When you step into St. Jude’s Technical College in Mumias, you can feel the spirit of hope in the air. This college, run by the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, is not just a learning centre, it is a place where dreams are reborn.
In an interview with Sr. Mary Goretti Etyang, the Principal of St. Jude’s, she shared the journey of the college and how it is changing the lives of girls who once thought they had no future.
What inspired the Sisters of Mary to start this college?
Sr. Mary Goretti explains, ‘‘The college was originally a formation house for young sisters. But over time, the sisters noticed many girls in the nearby community dropping out of school, some because they lacked school fees, others because their grades couldn’t get them into university. Many felt lost, hopeless, and ended up in early marriages.’’
She adds that seeing this need, the Sisters decided to turn the formation house into a technical training college. Their goal was to give these girls practical skills so they could become self-reliant and live with dignity.
Why did the Sisters choose to focus on girls and not boys?
The Sisters of Mary were founded with a special mission to support the girl child. Back then, girls were often left behind while boys were given better opportunities in education. The Sisters wanted to follow their founder’s vision to uplift girls and help them believe in their worth. They wanted to show society that girls can do great things when given a chance.
What kind of skills do you usually empower the girls with?
St. Jude’s offers both technical and business courses.
Under technical skills, students can study:
- Catering – where a girl can start small, even with a stove and a pan, and grow her business.
- Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy – a girl can begin with simple tools, even work from home, and grow into owning a salon.
- Plumbing – showing that even traditionally male jobs can be done by girls.
- ICT – giving students the digital skills needed in today’s job market.
Catering students with some of their lecturers and Principal.
Under business skills, courses include:
- Accounting
- Business Management
- Human Resource Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Teaching
School-based ECDE student teachers attending sessions during school holidays.
This helps the girls learn how to manage or even start their own businesses, reducing dependency on others.
How do you support girls who can’t afford to pay fees?
Sr. Mary Goretti shared that some girls remain at the college during holidays and engage in small income-generating activities. The little money they make goes towards their school fees, and the Sisters cover the rest when needed.
Sr. Marygoretti Etyang, Principal, St.Jude’s Techncal Training College.
“I don’t send them home,” she says. “I allow them to stay and find ways to support themselves. I want them to finish school.”
She currently supports three girls who will graduate in July. One former student is now working at St. Mary’s Hospital. Others have been supported by organizations like AOSK and SLY, which helped 10 students complete their courses last year. Now, those girls are being assisted to start small businesses.
How are students who’ve graduated from St. Jude’s helping their families and communities?
Many graduates are already making a difference. Some are running small businesses selling mandazi or offering beauty services. These earnings help pay their school fees and support their families.
Parents often come back to say thank you. “One parent brought me a chicken,” Sr. Mary Goretti said, smiling. “She told me, ‘Sister, we now eat at least one meal a day because of what my daughter learned here.”
At St. Jude’s Technical College, the mission is clear: to lift up the girl child. With compassion, practical skills, and a strong sense of purpose, the Sisters of Mary are creating a wave of change, one girl at a time.
