Watoto Wasome

At the beginning of the academic year, we posed a question on our social media pages: Are there any Grade 10 students who have been left at home while their peers have already reported to school? Among the responses was a comment about Dominic, a young boy who had not been able to report to school despite having performed impressively in his national examination. His story immediately caught our attention, and two days later, we set out for his home to conduct a due diligence visit and understand how we could support him. Dominic’s home is located deep in the countryside, far from the main road. After a long journey, we arrived in the evening to a noticeably cold environment. As we tried to find our way to the homestead, a young man came towards us with a smile. It was Dominic’s elder brother who had come to guide us the rest of the way.

He warmly welcomed us and shared that he had not been sure anyone would actually make the journey to their home to help his younger brother. Seeing us there appeared to renew his hope that Dominic might finally get the opportunity to return to school. When we arrived at the compound, we were welcomed by Dominic’s mother. She was accompanied by a young man carrying a red basin filled with fresh vegetables. We were ushered into their home, which was still under construction but nevertheless felt warm and welcoming. Dominic sat across from us as we began our conversation, and one thing immediately stood out: his smile. As Dominic told us about himself and his family, we began to understand the circumstances behind that smile. He is the youngest of five siblings and has grown up in a family that has faced years of financial hardship. His two elder sisters were unable to complete their education and left school in Class Eight because their parents could no longer afford the costs. One is now married with children of her own and struggles to provide for them, while the other was married at a young age and later became widowed, leaving her to care for three children. His fourth-born sibling completed high school but was unable to proceed to tertiary education.

Dominic also spoke about his mother who is mentally unstable and the difficulties he experienced growing up in their home. He narrated that he did not like coming home from school and finding his mother in such a condition. He had grown up witnessing her struggles with her mental health, and there were times when she would refuse to take her medication. On some occasions, a psychiatrist had to come to their home to assist her, creating additional expenses for a family that was already struggling financially. For Dominic, returning home after school could therefore be emotionally difficult. His elder brother recognized this and tried to keep him in boarding school, believing that being in school would give him a more stable environment in which to concentrate on his education. However, the cost of keeping him in school eventually became too much for the family. His elder brother took on much of the responsibility of supporting the household through casual jobs.

He helped provide food for Dominic and their mother, contributed towards his mother’s medical needs, and struggled to raise Dominic’s school fees. His own journey had also been difficult. He had once received support from members of the community to pursue his education, but the support did not continue. His brother had also once secured an opportunity to join one of the top universities in Kenya, but he eventually had to drop out because of lack of fees. At the time, his father had become seriously ill, and much of the family’s limited resources were directed towards his care. when Dominic was preparing to sit for his national examination, his father passed away. Despite all these circumstances, Dominic continued to hold on to his education. He eventually sat for his national examination; he scored an impressive 59 out of 72 points.

His results demonstrated both his academic potential and his determination to continue with his education despite the challenges surrounding him. However, after the examination came another difficult reality. While other students were preparing to report to Grade 10, Dominic remained at home because his family could not afford the fees required for him to continue his education. Our visit made one thing clear: Dominic did not lack the ability or determination to succeed. He lacked the financial opportunity to continue. Following the due diligence visit, we resolved to support Dominic and give him the opportunity to resume his education.

Tody, through the support of partners like GlobalGiving,  Dominic is an Affecto Foundation beneficiary in Cohort 9 enrolled in grade 10 at one of the senior schools in Kenya. He continues to work hard and perform impressively in his academics. He is once again in the classroom, learning alongside his peers and working towards the future he has always hoped for. During our visit, Dominic’s circumstances told us why he needed help. His academic performance showed us what he could achieve.

Today, his return to school shows what can happen when a deserving student is given an opportunity. And that smile we noticed when we first met him? It is still there.