Even though life has been very hard, the efforts and support I got from the friends and well wishers has made me learn the disadvantages of depending on others. When i got the information about the scholarship my parents encouraged me to work hard and do my best in my studies. They helped to apply for the chance, and lucky enough I was called and got the opportunity to be one of the scholars.

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.

Abdi's father is the primary breadwinner in his family of six. His mother does not have a paying job. All five children attend school, and need their school fees and other expenses to be paid. Abdi was actually once chased away from school because he could not pay his school fees. Despite this, he remains an enthusiastic student with strong leadership potential. He is hardworking in his academics and studies very seriously. Abdi is also passionate about giving back to his community. He is determined to finish high school and attend university, where he dreams of pursuing medicine in order to serve those in need.

Nicholas has always been a good student. However, a few years ago his father lost his job and his mother had trouble paying his school fees on her own. "My plan in the future is to complete my education and I aspire to be a professional psychologist. I would love support with my school fees for my secondary level. I believe in the name of God and you guys, because I know that you are the ones who can help me and make me what I want to be. I know specifically that I have to focus on my studies if I get this opportunity. I am ready and willing to make you proud by attaining good marks in my studies. After my studies, I promise to stop and work very hard to eradicate the issues of poverty and corruption. These are the issues most faced by many people in the area where I live."

I managed to score 386/500 marks from a local government primary school despite coming from a challenging background. I have always remained focused so that I can be able to achieve my dream, which is becoming a pilot one day. After my primary level education I concentrated on football and handball to overcome the financial stress that we had, alongside my closed dreams of becoming an engineer. My father is a partly involved member with Shining Hope for Communities activities/ programs, and I managed to secure a chance through scholarships offered to needy children in the slums of Nairobi. I am now at Nambale Boys High School where I am working so hard to achieve my dreams.

Brigance is the second born in his family. His father works as a security guard and is the primary breadwinner. When he was two years old, Brigance lost eyesight in his left eye after an injury. As a result, he is passionate about assisting disabled individuals for the betterment of society. In the future, he aspires to become an environmentalist. He cares deeply about protecting the environment and aims to do so through clean-up projects, waste management initiatives, and tree planting campaigns -- all in an effort to "help Kenya achieve 10% vegetation by 2030."

My name is Abdulrahman Fatuma Ali. I come from a family of three siblings and a single parent as well. Despite all the challenges, I still remained focused and worked hard in primary and managed to score a B at Stara Rescue Centre School without any hopes of joining high school. Thanks to Shining Hope for Communities for coming in and fully supporting my secondary education at Tala High School. Without forgetting where I came from, I am always focused on my education. With the support of my interest in reading to improve my academics, for I know the roots of education is bitter, but the fruit are sweet. I would like to be a teacher in the future and teach Maths & Business. I have also been touched by the work Shofco is doing with Kibera community to change the lives of people and would like to contribute to community work in future through my time and resources.

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.

Joanrose dreams of studying medicine in order to help people suffering from deadly diseases. She would also like to fight against drug abuses and prostitution in her neighborhood. She is worried about the influence of drugs on young people in her neighborhood and she wants to combat drug use in order to make her community stronger. Her parents are very sick and this makes it difficult for them to pay her school fees. It is also difficult on her psychologically. She feels that if she gets an education she will be better able to take care of her parents and improve her own future.