STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Education For Life began as a church-based response to HIV stigma and has grown
into a celebrated cultural troupe in Eldoret - Music and dance became both therapy and a source of income for members aged
between 25 and nearly 80 - The group is now a fixture at major county and national events, representing Uasin
Gishu across Kenya
BY ODHIAMBO JOSEPH | 5484 MEDIA | ELDORET,KENYA
Drumbeats echo through a hall in Eldoret as colourful costumes swirl and feet stamp in rhythm. Laughter spills between dance moves, and voices rise in song. For the performers facing the camera, this is more than entertainment.
It is healing.
Education For Life is a cultural group whose journey — from stigma and silence to national stages — is told in the documentary Education for Life: When Music Heals. What began as a small church-supported charity has become one of Eldoret’s most recognisable cultural teams.
A sanctuary born out of crisis
Education For Life was founded in 1988 by a Catholic nun, Sister Hellen, at a time when HIV stigma was widespread and fear often outweighed compassion. Her aim was simple: to offer psychosocial support and charity to people infected and affected by HIV.
“It was about dignity,” one long-time member recalls. “At a time when people were hiding, this was a place you could come and be seen.”
The initiative later became a project of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, with support from the Christian Brothers. The Diocese provided land, allowing the group to establish an office and a centre — a permanent home for people who had long lived on the margins. In 2011, due to advanced age, Sister Hellen handed over leadership to the Christian Brothers, who continued providing school fees, food support and care for vulnerable families. But one question remained: how do you heal the heart?
When singing became therapy
To keep members engaged and connected, the centre turned to music. At first, it was modest — devotional songs sung in church, voices blending in quiet hope. “We were just singing to cope,” says Salome Khamuye, now the group’s chairperson. “We didn’t know it would change our lives. ”Slowly, singing became therapy. Dancing followed. Confidence returned. And without planning it, the group discovered that music could also earn them an income.
Today, Education For Life has 42 members — 30 women and 12 men. The youngest is 25 years old. The oldest is nearly 80.
Different ages. Different stories. One rhythm. ‘Dance brought life back to us’ For Salome Khamuye, 56, the journey is deeply personal. In 2014, she discovered she was HIV positive and pregnant at the same time. She was also a widow, having just lost her husband, and was left to care for four children.
“I was broken,” she says. “There was stigma, fear, and I didn’t know where to turn.” She joined Education For Life when it was still a charity organisation under the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, supporting HIV-affected families with food, clothing and school fees.“What I found here was acceptance,” Salome says. “Through dancing, stigma disappeared.
We became a family.” She says music restored confidence, created friendships and opened doors.
“It brought life back to us,” she adds.
From church halls to county stages
The group’s dedication did not go unnoticed. Former Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago was drawn to their selflessness and effort and invited them to perform at county events. That exposure changed everything.
“They trained us, supported us, and gave us platforms,” Salome says. “From there, doors opened.” Today, no major event in Eldoret or Uasin Gishu County feels complete without Education For Life. They perform in multiple languages, showcasing traditional dances from different Kenyan communities — offering colour, identity and unity.
“For many years, we have emerged number one in music and cultural festivals,” Salome says. “We have represented Uasin Gishu County nationally, fully sponsored by the county government.”
A journey across Kenya
Through performance, the group has travelled widely — to Siaya, Nanyuki, Meru, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, Kilifi and Makua.
“Some of us had never imagined leaving Eldoret,” says one of the oldest members. “Now we have seen Kenya.”
Beyond travel, performances provide allowances and fees, offering members a rare sense
of economic independence.
“Singing is therapy,” Salome says. “But it is also how we survive.”
More than music
As the final drumbeat fades and applause fills the room, the performers gather, laughing and chatting like family.
Education For Life is not just a dance group. It is proof that music can heal, community can restore, and dignity can be reclaimed. From stigma to stage. From silence to song. This is Education For Life: When Music Heals.
