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A New Chapter in Nursing for Eccla

Growing up in Bomet, Eccla imagined herself as a doctor. But when her grades couldn’t take her there, she chose nursing. At first, it felt like settling. With time, however, she discovered the beauty of the profession. Nursing allowed her to balance life, work, and friendships in a way medicine from the angle of being a doctor never could.

“Initially, I thought nursing was second best. But over time, I realized it was exactly where I was meant to be,” she reflects.

In recent years, Eccla lost three close family members, her father and two grandmothers. The grief deepened her empathy and ignited a passion to be a better nurse.

“I keep imagining how they felt during their last days. I wish they had met a better nurse. Now I want to be that better nurse for someone else.”

Eccla’s journey to TYE happened almost by chance. One evening, she stumbled across a meeting link online, followed it, and reached out. Though her first attempt to connect didn’t go through, Rose from TYE eventually called her back.

“I didn’t even know Austria was a country,” she laughs. “But I took a leap of faith.”

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Now with her flights booked, Eccla is filled with mixed emotions. She looks forward to new beginnings, calling it “a clean slate” where nobody knows her, yet admits she will miss her family deeply.

“I feel excited but also afraid of the unknown. Austria is a chance to discover my full potential.”

To those on the same path, Eccla offers encouragement: “There is light at the end of the tunnel, even when it feels like there isn’t. Enjoy the language, don’t just study it in class, live it. Practice everywhere you can.”

She herself began learning German on YouTube before joining formal classes, proving that persistence opens doors.

For Eccla, the decision to leave Kenya is about both adventure and opportunity. “Abroad, nursing is respected as a career. The systems are better, and you can truly grow. And honestly, I’ve always had a spirit of adventure and I want to see more of the world.”

The toughest part of her journey was learning German, especially B1, and enduring the long waits. Yet she was surprised by how fast the process moved, just one year from the first step to preparing to relocate. She also appreciated the immense support and financial relief from TYE and its partners:

“Most people couldn’t believe it wasn’t an agency. But TYE stood with us every step of the way.”

Looking ahead, Eccla hopes to pursue a master’s in management, strengthen her nursing and German skills, and work toward financial freedom. She also dreams of exploring Europe and starting a family in Austria.