Empowering 37 Orphans Through Education in Kenya

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.