Support Magaga Enos' Harvard Education Journey

Help Magaga Achieve His Master's in Education Leadership Journey at Harvard

A Warm Welcome and Heartfelt Gratitude

Thank you for taking the time to visit my GoFundMe page. Your presence here means the world to me.

Whether you’re here to read my story, share this campaign, or contribute in any way, I am deeply grateful for your support.

I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into Harvard’s Master’s in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (School Leadership) program for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Why I Need Your Support

I am fortunate to have secured funding for my tuition and other essential costs at Harvard. However, I still need help covering my living expenses—specifically housing—while attending the program.

This journey is not just about me—it’s about the lives we can transform together.

This opportunity is a dream come true, and I am excited to take this next step in my journey to create meaningful change in education.

The Vision: Empowering 10,000 Girls from vulnerable communities through Education, Entrepreneurship, and Technology

About me

My name is Magaga Enos, a Kenyan educator and community leader passionate about transforming education across Africa. My journey has been shaped by resilience, sacrifice, and hope—especially by the story of my mother.

My mother dreamed of becoming a teacher. Her father believed in her potential and took her to school, but cultural norms and financial struggles forced her to leave school at grade seven to prioritize her brother’s education. Married off at 15, she had me shortly after.

Her life took another devastating turn when a poorly attended ectopic pregnancy left her unable to have more children. Divorced and rejected by society, she struggled to find me a sense of belonging in a culture where only fathers can assign identity to a boy child.

Growing up, my mother often shared stories about the chances that slipped through her fingers due to the lack of quality education. Despite these challenges, she sacrificed everything to ensure I stayed in school.

Her resilience taught me the value of education and inspired me to dream beyond barriers—not just for myself but for others like her who are denied opportunities.

Today, I carry her sacrifices with me as both inspiration and responsibility.

I am currently the only living adult male in a family spanning four generations following the loss of both my grandfather in 2019 and my only uncle last year. My grandmother moved in to stay with me and my family after losing her son and has been living with significant mental health challenges ever since. Caring for her is not just a duty—but also an act of love that reminds me daily of the importance of family bonds.

I am also blessed with a loving wife and three wonderful children: two daughters and one son.

My family motivates my work every day —not only for them but also for the communities I serve. I am committed to inspiring my children to be dreamers who believe in possibilities beyond barriers.

My Work at BEADS for Education

Inspired by my mother’s determination, I found my purpose at BEADS for Education, where I have worked for nearly a decade as the STEM Lead Educator and Communication and Outreach Coordinator.

BEADS for Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls from vulnerable communities in Kenya through education, mentorship, and leadership development.

BEADS is more than an organization for me—it is an extension of my mother’s dream.

BEADS has empowered over 700 girls from marginalized Maasai communities through education programs that transform lives. Of BEADS' sponsored girls, 90% graduate from university, attaining dignified careers that allow them to support their families economically and socially.

At BEADS, we prepare girls for purposeful futures by equipping them with leadership skills, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. As a STEM educator, I inspire a love for science among the girls through an enhanced curriculum that includes Astronomy, Marine Biology, and lessons on living in harmony with nature.

Girls who once faced early marriage or FGM now thrive in classrooms that nurture their curiosity and empower them to dream big. These classrooms transform lives while honoring their cultural heritage and fostering a deep connection to the environment.

Empowering Students Through Creativity, Voice, Choice

In my daily work with learners and educators, I emphasize the importance of resilience, creativity, voice, and choice.

Resilience fosters hope and perseverance through challenges. Creativity encourages students to explore new ideas and innovate solutions. Voice gives them confidence to express themselves authentically. Choice empowers them to align their decisions with their passions and aspirations.

Together, these principles inspire students to take ownership of their learning journeys.

Integrating arts into science education has been instrumental in fostering these values. Through arts integration, I have seen students develop deeper connections to scientific concepts while enhancing their ability to think critically and solve problems innovatively.

Promoting Entrepreneurship Through Practical Learning

Beyond classrooms, I am passionate about professional-based learning and place-based learning.

