Sharon Cheruiyot

In Cherangany, Kenya, Sharon Cheruiyot once made her living in an illegal trade—buying and selling timber posts. Each sale meant another tree cut down, and before long, the law caught up with her.

“I was arrested and thrown into a cell,” Sharon remembers. “It happened more than once. I began to ask myself, ‘For how long will I keep living like this?’”

It was during this time that Erick, an Empowering Lives International trainer, invited her to a skills training being held right next door. Sharon hadn’t planned to attend, but she decided to go anyway.

There she met Patrick, who shared how he had started a poultry business with just one hen. His story planted a seed of hope! This hope caused Sharon to think, “If Patrick could change his life with one hen, why couldn’t I?”

That same week, she bought a hen too. It was a small step, but it marked a major turning point in her life! Today, Sharon’s poultry business is thriving, and she has expanded into planting onions, raising goats, and even started small shops. More importantly, she now trains others, more than 500 people so far, teaching them the same poultry skills that transformed her own future.

When reflecting on her journey, Sharon shared, “I thank God for the skills ELI has given me. I’ve learned to run businesses that honor God, and my relationship with Him has grown stronger! I can change my own life, but even more, I can impact the lives of others. That is the greatest gift God has given me.”

Once known to police for the wrong reasons, Sharon is now a respected leader in her community. Her life shows the ripple effect of transformation: one person equipped through ELI training can change countless others. Thank you for partnering with us to empower lives and ignite hope for generations to come!