Both parents died. Children living with a very poor grandmother.

I went through my primary education at Palm Olive Academy and managed to score 356 out of 500 marks. In our family we are six members after divorce between my mother and father. My mother has been taking care of us ever since. She works as a casual laborer within Kibera community and supports us with the little that she earns. Sometimes it is so hard for my mother to feed us because the father is not offering any supporting. Due to life challenges, I have faced life head-on and determined never to give up in life and one day fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer after receiving the scholarship. Thanks to SHOFCO and may God bless you.

My name is David Oduor Ogolla. I come from a very humble background in Kibera slum. My father is a juakali artisan (black smith) while my mother is a house wife. Both of their incomes aren't enough to support all the family requirements; but so far we have managed to remain a happy and focused family. Despite all the challenges in my family, I never lost concentration on my primary level academics at Olympic Primary School. Through my hard work I managed to score 359/500 marks, although I was aiming higher than that. With the good marks, I had no hopes to join any high school, not even the local ones in the slums because my parents were now concentrating on ensuring that my younger siblings are also educated through primary level. I put much concentration in my favorite sport (football) as I believed it would get me somewhere with no hopes of joining a high school. But a God sent scholarship opportunity came through Shining Hope for Communities at the right time and gave me a life time opportunity to attend secondary education at Orero High School. A big thank you to Shining Hope for Communities and all the cheerful givers. Through your effort my life and others' are going to change positively.

A quiet leader, Papaa is initially shy but often steps up to take the initiative and motivate his peers. He is curious and calm, and his determination to continue his education is unwavering. Pappa is a natural athlete, and most enjoys playing football and dancing. To support their three children, Papaa’s father works as an accountant and his mother works as a primary school teacher.

An incredibly eager and sweet young man, Kishumu is anxious to continue his education. He loves to study math and hopes to share his joy for learning as a teacher in the future. Kishumu has nine beehives that he tends himself to help support his family. His father moved away, leaving Kishumu to live with his mother and siblings. His older brother failed primary school, so Kishumu will be the first of five children to attend secondary school. His mother is unable to cover his school fees, but is supportive of his education.

Am the second born in the family of three. My elder sister is in secondary school and the third born is class five. Mother is a housewife and my father is working in a security firm. I am hard working in class and generally my academic performance is above the average with an aim of competing with other students. My dream of becoming an air craft engineer always motivates me in everything that I want to do.However, the situation sometimes gets harder when it come to paying my school fees since my father's income is too little. I believe there is no permanent poverty unless you don't want to overcome the poverty state. My life was like a mountain range with its highs and its lows, but like any mountain I walked past the lows with struggle but I still made it. With my mother and father working too hard I took upon myself to protect my sister from all the bad men who would take advantage of her. Between chores and keeping my sister safe I was very busy. I thank SUN for this chance to improve my life.

Al-Mukhusin is a bright student who shows initiative. He lets his personality shine in the classroom and in drama. Math is his favorite subject, and he hopes to study to become a doctor in the future. Al-Mukhusin is the second oldest of his family, and his older brother attends secondary school elsewhere. His father is an entrepreneur in Monduli, and his mother tends sheep. He looks up to his older brother for direction in his education and values his support and encouragement. Al-MukhusinÕs family is supportive of his education, but is not able to provide for his school fees.

Daniel is a very determined boy. While in primary school Daniel did not have a reading lamp. He had to utilize much of his daytime by forgoing break and recess time to catch up on his studies. He was able to overcome and emerge the best in the class. Daniel believes that education is the only key to his success. He is the first-born child in a family of three. His father is a wood carver whose small earnings have been depleted by hospital bills of ailing members of his extended family.

Alexander is the second born child in a family of five. His mother is ailing from a kidney disease that has taken a toll on their meager resources. His father decorates woodcarvings and earns less than a dollar per day. While in primary school, Alex had to maintain a balance between doing family chores like cooking, collecting firewood and fetching water while devoting some time for studies. He was constantly sent home from school because he had not paid the fees and often lacked many essential books. Despite these challenges, Alex was able to score very well in his primary level exam. He is a disciplined and determined boy who hopes to succeed and help the less privileged in the society.