Rise Fellow 2023

Brenda is an advocate from Kenya who aspires to make the world a more equal place. As one of the top academic performers in her country, she was granted a scholarship to one of the best high schools in Kenya. She competed for her school in several math olympiads, represented Kenya in the 2022 World Scholars Cup in Thailand, and participated in the 2023 Knowles Educational and Charitable Trust for International Leadership. For her Rise project, she started the “black-dolls-for-black-girls-initiative” to address the lack of representation and diversity in mainstream media and the toy industry. The initiative aims to promote self-love and combat colorism by providing Black girls with dolls that accurately reflect their skin tone, cultural heritage, and hair texture, empowering them to embrace their identities with pride.