One suitcase. One dream

Jennifer's Journey from Kenya to Wales
- In her own words

Leaving her young son behind was the hardest decision Jennifer Mmbone ever made. But by embracing opportunity, finding support and discovering a new purpose with Ategi, she has built a future that is transforming not only her own life, but the lives of the people she supports every day.

A Leap of Faith

My name is Jennifer Mmbone Lagosa. I am 38 years old and proudly come from Kenya, a country known for its rich cultural diversity, breathtaking wildlife and warm, welcoming people.

For many people, home is where life feels comfortable and familiar. For me, it was also where I learned that dreams only become reality when you are prepared to take a chance.

In January 2024, I made the biggest decision of my life.

I booked a one-way flight to the United Kingdom.

I arrived with just one 23kg suitcase, but it carried far more than clothes and belongings. It held my hopes, my ambitions and a belief that life could become something bigger if I was willing to step beyond everything I knew.

Like anyone facing the unknown, I was frightened. But my greatest fear wasn't moving to another country—it was leaving behind my young son.

As a mother, saying goodbye to him was heartbreaking. There were nights when I cried myself to sleep, wondering whether I had made the right decision. Yet every morning I reminded myself why I had started this journey. I wasn't leaving him because I wanted to. I was leaving so that one day I could build a better future for both of us.

Whenever doubt crept in, I asked myself one simple question:

"Why not me?"

That became the mindset that carried me forward.

Finding My Feet

When I arrived in the UK to begin studying Business and Management at the University of South Wales, everything felt unfamiliar. It was a new country, a new culture and a completely different way of life.

Even the little things were an adventure.

Having never experienced winter before, I couldn't believe how cold it was. I often joked that even when the sun was shining, it still felt as though someone had left me standing inside a refrigerator.

Learning to navigate public transport, adapting to a different education system and building a new life from scratch reminded me every day that I was starting over.

Then reality truly arrived.

Rent.

Bills.

Food.

As an international student, I quickly realised that every opportunity would have to be earned. I began applying for work and was fortunate enough to secure an interview with Ategi.

A Place Where I Belonged

I still remember walking through the door for the first time.

Before anyone said very much, I felt something that every new employee hopes for—I felt welcome.

The kindness, warmth and genuine interest shown by everyone I met immediately made me feel that this was somewhere I could belong.

When I was offered a role as a Support Worker, another chapter of my journey began.

Balancing university, work and motherhood from thousands of miles away was one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced.

There were moments when I questioned whether I had asked too much of myself. But growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones. Every difficult day reminded me that I was building something bigger than the challenges I faced in the moment.

Working at Ategi soon taught me something I hadn't expected.

Support isn't only something we give.

It is also something we receive.

Although I worked independently for much of the time, I never felt alone. My line manager regularly checked in to see how I was coping, offering encouragement, guidance and reassurance whenever I needed it.

When I supported people whose behaviour could sometimes be challenging, I wasn't left to struggle on my own. Instead, I was coached patiently through practical de-escalation techniques and encouraged to understand the person behind the behaviour.

That changed everything.

Every challenge became another opportunity to learn.

Every day I grew more confident—not only as a Support Worker, but as a person.

My colleagues became another source of strength. They answered countless questions, shared their experience and were always just a phone call away.

Living thousands of miles from my family, they became something more than colleagues.

They became my support network.

Looking back, I realise I had prayed for exactly this: a workplace where people genuinely cared about one another and where I could make a positive difference in people's lives.

Those prayers were answered.

The Power of Support

Supporting people to live independently has taught me lessons that extend far beyond my job.

When you focus on people's abilities rather than their disabilities, everything changes.

Every smile matters.

Every achievement matters.

Every conversation matters.

Watching someone grow in confidence, try something new or enjoy greater independence is a privilege. Those moments continually remind me why I chose this profession.

One memory will always stay with me.

A few months after joining Ategi, I won an Amazon voucher through work. The first thing I bought was a gift for my son.

When my annual leave was approved, I travelled home to Kenya and gave it to him in person.

To anyone else it was simply a toy.

To us, it represented something much greater.

It symbolised sacrifice, love and the first tangible reward from the new life I was building.

Today, he still treasures that gift.

So do I.

Growing in Confidence

As my confidence grew, I began setting myself new challenges outside work as well.

Driving in the UK initially terrified me, especially the large roundabouts. For a long time I doubted whether I would ever feel comfortable behind the wheel.

Instead of allowing fear to define me, I challenged myself to overcome it.

I passed my Theory Test at the first attempt.

Then I passed my practical driving test first time too.

It may seem like a small achievement to some people, but to me it represented another barrier overcome and another step towards independence.

At the same time, I remained determined to succeed at university.

Returning to education in my mid-thirties, as a single mother studying in another country while living apart from my son, was never going to be easy.

There were long nights of studying and early mornings preparing for assignments. Giving up was never an option because every piece of work represented another step towards the future I wanted to build.

When I graduated from the University of South Wales with First Class Honours in Business and Management, the degree represented far more than academic success.

It represented resilience.

It represented opportunity.

It proved to me that no dream has an expiry date.

Changing Lives Together

Looking back now, I hardly recognise the woman who stepped off the plane carrying one suitcase and countless fears.

I have become stronger, more confident and more compassionate than I ever imagined possible.

The UK has given me opportunities I never thought possible, while Ategi has shown me what genuine support looks like in practice.

Perhaps the greatest lesson of all is that transformation is never one-sided.

Every day I support people to live more independently, discover new opportunities and achieve goals that matter to them.

But they have transformed me too.

They have taught me patience.

Perspective.

Compassion.

And they have reminded me that everyone has strengths worth celebrating.

That is the real power of support.

It changes lives in every direction.

One particularly special memory was accompanying someone I support on a holiday to Porthcawl in July 2026. Watching them embrace new experiences and grow in confidence reminded me exactly why person-centred support matters. Moments like these reinforce that independence is built not through doing things for people, but by believing in what they can achieve.

Every Sacrifice Led Somewhere

If my story has taught me anything, it is that courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to keep moving forward despite it.

One day my story will come to an end, as every story does.

When that day comes, I hope people won't remember the countries I travelled to or the qualifications I earned.

I hope they remember that I made a difference.

That I helped people live with dignity, confidence and independence.

That I brought compassion into the lives of others.

And that I showed my son that dreams really can come true when they are matched with resilience, determination and hard work.

I arrived in Wales carrying one suitcase full of dreams.

Today, I carry something far more valuable.

The knowledge that every sacrifice led to something beautiful—not only for me, but for the people whose lives I have been privileged to share.