Meet Helen Meria, a Kenyan Woman Making a Fortune by Helping Kenyans Settle in Australia

Settling is one of the main challenges that faces those moving to new countries especially when you have no friends or relatives to help you do so in the new environment.

It is for this reason that Kenyan-born Helen Meria decided to start helping Kenyans, especially students moving to Australia to settle down.

It first started with family and friends, then referrals from those she had guided to adapt to Australian system after migrating from Kenya to Aussie in 2001. She then decided to transform it to full-time job charging fees on those seeking to study and settle in Australia.

Her main clients were Kenyan students going to study in Australia but today, she has expanded her services to cover immigrants from other countries across the world.

“After some time, I realized this was a growing need. Parents who tried to do it for their children found the application process lengthy and complicated,” Meria tells Capital FM.

In 2009, she established Options Education Agency, a firm that offers quality international education advisory services for Kenyan students but has since expanded the services to students from Australia, Nigeria, Uganda, and the Philippines.

“Options Education Agency carefully selects partner education institutions and as a result, we represent over 50 Australian international Education institutions in all Australia states,” says Meria.

“High-quality education and exposure has the potential to transform not just an individual but grow and impact the family and community. No one should be denied this opportunity,” adds Meria who says that she is proud of the many success stories from her students.

She owes her success to her supportive husband and three sons.

“It’s not easy being a woman, a mother, an immigrant, an African Australian and an entrepreneur but the transformed lives and the impact of the students that have passed through Options makes it worthwhile,” Meria tells Capital FM.

One can visit Options Education Agency website www.optionseducation.com to learn more about her work.