At 25, Andrew Ochieng Oyando has already learned what many people discover much later in life. A livelihood matters more than titles. Skill matters more than appearances. And dignity often comes from work done with the hands.
Andrew grew up in Kajulu, in Kisumu East, in a single-parent household. His father died when he was young, leaving his mother to raise the family on irregular income from casual domestic work. School was never guaranteed. He completed primary education in 2017, but secondary school and college were financially out of reach.
Like many boys in his area, Andrew had to make a decision early. Worry and feel sorry for himself or find a way to support his family.
He chose work.
Andrew began spending his days in a local welding shop, learning by watching, assisting, and trying. What started as survival slowly became a skill. He learned how to measure, cut, weld, and fabricate. Over time, he became dependable and confident in his craft. Welding offered him something school could not at the time. A path forward.
Still, progress was limited. Without proper equipment, Andrew could only take on small jobs and earned just enough to get by. The idea of owning his own machine, let alone a workshop, felt distant.
Then he applied to Tujiamini.
“I honestly applied as a trial,” he said. “I did not think it would go through.”
In his community, many young men share the same story. They stop school early, not because they lack ambition, but because money runs out. Opportunities shrink. Dreams adjust.
Andrew says his generation is often told to aim for white-collar jobs, even when access to education makes that unrealistic. He chose a different path.
“A livelihood is what matters,” he said. “If you can work, you can live with dignity.”
Tujiamini saw potential in that choice.
This year, Andrew was awarded the Tujiamini Silver Award, receiving 100,000 Kenyan shillings. The funding will allow him to acquire a welding machine and essential tools, removing the biggest barrier holding him back.
For Andrew, the money is not just about income. It is about building something that lasts.
He plans to set up a small workshop and eventually a garage, where he can take on larger jobs and train other young men in welding. His goal is to pass on the skills he learned the hard way, offering others a chance to earn, learn, and build self-reliance.
“I want other boys to see that this path works,” he said. “You do not have to wait for an office job to survive.”
In Kajulu, the demand for welding is steady. Gates, windows, repairs, and fabrication are constant needs. With proper equipment, Andrew expects to increase his earnings, support his family more consistently, and begin mentoring others.
Tujiamini’s support has given him something rare. Confidence that his work matters. That his choice was valid. That skill is opportunity.
For a young man who once thought education had closed its doors to him, Tujiamini has opened another. One forged in steel, sweat, and determination.