Through partnerships with county governments in Kenya, I collaborate with post-high school learners to promote entrepreneurship and equip youth with essential principles, practical skills, and competencies for real-world success.

My work has led to many achievements:

Hosted a global education innovation award ceremony in Helsinki, representing Africa on a global stage.

Led a science pilot program in Kenya, inspiring younger girls to love science and bridge the gender gap in STEM fields.

Initiated successful mentorship programs connecting students with STEM experts from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Science Foundation.

Organized a cross-cultural PenPal project linking Kenyan students with peers from Sweetland School in Maine to foster diversity and global citizenship.

Mentored young innovators through the My Dream Machine Global Challenge, where eight girls had their prototypes developed into functional machines by university students in Belgium.

Represented BEADS for Education across 12 U.S. states during outreach efforts while building partnerships that expand our impact.

These experiences have strengthened my resolve to create inclusive education systems that equip students with empathy, leadership skills, creativity, harmony with nature—and above all—the ability to transform their communities.

Today, I am honored to share that I have been accepted into Harvard’s Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (ELOE) program for the 2025/2026 academic year.

This opportunity is more than an achievement—it is proof of what is possible through resilience and purpose-driven work.

Receiving the prestigious Leadership in Education Fellowship Award affirms my ability to lead transformative initiatives in education through innovative leadership practices.

At Harvard, I will gain advanced tools to scale impactful programs like BEADS across Africa—programs that empower girls while fostering leadership among young generations building on the bigger vision.

The Vision: Empowering Girls Through Leadership, Education, and Technology

I envision a future where 10,000 girls from vulnerable communities are equipped to lead lives filled with purpose, independence, and impact. Education, leadership skills, and technology will prepare them to transform their communities and break cycles of inequality.

Educating girls changes lives. Girls with secondary education are six times less likely to marry early and are twice as likely to educate their children—both boys and girls (UNICEF).

Empowering one girl increases family income, reduces maternal mortality, and uplifts entire communities (World Bank).

Educated women earn more, participate in the workforce, and end cycles of poverty (Global Partnership for Education).

Leadership drives change. Strong leaders inspire innovation, create opportunities, and solve real-world challenges. By combining education with hands-on technology skills, girls can thrive in a fast-changing world and unlock global opportunities.

Technology is key. Tools like coding, robotics, and AI prepare girls to address local problems while opening doors to global possibilities. Education and innovation together build confidence and resilience.

At Harvard, I will gain the skills to turn this vision into action. The Master’s in Education Leadership program will help me design scalable systems that empower girls to succeed. With Harvard’s resources and network, I’ll work to create lasting change in communities far beyond BEADS for Education.

This vision is bold yet achievable and I invite you to be part of it.

Together, we can create a ripple effect of change that spans generations.

The total cost of the program

Harvard has generously awarded me an 87% tuition scholarship totaling $54,000. This includes a Need-Based Grant of $23,000 and a Leadership in Education Fellowship of $31,000.

I’ve secured additional funding to cover the remaining tuition, health insurance, activity fees, graduation fees, and part of my living expenses.

I still need support to cover the remaining $15,000 for room and board, as well as transportation. These expenses are vital to help me focus fully on my studies.

Your support will go directly toward these costs and will make a meaningful difference.

Every contribution, big or small, gets me closer to my dream of studying at Harvard.

As a first-generation student from a humble background, I cannot cover these costs alone. I am also supporting my grandmother and immediate family.

This is why I am reaching out to you—my community.

Together, we can make this dream possible!

How You Can Help

Your support can make a huge difference in helping me achieve this milestone. Here’s how you can contribute:

Donate: Any amount, big or small, will bring me closer to my goal.

Share My Campaign: Sharing this link with your network will help amplify my story and reach more people who may want to support this cause.

Encourage Others: Spread the word about my journey and the impact this education will have on vulnerable communities.

Gratitude

Thank you for believing in me! Your support will help me achieve my dream while creating meaningful change through education.

If you have questions or would like to connect, please use the GoFundMe contact button on this page.

With hope,

Magaga Enos