Wawira Njiru

Wawira Njiru, is a Kenyan businesswoman, entrepreneur, human nutritionist, and philanthropist, who serves as the executive director of Food 4 Education, an organization that cooks, prepares and distributes nutritious meals, at subsidized prices to over 2,000 school children from humble backgrounds in Ruiru, a suburb of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.[1]

Wawira Njiru
Born (1991-01-27) January 27, 1991
NationalityKenyan
CitizenshipKenya
Alma materUniversity of South Australia
(Bachelor of Nutrition Science)
OccupationNutritionist, Entrepreneur, Businesswoman and Philanthropist
Years active2011 – present
Known forBusiness acumen, and philanthropy
TitleFounder & Executive Director of Food 4 Education

Background and education

She grew up in the town of Ruiru, in Kiambu County, immediately northwest of the capital city of Nairobi.[2] She attended local schools for her primary and secondary education. In 2010, she was admitted to the University of South Australia, in Adelaide, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Nutrition Science degree.[1][2]

Career

In 2011, at the age of twenty, Wawiru then an undergraduate in Adelaide, Australia invited 80 friends to a Kenyan themed meal. She charged $20 per plate, raising the equivalent of KSh126,000 at that time.[3]

With those funds, Food 4 Education (F4E) was founded. Starting with the construction of a makeshift kitchen, F4E started feeding their 25 first students. That was followed by fundraising campaigns on the internet. Over time, the number of children receiving subsidized school lunches increased.[3]

According to Wawira Njiru, it costs Ksh25 (approx. US$0.25) to provide a meal to an elementary school child in Kenya. The parents or guardians are asked to contribute KSh10 (approx. US$0.10). F4E provides the balance.[4]

To bridge the financial gap, F4E hired a full-time chef, constructed a new modern kitchen and began to deliver cooked-to-order-meals to corporate clients in the nearby Nairobi neighborhoods of Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Westlands, Upper Hill and the central business district of the city.[4]

Other considerations

In 2018, Business Daily Africa, a Kenyan daily English newspaper named Wawira Njiru, one of the 40 Under 40 Kenyan Women for the year 2018.[1] In December 2018, she became the first person to win the Global Citizen Prize for Youth Leadership.[5] In 2018, Wawira was also named among the 100 Most Influential Young Kenyans, by Avance Media.[6]

See also

References
  1. Business Daily Staff (September 2018). "Top 40 Under 40 Kenyan Women 2018" (PDF). Business Daily Africa. Nairobi: Nation Media Group. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  2. Transformnutrition.org (2014). "2013 Nutrition Champions: Ann Wawira Njiru: Kenya". United Kingdom: Transformnutrition.org. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  3. Marketer, Carrie (7 December 2015). "Inspire! With Wawira Njiru: Food 4 Education". Voicesofyouth.org. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  4. Arunga, Abigail (20 June 2017). "Take 5: Founder of Food 4 Education, Wawira Njiru". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  5. "This Activist Wants to Provide School Meals So No Child Learns on an Empty Stomach". Global Citizen. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  6. Murugi Gichovi (4 February 2019). "Larry Madowo, Natalie Tewa, Njugush celebrated in the Most Influential Young Kenyans List". Nairobi: 98.4 Capital FM. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
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