Eline’s family works hard on their subsistence farm to make ends meet, but often lack the additional resources to pay for school fees. Eline has two siblings: a younger brother and an older sister. While attending secondary school in Form IV, Eline’s sister became pregnant. Eline’s family supported her through the pregnancy and now, Eline’s sister is back attending secondary school. Eline and her siblings are very thankful that their family supports their education despite obstacles. Eline is very close with her family and hopes to create a new future for them through her secondary education.

I grew up in the hands of a single mother. We went through several challenges together but we have always managed. In 2014, we faced the most challenging part of the year. My mother was bedridden and I had to take care of her at the same time I had to prepare for the end year national examination. We mostly had to depend on the philanthropy of neighbors and a few relatives to survive. I have embraced this as part of life. I will not let it dim my spirit. The School Fund has extended an olive branch to me. A chance to redefine my life and come out of this mire.

My parents died when we were so young. My aunt took us in and she has been taking care of us since. She has a big family, plus she is a single mother. Her fish business can only cater for our meals. We have always depended on well-wishers for our education. I would want to improve the life of my family, especially my aunt's. She has done to us what no other person was willing to do. I am proud of her. The School Fund in partnership with Kenya Education Fund have given me a chance to reciprocate this kind gesture.

Alexander is the lastborn child in a family of four. All his elder siblings have all dropped out of school in primary level due to lack of school fees. His mother is single and unemployed. She has been ailing and can rarely manage to do manual work to cater for her children. Despite all odds alexander managed to perform very well in his primary level education. He is determined to achieve his goal of becoming a doctor in future. As a doctor, he believes that he will help the poor in the society access medical services. Alexander believes that education is the key to success.

I am the last born of six children. We used to do well some time back. This suddenly changed when my mother and older sister lost their jobs, thanks to a sudden sickness that struck both of them at the same time. It was so harsh. My older brother was left with a huge burden of taking care of us. Given his level of education, he is not able to secure meaningful employment. Things have been rough since. One of the major concerns for me is my education. It is one the things I hold so dearly. I want the best for my family and this can only come with someone effecting a change and I believe that person might as well be me. The opportunity to join high school is a big step towards making this dream a reality.

Kwaila is the first-born child in a family of four. His parents separated and the children lives with their father. His family does not own any land and therefore they stay in a one-roomed rented house in the local market. Christopher is a very ambitious boy who wants to be a pilot. He has great fascination for airplanes and has always wondered how they can fly in the sky without falling. He wants to study hard and understand the science of aeronautics. Christopher is also an outgoing boy with good leadership skills. At primary school, he was elected as the president of the student council. As a president, he started inter-class games competitions and this has made their school to shine in games competitions. He has led other students in doing community service work including repairing the road that connects their school and the market. Christopher believes that Education is the best weapon to fight poverty.

I come from a family of four, my two siblings, my mother and I. My father left for the countryside after he separated from my mother. This separation left us under the care of my mother. My mother is a hardworking woman and she has inspired me a lot. I owe everything I have achieved in this young life to her. She is my biggest source of hope. I joined the football team in school and I hope to help my school achieve its highest feat. I work hard in everything I do and I go for the most challenging of experiences to gain more exposure. My philosophy in life is to always strive for the highest attainable glory.

Since Ngirunga’s father died many years ago, his mother has supported her four children by herself. Ngirunga now lives with his mother who is a subsistence farmer, his younger sister who is in primary school, and his two older brothers. His older brothers did not have the opportunity to go to secondary school and now work at home on the family farm. Ngirunga hopes to be able to receive a quality education so that he can give back to his family and ensure that his sister also goes to secondary school.