This scholarship is more than financial aid - it's someone believing in me
Our Scholar Spotlight focuses on Jane Wanjiru Ndirangu, a Dr Mai Yamani Scholar, a first-generation university student who came to London from Kenya to pursue an MSc in Environment, Politics and Development.
Jane shared with the Alumni Office why she wanted to study at SOAS, the impact of her scholarship and what she hopes to accomplish after graduation.
This scholarship changed the course of my life
The Dr Mai Yamani Scholarship changed the course of my life. Coming from a financially constrained background, the idea of studying abroad, especially in a city as expensive as London, always felt like a distant dream. I knew I had the passion and the academic drive, but the financial reality often felt like an immovable wall.
When I received the email saying I had been awarded the scholarship, I cried, not just tears of joy, but of relief, of gratitude, of hope. It wasn’t just financial aid, it was someone, somewhere, believing in me. This scholarship has allowed me to focus fully on what truly matters: my studies, my growth, and my future. It lifted an enormous weight off my shoulders. I no longer had to stay up worrying about how I’d pay my rent or whether I could afford groceries for the week. That mental and emotional space has been a gift I can never take for granted.
It wasn’t just financial aid, it was someone, somewhere, believing in me. This scholarship has allowed me to focus fully on what truly matters: my studies, my growth, and my future.
It gave me the freedom to immerse myself in my coursework, to speak up in class with confidence, and to explore opportunities both inside and outside the university without fear or hesitation. But beyond the practical support, what the scholarship has given me emotionally is just as powerful. It made me feel seen, like my story mattered, like my hard work and perseverance were not invisible.
As a first-generation university student, the eldest daughter of a single mother who worked tirelessly to make ends meet, this scholarship felt like a recognition not just of my academic potential, but of the journey that got me here. It made me feel like I belonged at SOAS and that I deserved to be here just as much as anyone else. And with that comes an even deeper sense of responsibility.
My course helps me understand and solve real-world problems
I’ve just submitted by dissertation after a year of studying in MSc Environment, Politics and Development. This programme feels like a perfect bridge between my academic foundation in geospatial science and my passion for environmental sustainability, social justice, and development. During my undergraduate studies, I was fascinated by how data and technology could be used to understand and solve real-world problems, especially those that disproportionately affect marginalised communities like the one I grew up in.
The university's celebration of diversity and global engagement made me feel that this was more than just an academic institution; it was a place where my story mattered.
What drew me to this course at SOAS was its interdisciplinary nature, as well as the university’s deep-rooted commitment to decolonial thinking, global equity, and social transformation. I was looking for a place where African voices, experiences, and environmental issues are not peripheral but central and I found that at SOAS.
The university's celebration of diversity and global engagement made me feel that this was more than just an academic institution; it was a place where my story mattered. Being in London, a global hub of activism and environmental innovation, is also a dream come true. I’m surrounded by change-makers, thinkers, and practitioners who constantly challenge and inspire me.
A sense of purpose and driving it forward
I don’t just carry my own dreams, I carry those of my mother, my younger sister, and my community back home in Kenya. This scholarship has allowed me to represent them, to prove that no matter where you come from, you can rise. That sense of purpose fuels me every day.
I also want to mentor young women from underrepresented communities because I know first-hand how important it is to have someone who believes in you.
After SOAS, I hope to return to work in the environmental and development sectors, with a particular focus on urban sustainability, environmental governance and data-driven policymaking in Africa. I see myself working with NGOs, international organisations, or progressive local governments to address issues like climate resilience, waste management, water access, and urban planning. In the long term, I want to use my background in GIS and my SOAS education to help shape policy and design interventions that are socially just and environmentally sound.
I also want to mentor young women from underrepresented communities because I know first-hand how important it is to have someone who believes in you. Eventually, I hope to create or support programmes that give girls in rural Kenya the opportunity to access higher education and leadership training. That would be my way of honouring the path my mother helped carve for me.
Image credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona via Unsplash.
