In a few short years she’s turned her drive and dream into reality!
Rachel Kamana is a youth leader, education advocate, and founder of Pamoja na Watoto Foundation (PAWA)* in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She launched PAWA in 2018 to expand access to quality education for children in underserved and conflict-affected communities and currently leads it while contributing to international work in education and youth engagement. Rachel has served as Africa Youth Representative for the UNESCO SDG4 Youth & Student Network and continues to contribute to global education policy discussions. She holds a master’s degree in Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London, as a Chevening Scholar, and a BA in Social Work from Daystar University that she earned in 2020.
From early on Rachel was interested in how she could make a difference. She originally planned to train as a lawyer, but her father redirected her to Daystar University, where she pursued a degree in social work. She jumped in with both feet. Rachel joined the Daystar Christian Fellowship, volunteering in various committees and outreaches. She was part of the peer counseling ministry, and supported international students. “Some people may have seen that as too much, but for me, those experiences were deeply formative.” She also questioned her lecturers relentlessly. She recalls a significant turning point in her life during a development class.
“I remember often questioning my lecturer, Dr. Philemon Yugi, about the value of global development goals and policies when so little seemed to change in a tangible way. I asked many questions, perhaps even too many. But one day, he told me something that has stayed with me ever since: ‘Rachel, you can be the change that you want to see. Instead of only questioning international organizations, start something that will be impactful and bring change.’ That statement challenged me deeply. It shifted my mindset from simply learning about development to imagining how I could actively contribute to it.”
Her classes and the freedom to ask questions helped her to form her ideas and dreams for the future. Before even finishing her undergraduate degree, she was putting together the start of her work with Pamoja na Watoto. Upon graduation from Daystar, she returned to the DRC to formalize her work there, making it more structured and sustainable.
“My motivation remains the same as when I first started: to support children, wherever they are, in accessing quality, equitable, and transformative education.” Through the work of PAWA, Rachel has helped over 8,000 children to get access to education. They also train teachers, provide learning materials and support internally displaced children with temporary learning spaces.
She views her time at Daystar as being key to her development into a strong, confident woman ready to serve and to lead. “I believe Daystar is the place that truly formed me and helped shape the compassionate, values-driven, and purpose-driven leader I am today. It was at Daystar that I learned what it means to lead through service and to pursue excellence with intention.”
*Pamoja na Watoto means with the children in Swahili. (https://pawafoundation.org/)