Julie Weche, a dedicated educator from Kenya, has made a significant impact in the United States through her innovative work.
Weche is the founder and owner of Elimu Tutoring Centre in Baltimore, Maryland. This center not only provides tutoring services but also creates a supportive community for the black population, including the approximately 15,000 Kenyans living in the city.
Her academic journey began at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, where she completed her undergraduate studies. She continued her education at the University of Maryland and Alberto University in Canada, refining her skills further.
After finishing her education, Weche began her teaching career in Kenya before moving to Botswana. There, she served as the director of the University of Botswana Early Childhood Learning Centre.
With a strong passion for working with children and a wealth of experience in education, Weche chose Baltimore as her new base of operations. In June 2016, she extended her efforts by launching Elimu Driving School, which operates under the Elimu Tutoring and Training Center umbrella.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge for Weche’s ventures. In 2020, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s order to close many small businesses, including Elimu Tutoring Center, to preserve revenue, forced Weche to adapt her business model. To survive, she began producing masks and spearheaded a community initiative to mitigate the pandemic’s impact.
The Kenyan community in Baltimore rallied around Weche and her center. Alongside her husband, Tom Mwaura, she launched the Okoa Elimu Programme, a fundraising campaign that raised over Ksh 3.5 million in just two weeks, helping the center recover.
As restrictions eased in June 2021, Elimu Tutoring Center transitioned to offering online programs and resumed full operations. The center also began hosting low-cost events, including weddings and fundraising activities, to support the Kenyan community in Baltimore.
