-clubs, organize community clean-ups, and inspire their families to adopt sustainable practices.
For Elizabeth, these efforts are about more than greenery; they are about teaching young people the connection between the environment, food security, and the health of their communities.
Gender-based violence (GBV), is another focus. Through survivor-centred programmes, CAF supports women and girls with emergency medical care, counselling, and legal aid. Boys’ clubs, awareness campaigns, and community dialogues challenge harmful attitudes and create safer spaces.
Survivors are encouraged to become peer mentors, using their experiences to guide others and reduce stigma. In communities where silence once reigned, CAF has nurtured bold conversations and accountability, giving voice to those previously ignored.
Recognition of Elizabeth’s work came on 22 November 2025, when she was honoured at the Jamhuri Kenya Awards with the Youth Empowerment and Community Impact Award in the leadership category.
Her personal assistant and community outreach team received the award on her behalf, a testament to the far-reaching influence of her work from thousands of kilometres away. Reflecting on the recognition, Elizabeth said:
“This award is not mine alone. It belongs to the children, the women, the volunteers, and every person who has allowed us to serve them. It is a reminder that when we act with empathy and determination, we can transform lives, even from thousands of kilometres away.”
Communities in Siaya County speak of her with genuine emotion. Pauline Atieno, a widow from Rarieda sub-county, recalls how Elizabeth’s courtesy helped her daughter to complete her studies when she was on the verge of dropping out due to a lack of school fees.
“Before Mama Elizabeth started helping us, my daughter was about to leave school because I could not pay the fees. She stepped in and helped us settle the arrears.” Said Pauline
Elizabeth Anyango Odaga’s journey, from teenage motherhood in Nyalenda to becoming a recognized community leader operating from the UK, is a story of resilience, empathy, and determination.
Her leadership is grounded in lived experience and the desire to transform her community. Through the Change Africa Foundation, Elizabeth is restoring dignity, empowering the vulnerable and transforming communities.
This story was featured in the just-launched Luminate Africa Journal first edition of The Africa Feature Network’s end-year magazine, and can be downloaded on our website at the Journal page.
