Empowering 37 Orphans Through Education in Kenya

LIFE STORY OF PHILIP

My name is Philip, Am currently 21 years old. I was born and raised in a small village in Mwingi, Kitui County. Our family was a happy place where every kid wished to be raised. Our parents trained us on how to do house chores and how we could relate well with people, since my parents were not financially stable, we got our basic needs from vending our farm products. Death is just a mystery that no one can wish to associate with, it was with profound sadness to lose both our parents.

Our family consisted of 6 members. My father worked as a security guard in an organization at Mombasa up to the time of his death in 2003, He had been diagnosed with cancer a few years earlier but the illness did not prevent him from doing his day-to-day life. After our dad passed on, our mom was unemployed but she worked very hard doing any casual jobs she could find to support us till her demise in 2010. After the passing of our parents, we were shaken and the only guardian that was left to look after us was our grandmother.

Our grandmother was a traditional doctor, the little money she earned is what she used to provide for us. It never took long before our uncle Jacob, brother to my dad felt that it was his obligation to take care of us despite being a simple man who was just a carpenter and a part-time mason. We almost dropped out of school since we lacked enough school fees, but our uncle could struggle as much as he could to ensure we attended school. He also took care of our other needs back at home. Though we attended a local public school in our area, I endeavored to work hard since I believed that education was the key to success. Due to the challenges, we encountered at home during our studies, I felt like giving up in life as many did in our area. The opportunity to be admitted to Nyumbani village in 2012 changed our story. It has been an inspirational story that I like sharing with friends. It so happened that my uncle heard about Nyumbani village in Kitui offering opportunities for education to orphans. He directly approached the program manager at the time, he requested him if we could get an opportunity to be part of the program. Staff from the village visited our rural home, we had nice moments with them and they promised to arrange how we will be taken to the village. Soon thereafter, as we closed the schools for the December holiday, they came for us. I was in class 5.

once we were admitted to Nyumbani Village, I joined other students at Hotcourses Primary School in early January 2013. It was a great experience attending school at Hotcourses. We were cared for by our own grandmother with other children from different backgrounds, she taught us how to stay well in peace and share anything that was provided equally by the village in our houses. Being content with everything the village had done, enabled me to work hard in my studies, I later finished my primary level and passed my exams. In early January 2016, I joined form one at Lawson High School, I never ceased to work hard for I had a great vision to be a better person in the future. It was a nice place with high levels of discipline and good teachers who taught us well and heartened us to work hard. I completed secondary level in 2019 and got a good grade; which secured me a chance at the University of Nairobi to pursue a Bachelor of Information Science.

Life has been smooth at the university, am currently in my second year. My aim is to specialize in the field of technology and digital humanities. Thanks to the Nyumbani beneficiaries and sponsors who work to bring up children who are less fortunate in society. Nyumbani village has been a good place where every child is offered the best education and skills to empower them.

I am Rhoda, I was born in the year 1999 in Kako which is a small village in Makueni County.  I am the first born in a family of six.   I was raised in a humble and happy family at the village.   My parents were not rich but did their best to ensure that all our basic needs and education are catered for.

When I was six years old, I joined a neighboring public school called Kako Primary school. Life was not that easy but with my parents’ support and hard work they were able to keep us all in school. In school I made friends easily and I was a good pupil.   Initially I was an average student but I worked tirelessly to please my parents and also fulfil my dreams of becoming a journalist.   I improved gradually and got better as years went by and at some point, I was awarded as the most improved student in the school.

The first term in my class seven I came home to a heated disagreement between my parents.  A few days later my parents separated and my mother and the rest of my siblings had to seek refuge at my grandmother’s place. By that time my mother was expectant, life became hard and we would attend school occasionally since we also had to work to get some food for the rest of the family. My mother became depressed due to the marriage breakup and the financial constrains that existed.  She stopped talking to us all she wanted to do was sleep and cry all day. There were days when we didn’t even have a meal on the table.

During the second term of my class 7 in the year 2015. My mother was taken to hospital to deliver unfortunately she passed away during the process. As if all we were going through was not enough we had to face this tragic event. I knew I had reached the end of my education being the first born I had to take up the duty of providing by looking for casual jobs. My grandmother was too old to work so I became the sole breadwinner.  This was a very difficult task since I was also a child myself yet I needed to grow up in flash and become a provider.  Dropping out of school was very painful and I was filled with shame whenever I met my classmates going or coming from school.

Since the community around us knew about our plight they informed the area Chief who starting looking for someone or an organization that could help us.  He forwarded our names to Nyumbani Village and requested that we get admission.  I didn’t know about Nyumbani Village but I later came to learn that they took care of orphaned children and elderly grandparents.   After several months of suffering, a social worker from Nyumbani Village visited.  She took our information and promised to return at a later date.  In a months’ time the same social worker came to pick us and we were rescued from our afflictions, by that time my two young siblings were already suffering from malnutrition. When we arrived at Nyumbani Village we were placed in a house under the care of a grandmother. We were put under a proper diet plan, food was in plenty, the environment was peaceful. We had found a new family, new friends and found a home away from home.

I was enrolled at Hotcourses Primary School and my hope was rekindled.   I completed my primary education and proceeded to Lawson High School where I did my final exams in the year 2019.   At Nyumbani Village I have learnt and grown to be a better person.  After performing well in my final high school exam, I was admitted at Chuka University under Nyumbani Village sponsorship. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that I was reminded about how privileged I was when I saw other students struggling to stay in school after their parents lost their means of income.  I could not believe that I had an advantage over other children who had parents.  The institution provided computers and wifi so that we could do online learning after all learning institutions were closed.  This made it possible for us to continue with online lessons.  We have recently resumed physical classes.

I can now state confidently that I will complete my studies and be the best journalist that I can be.  This was once a distant dream especially when things started falling part in my life starting with my father’s departure and then my mother’s death.  It is true that I did suffer so much initially but that did not stop me from achieving my dream of getting a good education.  I know that this would not have been possible without the support of GlobalGiving who gave funds to Nyumbani Village so that children from poor background like me would get another chance. 

I would like to pass my deepest gratitude to all the benefactors who send part of their hard-earned cash to GlobalGiving so that dead hopes and dreams can be resurrected.

I now look forward to be a productive member of society and hope to make a difference in this world.  I know I am whom I am because someone sacrificed so that I could get a good life.  May God bless and reward all those who open their wallets and give something so that orphans can have hope of a better tomorrow.

I will continue to work hard in school, inspire the community I came from and to empower the girl child to make better choices in order for them to have a bright future. Thank you all.