Mwanzo is a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating opportunities through education and community-driven development

Loyce Ong’udi, Founder and Executive Director of Mwanzo

Loyce Ong’udi was born and raised in the small village of Rabuor in the western part of Kenya. During her childhood and adolescence, Loyce saw herself not as someone stricken by poverty but as someone who benefited greatly from the fellowship and strong support of her community. At that time, a time before the arrival of HIV/AIDS, adults were still thriving, children were loved and the health of their communities was vibrant.
After coming to the United States in 1996, she eventually found her way to Seattle, where she began working at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During her time at the foundation which lasted almost 3 years, Loyce learned a great deal about the health challenges that developing countries face and she started to reflect on her home village and the problems that her friends and family there were experiencing. She felt compelled to act and began to think of ways she could give back to the people she loved.