This time, I had the opportunity to interview Stephen Ogweno, who is leading health promotion activities based in Kenya.
(If you have not read the original article “Take Actions!,” you can catch up here! [LINK])
He decided to start an organization to make information on NCDs readily available to all.
When he first wrote his “Dream Story,” his work was still rooted in local community activities. But now, he is running large-scale projects in more than ten countries and making an impact on people all over the world.
Hello! I’m Yuna, and I’ll be your interviewer today. Thank you so much for reconnecting with the World Road community! I’m really happy to see you again.
Nice to meet you, I’m Stephen Ogweno from Nairobi, Kenya. Currently, I’m exploring PhD opportunities while continuing my work in health promotion. I love Japanese anime and sushi—especially Hunter x Hunter! 🍣
Looking Back
When you first wrote your “Dream Story,” what was your situation like?
That was around 2019–2020. At the time, Stowelink Foundation was still a small community-based organization. We hadn’t yet expanded nationally or internationally. I wrote my Dream Story after participating in a summit in London, where a friend encouraged me: “Your story should be in this book.” That was the trigger.
So it all started with your personal connections!
Exactly, and from there the activities quickly grew.
Current Situation
From your website and public updates, I can see how much your work has expanded!
Exactly. In 2020, we launched the “NCD365” project with 78 partners across 10 countries. Over three years, we reached more than 6 million people. The project was recognized by the World Health Organization and the UN Youth Office. We also succeeded in increasing the local government’s budget for chronic disease prevention from 3% to 11%.
That’s incredible! And you’re also working on new challenges, right
Yes! In 2022, we launched the Lifesten Health app, leveraging technology for health promotion.
Reasons for Growth
How were you able to grow so quickly in such a short time?
There are four reasons:
1) Starting without waiting for funding – We didn’t wait for outside support. We began with what we had, and resources followed.
2) Prioritizing impact – We always put social impact above profit, asking, “How much difference can we make in the community?”
3) Networks and partnerships – Building relationships with organizations locally and globally gave us strength to expand into new countries.
4) Innovation – We tried new approaches: games, mobile apps, online courses, books, and research.
I see, having that clear “compass” within yourself and your team really helped accelerate growth!
Challenges and Solutions
It sounds very smooth, but what major challenges did you face?
Three main ones:
① Lack of funding
② Getting people to adopt our products
③ Changes in the global environment
For funding, we used a skill exchange model. For example, a developer built our app, and in return, we supported his marketing.
Everyone benefits, even without money.
That’s such a creative solution! And yes, getting people to actually use new products is always a challenge.
For getting people to be engaged, We tackled this by adding features like competitions within the app, reward systems where points could be exchanged for things like spa treatments or massages, and community partnerships with local clubs.
These make the app something people want to use.
Policy and regulatory changes sometimes restrict our work. To address this, we’ve built strong networks and partnerships worldwide, diversifying our funding and activity bases.
Personal Impact
How has this work influenced your personal relationships and daily life?
That’s a great question. Some old friendships have grown distant, since our values no longer align and time is limited. But I’ve gained high-quality connections with people who share my vision. My social circle is smaller, but deeper.
So it shifted from “quantity” to “quality.”
Exactly. I’ve become more focused on what truly matters.
Future Vision
What kind of future do you envision in the next 5–10 years?
First, better health policies.
I want governments to allocate more budget and attention to chronic and lifestyle diseases.
That’s a crucial step. If systemic support grows, your impact can multiply.
Second, leveraging technology.
I want to create affordable and accessible tools that anyone can use to improve their health and wellness.
So exciting! Tech has the power to really change people’s daily behaviors.
And third, educated communities.
People need to understand their own health and be empowered to act.
I love that. It’s about giving people agency over their own lives.
Ultimately, I want to see healthier people making informed decisions about their well-being.
Motivation and Message
I really admire how you keep moving toward your dreams. What drives you?
Three things.
First is “legacy”—I want to leave behind a positive mark on society.
Second is “impact”—seeing people regain health, lose weight, or overcome mental struggles energizes me.
And third is “potential”—humans have limitless potential, and I want to explore how far I can go and how much impact I can make.
That’s so inspiring!
It’s not just about numbers, but the human stories of change that fuel your energy.
Finally, what message would you like to give to our readers?
If you don’t start, nothing will ever happen.
Taking risks is the only way to discover your potential.
A seed that refuses to go into the soil will never grow into a tree.
Action is the doorway to possibility.
And excellence, it’s not about one big act—it’s about habits.
Consistency in small, daily actions is what creates excellence.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I’ve learned that even big dreams can begin with small steps. This has been such a meaningful conversation for me, too.
His journey taught me that action is what transforms potential into reality, and that courage to take the first step is the beginning of changing the world.
Thank you so much, Stephen!