The 33-year old started the non-governmental organisation 12 years ago, in a noble attempt to offer hot, nutritious and affordable school meal to primary school children.
The initiative, which started in Kiambu County before moving to Nairobi and Mombasa Counties, aims at ending classroom hunger, and improve school attendance and performance.
It has also, along the way, brought much international praise and commendations to the young philanthropist.
As part of the prestigious award, Njiru has been awarded a Ksh.48 million (USD300,000) unrestricted grant coupled with tailored services aimed at improving her organisation.
These services will include communications, content strategy, branding, social media training and leadership.
According to Joseph Deitch the founder of Elevate Prize Foundation, the services are designed to help her and the other winners amplify their stories, broaden their reach and deepen their impact in making a positive difference in the world.
“This year’s winners embody the essence of our foundation’s commitment to pushing boundaries and broadening the impact landscape. These remarkable individuals represent an expanded scope of social change – a pivotal shift in what is expected to be a pivotal year for the world,” Deitch said.
On February 6, after the winners were made public, Njiru was overwhelmed with joy while thanking the organisation for recognising her efforts to keep children in school by providing affordable meals.
While taking to her X account, she expressed her gratefulness at winning the world, stressing that no child should have to learn on an empty stomach.
“Excited and grateful to be named one of this year’s Elevate Prize winners alongside other incredible leaders doing amazing work in the world. Our commitment at Food4Education to end classroom hunger is why we keep feeding the future. No child should have to learn while hungry,” Njiru wrote.
She also followed up her earlier sentiments by expressing her excitement at being featured on the famous Times Square billboards.
“Never had being on Times Square on my bingo card. Thank you Elevate Prize! Celebrating the work @Food4Education is doing for kids and families across Kenya. #FeedingTheFuture!” she captioned a post accompanied by photos of her beaming face in New York.
In 2022, Njiru won the coveted Icon Award, presented as part of the 2022 World’s 50 Best Restaurants programme. She was also named UN’s ‘Person of the Year’ in October, 2021.
Besides Njiru, other global entrepreneurs named as winners were Zarlasht Halaimzai the founder of Amna, Gayatry Datar the co-founder and CEO of EarthEnable, Sonya Passi founder and CEO of FreeForm, Mpindi Abaas co-founder and CEO of Media Challenge Initiative and Melissa Malzkuhn the director of Motion Light Lab.
