"It Doesn't Matter Where You Start" – From Rural Kenya to Europe Through E³UDRES²
In this interview, we meet Vivian Cherono, PhD student in Supply Chain Management at MATE University and active E³UDRES² community member. Her research on sustainable food supply chains and food waste management aims to create impact in Kenya and beyond. From a small village in Kenya’s Rift Valley to Europe, Vivian’s journey shows how E³UDRES² opens doors for global collaboration and lifelong dreams.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt
From being the top student throughout my primary and secondary school years, my academic journey became clearer with every step. I eventually became the first girl—if not the first person—from my entire village to join a university. I went on to study Mathematics and Geography at Kenyatta University and later became a high school teacher under the Teachers Service Commission of Kenya, where I taught and inspired hundreds of students from different parts of the nation.
Yet even as I taught, an inner voice kept on pestering me into the reality that the classroom alone could not contain my ever-growing ambitions. During this time, I was also raising my kids, who were toddlers by then, and while at it, I made the bold decision to return to school and pursue my second degree—a master's. I enrolled at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and made a brave career shift, guided by the belief that dreams should be big enough to scare you. After six years of balancing motherhood, employment, and studies, I earned my MSc. Still, one dream remained alive and burning within me: the pursuit of a PhD."
What inspired you to take this big step from teaching in Kenya to pursuing a PhD in Europe? What was it like emotionally, and what helped you make that decision?
The real turning point came when the Kenyan government nominated me for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship. Accepting it meant leaving home to grow—stepping out of the familiar and embracing the unfamiliar for the sake of my lifelong dreams.
I was admitted to the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Gödöllő, to pursue my long-awaited PhD. Moving to Europe brought mixed emotions—excitement for new horizons, but deep sadness at leaving my young children behind. Still, I chose growth, purpose, and the bigger picture of who I wanted to become for myself, my family, and the many girls who looked up to me as their role model back home.
As one of the few women from my region pursuing a PhD abroad, I felt a responsibility to be a torchbearer—to show girls in my community that opportunities exist far beyond what they see around them if only they refuse to accept being defined by their circumstances.
Your PhD in Supply Chain Management with a focus on sustainable food supply chains through food waste management in the hospitality industry-is such a powerful topic. If you could picture the impact of your research back home in Kenya, what would that look like?
My PhD research focuses on sustainable food supply chains and food waste management in Kenya’s hospitality industry, a sector central to the country’s global tourism reputation. Hotels are key attractions for tourists, yet food waste remains a major challenge. My work aims to help hotels reduce food waste in line with SDG 12.3, adopt sustainable management strategies, develop healthier and more circular disposal systems, strengthen international partnerships, and improve profitability by minimizing unnecessary losses. Ultimately, the findings will inform policy recommendations, promote food security, support circularity, and align the hospitality industry with global sustainability goals.
How did E³UDRES² open doors for you? What opportunities or experiences have meant the most to you?
When I arrived at MATE University, I had a Schengen visa—but no money to travel. Still, I kept hope alive. Not long after, I came across a poster that was asking students to apply to participate in the E³UDRES² Bootcamp at UC Limburg in Hasselt, Belgium, of which I did apply. Unfortunately, I was initially not selected, but I remained on the waiting list. Then came the email that changed everything: A participant declined, and I got the slot.
Belgium became my first-ever trip outside Hungary—my first solo flight, my first time navigating a foreign country alone, and one of my most empowering experiences. That single opportunity opened doors to many other travels and international engagements, allowing me to grow, learn, and connect in meaningful ways. E³UDRES² became my bridge to the world, giving me courage, friendships, networks, and memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.
What does being part of an international network like E³UDRES² mean for your personal and professional growth?
Being part of the E³UDRES² community has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. For the first time, I felt embraced by a truly international family—students, researchers, administrators, and professors from different backgrounds and cultures. E³UDRES² embodies inclusivity and global collaboration, and it supported me as I navigated a new continent, a new education system, and a new life. I have grown academically, professionally, and personally.
My biggest takeaway? Some doors will never open until you knock, and when a door opens for you, open one for someone else.
What message would you give to other women who feel they cannot continue their education because of family or societal expectations? And what is the message you want to give to your children through your journey?
To every woman who feels held back by family responsibilities, societal expectations, or fear: Do not let anything stop you from achieving your full potential.
Your dreams are valid at any age, as once said by Lupita Nyong'o. Where you start does not determine how far you can go. Believe in yourself, take the step, and trust that the universe will align with your courage.
To my children:
Your mama is soaring so that you may one day soar even higher. I want you to see that it is possible to dream, decide, and do. Work hard, stay positive, and believe in yourselves. When you rise, remember to lift someone else—just as others have lifted me and always remember to say thank you.
Kongoi missing (Kalenjin).
Asante sana (Swahili).
Thank you so much.
From a village girl who dared to dream, my journey is living proof that it doesn't matter where you start. What matters is that you keep going. Thank you E³UDRES² .
