I was born in a very remote place in Nandi county. When I was young, a child was promoted to the primary school (now called the Elementary school), only if the right hand could go above the head then down to the left ear. Doing so and touching the ear was a precious moment.

My early childhood teacher used to give me the responsibility of teaching the other children before she arrived each day. I was also entrusted with the responsibility of making the classroom in order, including dusting the teacher's chair and table, and guiding others to sweep the classroom. These tasks made me feel confident, like I was the teacher. As a student, I was allowed to feel self-reliant and independent by experiences such as this one. I am now a mentor teacher and the school head at the Corner of Hope Montessori schools in Kenya, and I still think about the responsibilities my own teacher gave me when I serve as a Montessori classroom directress.

When Corner of Hope started I was called by sister Angela, who was my trainer and the principal of the Montessori training college in Nakuru. She told me there was a project they wanted to start and they requested me as one of the trained Montessori teachers to come and mentor the trainees, who would later become teachers.

At the beginning of Corner of Hope I was there on the ground. We had many children and eight trainees who had already started their training at the college. Children were very eager to learn. The community really needed a place where their children could go to learn, a place they could call a school.

My most valuable experience during my time in Corner of Hope is when the least privileged children can learn and enjoy education. That is their right like any other child in the world. The Montessori method is the only method that gave these children all the freedom, with limits of course.

The future of Corner of Hope seems to be fabulous. Many teachers have been trained through Corner of Hope and many more will still be trained. Many children have passed through Corner of Hope and they still call it "our school". It is my dream that in the future Corner of Hope will have a high school, a training center and a workshop to make materials. I plan to be part of Corner of Hope's progress, mentoring and directing many who wish to be Montessori teachers in the future.