About Abby

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I describe myself as a travelling nomad.

Forever moving; never quite finding where I fit in.  

As long as I have my music, I'm good to go!

My interests include music, travel, books, photography, world cultures, art, history … including many others.

I am very fortunate to have seen a bit of the wider world, including a year's working & backpacking around Australia, travels in England and in Spain, walking the 800 km Camino de Santiago twice.

But Kenya has been my home and heart from birth.

Growing up, I was never quite like the other kids.
Due to the lack of knowledge at the time in Kenya, doctors and professionals misdiagnosed me with a number of different labels. My mother eventually took me to the UK at the age of 13 where I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.

I told no one – and had no one to explain it to me.
It was not a diagnosis understood by anyone I associated with.
I spent a large portion of my life not really knowing anything about who I was.

Bullied and teased almost constantly throughout (and even after) my school years, I lost a lot of self-confidence, had extreme anxiety issues, and developed chronic depression. By age 18, I had attempted suicide.

In 2011, I reached out to the wider Autistic world on social media. Connecting with other people who ‘got me’ was life-changing in the best way.
My whole world changed; I was finally able to find my own path. This was where my learning started.

This led me to connect with individuals in Kenya who were involved in Autism and other disabilities. Speaking with others, volunteering in the field, and doing my own research provided me a deeper understanding on the issues surrounding disabilities in Africa.

My own journey of understanding who I am has changed me as a person.
I want to do my part in helping others find their true potential.

As well as changing people’s perception on what it means to be disabled and how Africa (and the world) sees those with disabilities, I want to prove to others and the children I meet that no matter what challenges they face, their dreams are valid. 

Hugely inspired by my two favourite women in travel - Robyn Davidson and
Ffyona Campbell - who both showed me that with determination and tenacity, anything can be possible.