Empower Orphans in Kenya with a Quality Education

Kwamboka Okari, our founder and executive director, sent me this story about Isaac, a second-grader and top student at our school:

“Isaac is nine years old. He joined our school in 2013, in kindergarten. When we asked his grandmother for Isaac’s parents' death certificates, she informed us that Isaac's mother (her daughter) is still alive, but that she is a single parent and is mentally deranged. When we listened to the story of her daughter’s mental illness, we had no choice but to admit Isaac to our school. Isaac has turned out to be a very bright and articulate student who leads his class of 23 students.

About two months ago, we got wind that Isaac’s grandmother wanted to sell him. The story we got is that his grandmother, who is an alcoholic, was paid 10,000 Kenya shillings (~$100) for Isaac. This is a lot of money by the local standards. So one month ago, four men together with Isaac’s grandmother came to our school asking for permission to withdraw Isaac, saying they wanted to take him to a different school. However, since we had known beforehand their sinister motive, we advised them to wait until the end of the term [in early August].

When school closed I brought Isaac to my house [instead of sending him to stay with his grandmother, as he usually does during breaks]. I have since reported the matter to the children’s office in Kisii town, who have summoned the grandmother to their office. If she fails to report, they will report the matter to the police.

I would like to add that our [local tribal] Kisii customs do not entitle women to inherit land. Even though the recently enacted Kenyan constitution entitles girls and women to family inheritance, it is not being practiced. As a result, a baby boy born to a single mother in any homestead is considered a liability because there’s no land apportioned to him because ‘he does not belong.’ This makes selling a child like Isaac even more attractive.

So Isaac will remain in my house [until school resumes, along with several other children who stay with me during breaks because they have nowhere safe to go], and chances are he will never go to live with his grandmother again. Being she is alcoholic, we cannot predict what she is capable of doing.”

When I asked Kwamboka if Isaac knew his grandmother had tried to sell him, she wrote back:

“Yes, Isaac is aware that his grandmother wanted to sell him. When I asked him why she would want to sell him, he simply said ‘it's because she drinks too much.’ No matter how cramped up we are in my house, I could never let something like that happen to anyone, let alone our student. And a bright student at that! Since the beginning of the year, his scores [on national exams] have ranged from 465-480 out of 500. And the grandmother wants to sell a future scientist like this one for $100!! Can you imagine???!!!”

Isaac is not our only student whose relatives have arranged to sell them for less than I've spent on single concert tickets. It's a humbling reminder of the contextual value of money. And it makes me proud to be involved with an organization whose leaders make use of a very small budget (~$60,000/year) to keep over 200 orphans and vulnerable children in school. Isaac's test scores are truly outstanding for any child, particularly one from a rural school like ours, and I look forward to seeing where life takes him. 

Thank you for your continuing support. It keeps our school running and gives kids like Isaac the freedom to learn. 

~Jessica, MOCF board