Mary is a girl we started sponsoring way back in 2008 when she was in primary school. She graduated Class 8 with a score which allowed her to attend a secondary school and we continued sponsoring her throughout high school. She had many obstacles at home, her uncles (her father’s brothers) tried to kick Mary and her mom out of their home after the death of her father, her mother did odd jobs to get a little food for the family and Mary was stressed while away at school (fearing her home would be gone when she left for school break). But Mary continued focusing on her education and never went below a C- during her entire secondary schooling…that is saying a lot because during this same time we had several students get three consecutive terms of D+ or below and had to be dropped from the sponsorship program.
Mary graduated last year from Form 4 and decided to take a computer class, from which she received a certificate of completion. She is also working at an mPesa kiosk. She told me she continues to practice what she learned in class (at an internet cafe) and is contemplating taking further computer courses.
When I talked with Mary recently she sounded happy! It doesn’t matter to me if these kids go on to traditional college or vocational school or take a course at a time, what I loved hearing was Mary’s confident attitude. She was working, taking care of herself and helping her mom and I couldn’t be prouder of her!