Simon
Simon lives with his mother, Meterine, in a rented mud house with no land of their own. Meterine is HIV positive and very weak as she is not yet on Anti– Retroviral Treatment. Funds from the Project not only pay school fees for Simon, but have helped to improve his home and the welfare of his mother. Basic goods were bought and long overdue repairs were carried out to the roof. When Meterine is strong enough she will train and work as a dressmaker. Meanwhile, Simon is now in Form 2 (Second Year) and has gone to the top 10 in his class.
Hamila and Musa
Hamila and Musa are two of eight children orphaned by HIV. They are now cared for by their sister Jamila (at right). The family is poor even by local standards, but are especially bright and motivated. 16-year-old Hamila has been first in her class two years running and is now in Form Two, hoping to pursue a course in law and gender equality. Musa, 17, is in Form Three, resuming his education after a gap due to lack of funds but motivated by sibling rivalry to show that he has brains, too!
Bonface
Bonface Kipenien Okodoi was just 9 years old when his father went missing, presumed dead, in tribal and land clashes in Mt. Elgon and Eldoret.
His mother died 8 years later. Since then Bonface and his 3 younger siblings have lived with their feisty grandmother (at left) in the hills of Mt. Elgon. With the help of his 3 older siblings Bonface was able to complete secondary school. Despite 5 years of applying for bursaries and donations, fees for a 3rd level education have always been beyond reach.
Now, thanks to the Project, Bonface is in Year Two of The Kisumu Institute of Tropical Medicine, training to be a clinical officer. This profession, similar to a nurse practitioner, allows medical clinics to operate in rural areas that would not otherwise be served by doctors.
Alexander
Alexander Matolo Kahimba 24, is the youngest of 7 brothers sharing their father’s 13 acre plot of land. Alexander completed Form 4 (Leaving Cert), but the finances to pursue further education were not available, and so he has spent the last 4 years living with his mother and working on his small plot of land. Alexander was accepted to a diploma course run by the Kenya Wildlife Service but was unfortunately forced to flee the area during post-election violence of 2008. He is now in Year Two in Kitale Technical Training Institute, studying to become a quantity surveyor, which he feels gives him a good chance of finding employment.
Rebecca
Rebecca Ongesa is an orphan and the second of 7 children. Her grandmother is looking after all of her siblings. She is a proud Form 3 (Third Year) student of St. Teresa’s Secondary School, Kabula. Rebecca: “Boarding here is great, it takes some of the burden off my grandmother, and I can study and play some sports after class. I’m working hard to improve my grades.”
Kelvin
11-year-old Kelvin Okello lives with his aunt Pertronilla, who cares for him while eking out a living selling vegetables. Recognising that Kelvin should be at school Pertronilla mobilized her neighbours and raised enough money to send him to a special school with access for a wheelchair. However, Kelvin’s special school had a very limited curriculum and resources.
With the help of the Project, Kelvin is starting in Class 2 (Second Class) at his local primary school. Pertonilla is selling a wider range of commodities in the hope of increasing the family income.
