This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
On a sunny day in September 2019, the Camel Derby amateur competition was underway in Samburu. As I watched the riders approach the start line, one girl in particular caught my eye - Fanilla Lesooni, a petite 15-year-old on a small camel.
As I got closer, I met Fanilla's mother, Antonia Lessoni, who was beaming with pride. Antonia explained that Fanilla had approached her just a day before the competition, asking to participate in the derby to raise funds for her school fees.
With only one day of training, Fanilla was determined to succeed. And succeed she did, becoming the first-ever youngest female competitor to win the amateur race.
But Fanilla's story didn't end there. She also participated in the professional race, where she bagged the second position, raising a total of Ksh 61,000 for her school fees and her family.
As I spoke with Fanilla, I was struck by her determination and passion for education. She had been struggling to pay her school fees, and this competition was her chance to make a difference.
With the support of her mother, uncle, and the Samburu Governor, Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal, who promised to sponsor her secondary education, Fanilla's future looked bright.
As Orison Swett Marden once said, 'Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.' Fanilla's story is a testament to the power of hard work and determination.
