Building leaders using education & local projects

September 10, 2016

Dear Friends, 

Thank you so much for supporting the PATHWAYS scholars. We are happy to report to you on the progress of our fourth year scholar Brian who is in medical school at the University of Nairobi and our third year scholar Isaac who is majoring in education also at the University of Nairobi (see below).  In addition, we are very proud of one of our very first scholars, Levis, who was chosen as a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow which is a competitive merit based fellowship for young African leaders.  He spent more than 6 weeks this summer in the US being trained in on various aspects of leadership. Levis says, “Washington DC was an amazing experience for me and sharing the same room with President Obama was quite something.” 

Brian 

Well, it has been one of the most tasking moments in Medical School ever. We have been working round the clock to meet the ward requirements as well as fill our log books. Many are the times we have spent close to 10 hours in the ward. We have had to forego the weekend luxury because we were on-call on all the weekends and ended up spending the time in the A&E. Well this the reason I dislike any medical specialty and have preference to Surgery.

On the other hand, I have witnessed miracles happening in the medical wards. I have seen patients who came in at the verge of death, totally unconscious with severe infection. After a few days of treatment, they are well and ready to go home. Among many frustrations this is what has kept us motivated. HIV is a huge burden here, close to 40% of admissions are infected with the virus. Which means we still have a long way to go as a country. However in our efforts such as peer counseling and community awareness, we believe we will this war against HIV.

I am grateful for your support.

Isaac

My teaching practice  that took  three months,was one of its kind having the best experience in my lifetime and career. This was a turning point in life because I have been made to realize where I belong in the society. I had the best time with my students, teachers and school at large who gave a shoulder to lean on whenever i needed one. At the end of the three months, i have been recommended the best teacher who was available whenever I was needed. Upon finishing of the teaching practice, we were called upon by the university to have exams that we had missed due to post election chaos we experienced. Our community project is still well taken care of and we have incorporated another orphan child as a beneficiary. He is in standard two now. Produce from our garden continues to be sold at market to benefit our group members. I would to sincerely thank Global Giving and Pathways as a family for the far they have taken me. I really can't tell where I could be without you.  

We are extremmly grateful for your continued support in this program to develop future leaders through education and leading community development projects.

Sincerely,

Angie Gust