Empowering 37 Orphans Through Education in Kenya

My name is Catherine. I come from a place known as Known Kabati in Kitui, Kenya. I was born in a family of four, two girls and two boys. We were a single parent family with our mother who played both the motherly and fatherly role in our lives. My mother was a teacher from a local school. From the little she earned, she used to help us by ensuring we got our basic needs. She was a hardworking woman and a disciplinarian who brought us up as disciplined children. Life was not easy but we were grateful to live a modest life.

As my siblings were growing older and school fees became expensive, things started changing as my mother struggled more.  At some point, my elder brothers and sister had to help with farming at a very tender age in order to help our mother in paying our endless bills. We lived in a loving family, which was bound by the love of God. 

At the age of 3 years, my mother started ailing from Malaria. She used to take medication but with no positive results. She was getting weaker day in day out. She had to be laid off in the school where she was working because she was too sick to offer any kind of service. She stayed at home where she was been nursed by our relatives.  Later, they gathered some money when the situation became worse and took her to Kitui General Hospital. On diagnosis, it was discovered that she had pneumonia. She had to be admitted in the hospital. The unfortunate happened one morning on a Tuesday when she died. 

When the news reached to us it was the saddest chapter of our lives and we saw it as the end of the world. It was in 2006 and I was 4years of age. Our first born was in form one, second born in class seven and the third born was in class two while me as the last born I was yet to be enrolled into school. We were in great sorrow following the demise of our lovely mother and now we were left as orphans.

Life started getting hard each day.  One of our aunties tried to care for us but she was a person of small means.  That meant that she was unable to sustain us and care for her own family.  She saw us as a burden because we were many.  You could see that she was overwhelmed.  One of our uncles encouraged us to have hope that God could see us through and we would prosper. He took us to school but it was expensive to cater for all our needs so he had to ask for help from well-wishers and friends. The little we got kept us in school. We had to work in the farm to put food in the table at a very young age.  Life was becoming very tough for the whole family and the burden became impossible to carry.  He found it impossible to continue supporting us.

One day my uncle told us that he had heard of a children's home that sponsors orphaned children and he decided to try his luck. He went then came back and told us that some people will visit us. They took so long to come but eventually they came on the month of February 2010. They came to see where we were living and promised to come and pick us soon.

On 4th April 2010, as we had gone farming as usual we returned in the evening and saw a vehicle in our compound. We knew it was the faithful day. We saw a lady and a man who was the driver I presume. They told us to prepare that they were going to go with us. We were overwhelmed with joy. It was my sister who was in class five then, my cousin who was in class eight and myself in class three who were to go. Tears of joy fell off our cheeks. We prepared and took our little rags.

When we arrived we were warmly received by those whom we found there. We were fed well and given rooms where the beds were well made. The next day we were given new clothes and shown around. We were very happy. The schools were to open on the 1st of May. We were enrolled to school with new full school uniform. I was very happy and I thanked God.

I promised myself to work hard in order to rescue myself from the chains of poverty. I finished my primary school and was admitted to Lawson High school which is in Nyumbani Village. I worked hard for the four years and managed to score a grade of C+. I was so happy when I saw my results. 

I got an admission letter to join a public University known as Moi University where I was to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work. I was so happy that my dreams of becoming a successful person were coming true.  I am currently in my third year and I am working hard to get the best results. 

I am very grateful to all the people who sacrifice their hard-earned to fund GlobalGiving.  Please be assured that your funds are really making a difference in the lives of children like myself.  I am now looking at a brighter future ahead.  How I wish my mother would see me now.  I came from a place of helplessness to the confident young person I am today.  I look forward to taking my rightful place in the society, thanks to the support I received.

I also would like to thank Nyumbani Village for stepping in to raise my siblings and me and to provide for all our needs.  We experienced care, love and kindness such that this became our true home.

May God continue to bless the donors abundantly.

Thanks so much.

Regards,  

Catherine.