IEFT / Orkeeswa School

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.

Veronica’s father has mental health problems and is mostly absent in the lives of his two wives and eleven children. Since her mother moved far away for work, Veronica and her other siblings live with their father’s second wife who supports the children by collecting and selling firewood in Monduli. However, she struggles to pay for expenses such as school fees. Veronica hopes to be able to finish secondary school and set a good example for her younger brother, who has just started at Orkeeswa in Pre-Form One.

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.

Cadeth lives with his father, his father’s two wives and their many children. Cadeth is the oldest of his immediate siblings, and the first in his family to attend secondary school. Cadeth’s parents are farmers and support their families with their small subsistence farm and a few animals. Cadeth’s father also takes small jobs for extra money, such as driving a taxi motorbike.

Melubo resides in Lashaine Village with his large family. His father works as a security guard and his family has a small farm that grows maize and beans. His father is also a the chair of Orkeeswa School's parents' committee. After school he hopes to teach history and English, two of his favorite subjects, to secondary school students. When he's not studying, Melubo enjoys playing basketball.

Sechota has lived in Monduli Town with her grandmother and grandfather since her parents died many years ago. Her grandparents support her and her 5 other siblings on their subsistence farm. However, because they are quite old and have little money, they struggle to contribute to their grandchildren’s education. Sechota’s older sister finished secondary school and is now studying computer science at a certificate program. Sechota hopes to be able to also succeed in secondary school so that she can send her younger siblings to primary school.