Like so many young people stepping out of university, Monicah Munyua felt caught between potential and uncertainty. She had knowledge but was unsure of where it could take her.

As a recent software engineering graduate from Multimedia University of Kenya, Monicah had spent years learning how to build and solve with code but she was still trying to figure out where those skills fit in the real world.

It was in this moment of quiet questioning that she stumbled upon something unexpected on LinkedIn.

A post. An opportunity.

A software development cohort run by the Power Learn Project (PLP) and Safaricom Hook was promising more than technical training. It hinted at transformation and building solutions that mattered.

At the time, Monicah wasn’t actively job hunting. But she was curious and sometimes, curiosity is all it takes to have a lifechanging moment.

“I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for but I knew I didn’t want to stay where I was. It also just felt right. I had time and I wanted to sharpen my skills,” Monicah said.

She applied and got in.

What followed was a learning experience unlike anything she’d known. Together with 250 other young learners from across Kenya, Monicah began a journey into areas like AI, blockchain, and web development.

The pace was fast and expectations high but something inside her clicked.

“The first time I saw an idea of mine become a real product, I felt something shift. It helped me overcome imposter syndrome and I finally felt like I belonged in this space,” she said.

She quickly became more than just a participant, stepping up to lead her peer group. Together, they tackled two hackathons, both of which placed among the best in their cohort.

For the program’s leadership, her journey stood out. Eric Muriithi, Dean of Students at PLP, says Monicah represents exactly what the program was designed to nurture.

“We don’t just train developers, we shape problem-solvers and that’s where our partnership with Safaricom Hook becomes so powerful. It allows us to offer tools, mentorship and access to young innovators across the country,” he said.

He added that while the vision is to train one million developers across Africa, stories like Monicah’s serve as a powerful reminder that every number starts with one life and one opportunity.

Among the many projects Monicah built, one made a particularly strong impression: Skills Mapper, a digital tool powered by Safaricom’s APIs.

The idea was simple but impactful. It was an app that connects young people with training opportunities near them and recommends certifications based on jobs available in their region.

Further, Monicah said the project was born from her own sense of uncertainty after graduation.

“Sometimes it’s not that the opportunities don’t exist, it’s only that we don’t know where to find them. I wanted to build something that would bridge that gap,” she said.

Skills Mapper was named one of the top innovations during the cohort’s graduation showcase and this is a recognition that still makes her smile.

But perhaps her most meaningful work is the one she’s preparing to scale now, Mindful Connect.

This is an AI-powered mental health platform that helps users access professional therapy support more easily. The platform includes a chatbot for initial wellness conversations and a therapist-matching system tailored to users’ preferences.

“There are so many people who want help but don’t know where to start. Right now, there’s no simple way to find therapists that match your needs. Mindful Connect solves that.”

She’s already piloted the tool and received positive user feedback. With support from mentors and new networks formed during the program, she’s preparing to take it to the market.

Alongside all this, Monicah has taken on a role that’s especially close to her heart — tutoring children in coding at Tatu Primary School.

It started in June 2025, as part of a CSR initiative by Tatu City, in partnership with PLP. The program runs after school, for one and a half hours each day.

Monicah teaches a group of twenty students, aged 14 to 15, introducing them to the world of web development. With the very skills she learned, she’s now passing them on to others just beginning their journey.

“It’s more than teaching. It’s showing them that they can build things too and that someone believes in them,” she said.

“The Safaricom Hook and PLP Program gave me a platform and now, I’m building something that can help others too.”

As the world observes World Youth Skills Day, Monicah’s journey reminds us that skills are catalysts for confidence, connection, and community change as well as being a testament to what’s possible when learning is made accessible, inclusive, and purpose driven.