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A Heart to Heal the World: Stacey’s Nursing Journey from Kenya to Austria
Stacey Jemutai was born and raised in Kapsabet, Nandi County, and currently works in Voi, Taita Taveta County. Her journey into nursing began with a deep sense of purpose — the desire to serve humanity.
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“I believe my purpose in life is humanitarian service, and nursing felt like the best way to do that.”
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Good at biology and chemistry, Stacey found nursing both practical and purposeful. Her empathy was shaped early in life, especially after her brother’s accident, which sparked her desire to help others through healthcare.
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She first learned about TYE Pathways when representatives visited her school. Though she missed that meeting, her dean encouraged her and other students to enroll in German language lessons. “Our German teacher was relatable and supportive,” she recalls, “and the fees were affordable. I spoke with my parents, and they agreed to pay.”
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From there, Stacey’s journey with TYE began. With guidance from the team, she embarked on the long but rewarding process of preparing to work as a nurse abroad.
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When asked why she chose to work outside Kenya, Stacey explains that it was partly driven by her curiosity to live in another country and partly by the competitive job market at home. “There are so many nurses in Kenya,” she says, “so it made sense to go where there’s more demand for our skills.”
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The preparation period wasn’t without challenges. Stacey recalls one particularly stressful moment when she received her VFS appointment email late in the day, with the appointment scheduled for the next morning. “We couldn’t make it because of the distance, and we were fined for missing it,” she says with a small laugh.
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Despite such hurdles, her motivation stayed strong. She had found a job in July that kept her busy and helped her finance parts of the process.
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Her family, she says, was very supportive. “They were excited. We’d even been planning for me to go to Australia before we found out about TYE Pathways.” What drew them to the program was that it didn’t require a nursing license to begin and offered strong support.
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Now, as her travel date approaches, Stacey admits to feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. “I’m a bit anxious about going to a new country, especially during winter,” she says. “But I’ve talked to our manager, and she assured me the weather isn’t too harsh. Still, we’ll need a winter wardrobe!”
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She’s grateful for the guidance and structure TYE Pathways provided along the way. “They played a big role,” she says. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without them. Even filling forms, they were always there to help.”
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Looking ahead, Stacey dreams of working abroad for no more than ten years before returning home.
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“I don’t see myself living anywhere other than Kenya. I just want to work, gain experience, build wealth, and come back.”
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Her advice to others beginning this journey is simple but heartfelt: “Be patient, and keep yourself busy. Waiting for something when you don’t have full visibility can be stressful, so find other things to do while you wait.”
