Trying to make a long story short…..
Last year C4KK had two young ladies (19 years old) who were failing in secondary. One literally received D, D- for six terms while the other refused to return to the school she was attending (we never did get to the bottom of why she wouldn’t return but it may have been the fact she too received D’s for two terms and the school she was attending stated they will kick a student out after three terms of below C-…she was in the middle of her third term). We began working with them on researching vocational schools they might be interested in. This way they would receive training in a field they enjoyed instead of receiving a certificate (diploma for you US folks) with either a D- or nil, which would not help them get a job or take care of themselves.
We narrowed it down to one school and they both decided on which course of study they would take. Then Chuck and I left for the US and all heck broke loose! Just a week or so before they were to begin their studies we got an email in the US saying the girls refused to attend the vocational school and demanded to return to secondary. It was heartbreaking these girls were being so stubborn, but since they were both “of age” and could make their own decisions, they both decided to return to their homes (one to her mother and the other to her sister) rather than accept C4KK’s help in getting them into vocational school.
Over the course of the past few months we began hearing from one, telling us how difficult life was for her. Finally last week she wrote and said she was ready to attend vocational school if C4KK was still willing to work with her.
We were very happy to hear her change in attitude and humble request for assistance and gladly told her we would again help her move forward. She is here now and has gone to visit the vocational school to get specifics…she will travel there on Monday to enroll and find her hostel. She’ll gather her belongings and return to school on Tuesday for orientation and begin classes on Thursday!
I’m so happy she has made this decision but it was frustrating to see her struggle. She mentioned to our social worker while traveling to the school “Peter, life is so hard. If C4KK told me they would assist me if I put my head in the sand for a month, I would.” He told us later that many just can’t seem to hear when they are told but have to see and experience it themselves. Whatever the case, I’m just happy she is now moving forward with her education and her life.
She’ll be 20 this November and by that time she should have her certificate from the vocational school AND they place students in various jobs! Thanking God for this young lady and praying for her as she begins this new chapter in her life.