Kenya Help: Educating and training women, children and youth in Kenya

Provide education and training for women, children and youth in Kenya through resources and support.

School panorama
  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Supporters
    • Supporter Profiles
    • Related Causes
      • 4 of the Lost Boys of Sudan
      • Mji Wa Neema Children’s Home
      • St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish, social work fund
  • Our Work
    • High School Scholarships
    • Educating Children of Mji Wa Neema
    • Building St. Francis Xavier Girls’ High School
  • The Difference We Are Making
  • How to Help
    • Help Us
    • Donate
    • Note Cards
  • Stories
    • Some Favorite Stories from our Blog
    • Margo McAuliffe at TEDxSanJoseCA
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Blog / #9 More Students on Scholarship—Their Stories

#9 More Students on Scholarship—Their Stories

July 14, 2011 by Margaret McAuliffe Leave a Comment

#9 More Students on Scholarship—Their Stories

Jecinta Ndinda: I wrote about Jecinta last year and enough people wrote to say they wanted to help her that she is now set for her 4 years at SFG. I talked to her and took her photo today.  She loves SFG and is doing well.  She mentioned she loved the fact that there is no discrimination.  I wasn’t sure whether she was talking about financial status, tribe, class standing or darkness of skin—all factors that can determine ones status in this society.  I thought it was a strong statement about the culture here.  Here’s her story.  Her mother has failing kidneys and cannot work.  Neighbors have provided food and even paid Jecinta’s school fees for “free” elementary school, but could not manage the much higher secondary fees.  She was sent to live with her aunt, who is disabled and tries to support herself and her daughter (now in high school), but she, too, could not afford secondary fees for Jecinta as well.  Eventually her aunt took her to Cardinal Maurice Otunga Training School (CMOTS), where girls learn cooking, sewing, computer skills and knitting.  CMOTS is run by my good friends Sr Judy and Sr Christine.  They noted that Jecinta had completed elementary school and had passed the national exam with 304/500.  Our cutoff for SFG is a “soft” 300.  When I visited the sisters are CMOTS last summer they told me how bright Jecinta is and how much she wanted to continue her formal education.  She’s a very happy, hard working student, very sweet.  She sends her gratitude to all those who saw her story and chose to help.

Ann Muthoni is a very shy form 1 student, uncomfortable telling me her story, yet wanting to do it.  She is the oldest of 12 children!!!  Her parents are what is known as “casual workers”, finding odd jobs on farms.  The family lives in a small home about 3 km from SFG.  She walks that distance at break time because she doesn’t have the ksh 20 (~$.23) to ride on a matatu.  This is what Ann told me.  Jecinta (p) has filled out the story.  The parents are incapable of doing anything except produce children.  Mother is currently expecting #13.  The grandmother feeds the family by going door-to-door begging for food.  Jecinta (sw) somehow found out about this family.  She told me it was the worst case of poverty she had ever encountered..

Ann who has been doing the cooking for the whole family, living in a 1-room house with 14 people, all of whom sleep on the dirt floor.  Despite these most desperate, deprived circumstances, she earned 304 on the KCPE.  Jecinta (sw) urged the family to bring Ann to SFG and to apply for a scholarship.  Her life has been so limited that she has a hard time understanding the most basic things, like sleeping in a bed, taking a shower, getting to class on time.  She had never seen a door handle so didn’t know how to open the classroom door!  Yet she earned B her first term here.  Jecinta (p) says her handwriting is beautiful, she takes perfect notes in class, her math exercise book is very well organized and she is always attentive in class.  She is adjusting well to being at SFG, now sleeps in the bed, showers and gets to class on time.

As I listened to Jecinta (p) tell me about Ann I thought she must be extraordinarily bright to have come from that background, yet do so well academically.  She wants to be a doctor.  It will be fun to watch her flower.

Elizabeth Nyarach is from a small village in southern Sudan.  When the violence hit that region her father and 2 older brothers were killed.  Along with her mother and 4 sisters, she fled to the Kakuma refugee camp in western Kenya, where she completed elementary school, earning 267 on the national exam.  She was brought to our attention by Gabriel Nyok in the US, also a Sudanese refugee.  He is entering San Jose State, having completed his AA in community college, as well as working at Home Depot.  Through Gabriel, a sponsor was found for Elizabeth, but she could not get here until May (school began in January).  She’s working very hard to catch up.  Jecinta (p) says she even forgets to go out at tea time or lunch time, just stays in the classroom and works.  She was very comfortable talking to me, has excellent English good social skills (like eye contact).  She is 19 and hopes to become a doctor.  Her family has now been repatriated to Sudan.

Selina. Kathambi lives at Mji Wa Neema and is in form 2 at SFG.  Just before Judy left Selina  wrote this letter.  I’ve included it with permission of both Judy and Selina.

To Judy,  

How are you Judy?  I hope you are fine.  I am just doing well here in school and I hope that you are also doing fine.  I am missing you very much and I hope that you are missing me too.

       The reason of writing this letter is to inform you about my life history.  My mom had died in the year 2008 when I was in class seven.  After the death of my mother, my father left us for unknown place.  And we were left without parents.  

       I have two older brothers and two younger sisters.  The one who is following me:  she did her last primary exam last year 2010, but because there was no one to proceed her with secondary education, she left home and went to look for an employment as a househelper.  The lastborn is now in class eight.  

       However, life without parents was very difficult to survive in.  This is because of many obstacles we went through such as to attend the school without breakfast and even without lunch.  In the year 2009 April when I was in class eight and I had already register for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) I could not tolerate this anymore.  I decided to left my home and I went to look for an employment as a househelper.  I was taken by one woman who took me to her daughter’s place in Naivasha.  There, there was a good Samaritan who asked me why I was not in school.  I told her my whole story and she promised me that she would try to look for a place where I could continue with my study.  And this is the one who brought me in children’s home “Mji Wa Neema.”  

       I take this opportunity to thank you Judy very much because I can remember that when I was brought there, “Mji Wa Neema” you were the one who welcomed me, took me to the town and buy for me all that I required as a student such as school Bata shoes,  bag and extra.  My prayers are always in you.  May almighty God bless and give long last life as you continue serving Him through helping the needy like me and many others.  May God bless your family and welcome you in His eternal kingdom after life on this earth.  

       I would like to request you that I am doing well here in school so that I can achieve my education goal so that even me I will be helping the needy.  If you want to know more you just inform me.  I wish you a wonderful blessed life.  

Selina Kathambi

Filed Under: Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Non-profit

Kenya Help is a non-profit foundation with 501(c)(3) status with IRS. EIN 35-2314350

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Donate

Kenya Help has no paid positions. Operating costs were approximately 3.3% of our 2013 budget. Learn how you can help us out.

Read More »

Related pages

Like Us On Facebook

Archives

  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • December 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • July 2010
  • June 2010

Contact

PO Box 516
Menlo Park, CA 94026
(650) 322-0821
info@kenyahelp.us

Newsletter

Signup for our newsletter!

Our Mission

Our vision is an educated society. Our mission is to educate and train Kenyan women, children and youth, by providing resources and support.  A primary focus is scholarships for students at the secondary and post-secondary levels who need financial support. Many scholarship students attend St. Francis Xavier Secondary School for Girls in Naivasha, Kenya, the school built with Kenya Help funds. Read More »

Recent Posts

  • #23 – Wrapping It Up
  • #22 – Margo, Chief Chef
  • #21 – Mji Wa Neema Reunion
  • ETW Reunion
  • #19 – Day 2 of Math Camp

Copyright © 2021 Kenya Help | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Log in