Fund 46 orphaned Kenyan children to stay in school

This report comes from Damaris Chepkemboi Ngelelei at Brighter Communities Worldwide, Kenya. She shares stories from a mother and a daugher impacted by this project. This report coincldes with July Bonus Day - your donation will go further today with matching funds through GlobalGiving.

A daughter's story

For Mercy, a Grade 6 learner, hope seemed to disappear a few years ago. Following the tragic loss of her father, the family's sole breadwinner, she and her four siblings could no longer afford school fees and other basic learning necessities. Like many children facing sudden financial hardship, she was repeatedly sent home from school.

"I always felt sad whenever I had to leave school because of school fees," she says.

Today, science is her favorite subject, and she participates in netball and volleyball, playing as a defender and a shooter. One day, she dreams of becoming a teacher because she admires the commitment and kindness of the teachers who inspire her every day.

She draws inspiration from one of her elder brothers, who excelled in his Grade 9 examinations and earned a place at a good Junior Secondary School under the STEM pathway. His success reminds her that with determination and the opportunity to stay in school, she too can achieve her dreams.

Her journey is only possible because compassionate people choose to stand with children like her during one of the most difficult seasons of their lives.

With heartfelt gratitude, she thanks every donor whose generosity has kept her in school and given her hope again.

Yet her story is not unique. It is one of many. Every bursary awarded keeps a child in school, restores hope to a grieving family, and opens doors to a future that might otherwise remain out of reach. Every contribution to the bursary programme helps keep a child in the classroom, protects their future, and reminds them that they are not alone.

A Mother's Story

"When I lost my husband in the tragic traffic accident, my world changed in an instant. My husband and I used to sell vegetables together at the local business centre. On the day of the accident, I was there. I witnessed the tragedy that took his life, along with the lives of people I knew and worked with every day. The pain and trauma were overwhelming.

After the accident, I could not bring myself to return to that place. The memories were too painful. I moved my small vegetable business closer to our home and began selling within our residential area instead. Business is not as good as it used to be, but it helps me provide food and shelter for my children.

One of my greatest worries was how I would keep my children in school. There were days when they were sent home because I could not afford school fees or other school requirements. As a mother, there is no greater pain than watching your children miss out on education because of circumstances beyond your control.

When I was told that my children were going to benefit from the bursary programme, I felt as though a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. The bursary has brought stability to our lives. My children now go to school with confidence, knowing they will not be sent home because of unpaid fees. I have also seen a remarkable improvement in their academic performance because they are able to attend classes consistently and concentrate on their studies.

I am especially grateful that my son was able to join a school that can nurture his interest through the STEM pathway. On my own, I would never have been able to support him in pursuing that opportunity. Seeing him continue with his education gives me hope that my children can still have bright futures despite everything our family has been through.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank every person who has contributed to this bursary programme. As a mother, there is no greater gift than seeing your children return home from school smiling, learning. Thank you for making that possible."

 To protect the children’s privacy, their identities will remain anonymous.  Names have been changed and photographs in use are from our schools education programmes in Kenya.