Two Mentors, One Bigger Picture: Charity Mokweri on Finding Her Direction in WASH

Charity Nyabonyi Mokweri is based in Nairobi, Kenya, where she is an intern at the Water Sector Trust Fund, a state corporation established under the Water Act to finance water and sanitation services in underserved and marginalised areas of Kenya. The fund’s mandate centres on de-risking investment in the sector and channelling government and development-partner funding to water service providers, county governments, and community-level water projects, with a particular focus on populations left out of mainstream water infrastructure financing.

Charity joined the Women in WASH & RWSN mentorship programme as a mentee.

Looking for Personalised Guidance as a Young Professional

Charity’s motivation for joining centred on what made the programme distinct from other opportunities she had come across. “The Women in Wash program is different; it is specifically tailored to women water professionals. With this, you get personalised mentorship, something I was looking for, and you get to meet women in the water sector and learn from what they are doing, and also what is new.”

Two Mentors, Two Very Different Perspectives

Charity was paired with two mentors working on different sides of the sector. One integrates engineering with WASH work while also mentoring young people on the same path. The other works at the forefront of multistakeholder networks for organisations. “This meant I was able to understand crisis management, donor relations, grant management and governance design, which is a driving force in the sector.” Between the two relationships, Charity gained insight into both the infrastructural and financing sides of WASH.

A Shift From Curiosity to Confidence

Charity describes a clear change in how she carries herself professionally. “A key shift for me was moving from just curiosity to being more confident in identifying my strengths, asking better questions, and seeing how my experiences can contribute to broader WASH systems and development work. It has helped me to have a clearer sense of direction and purpose.”

Learning to Not Sell Herself Short

When asked what qualities had the biggest impact on her, Charity points to her mentors’ openness and honesty. “I especially appreciated how they challenged me to think beyond my immediate experiences and consider the bigger picture.” She also credits them with helping her work through impostor syndrome. “They have also helped me to really understand that impostor syndrome, something that I struggled with, can be overcome by being confident even especially when the stakes are high.”

One moment in particular stood out: her mentors reviewing her CV. “A big highlight was when they looked at my CV and appreciated the work I have done and challenged me not to sell myself short when looking for new opportunities, because the expertise is there; it’s the way you sell yourself.”

A Programme Shaped Around Being a Woman in WASH

Charity describes this mentorship as distinct from any she had experienced before, largely because of who it was built for. “Having people who understand what being a woman in WASH is, a sector that has just about 18% of working women globally, was a blessing.” The experience also shifted how she thinks about her own role going forward. “I have also seen the value of mentoring a fellow woman in coming up and understanding their own strengths.”

Her Message to Anyone Considering the Programme

Charity recommends the mentorship programme. “This program gives you more than just professional guidance. It creates a space to reflect, learn from someone else’s experience, and gain a clearer perspective on your own journey. If you are willing to be open, ask questions, and make the most of the relationship, the experience is worth it, and it will help you grow professionally and personally.”

What She Recommends

When asked for a book, tool or resource recommendation, Charity points to When the Rivers Run Dry by Fred Pearce. “It describes the escalating global fresh water crisis with case studies from over 30 countries. It covers different and overlooked concepts like virtual water, the cost of food, and the risk of large-scale engineering, which give you a context of how depletion of water is happening faster than ever. It gives the need for essential water ethics and how we can avoid a global catastrophe.”