Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) transforms urban poverty to urban promise. SHOFCO provides free medical care, community empowerment programs, quality education, and clean water in the slums of Nairobi. The School Fund works with SHOFCO to provide scholarships that allow children to attend quality public secondary schools outside of the slum.
My name is Damallyne Merrine Apoda and I attend Othaya Girls High School. I previously scored 375 marks on the KCPE from Anajali Primary School. The environment in high school was completely different and I was really challenged during the first week. It was too cold to manage, as time went by I started managing it so well. I also got new friends and the teachers there are very friendly. I also had problems with time keeping. Attending school the school was difficult, as there were no school fees and my parents were stranded. I really thank God for the scholarship program. I joined a very good school and my dreams of getting good grades are still alive. My prayers are for things to get back to normal and place my efforts on studies.
School Year 2022
"If I would succeed in my secondary school I would like to go to a good university. If my studies goes on well, I will take part in the aviation. If this section goes perfect, I will go for further studies in other parts of the world. I imagine myself being one of the best pilots in the whole world. I will agree to work with any airways available. I will help others to travel to all parts of the world"
School Year 2019
I am a student at Makuyu Boys School, and formerly attended Love Africa Somi School. I come from a very poor background and could not manage the high school fees. As a family, we have challenges getting our basic needs met. Both of my parents are jobless and we live hand-to-mouth. If it were not for this scholarship, I would not be in school. This means a great deal to our family and reduces the burden. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
School Year 2022
"In the future when I finish school, I would like to help orphans and needy children of Kibera and Kenya at large. I wouldn't like in the coming years to see children of Kibera suffering and not going to school. My goal is to change the slums and upgrade it to make it a better place for children and the people of Kibera. I also admire England very much and when I finish school, I imagine myself going to university in England to become a journalist. I promised myself to work hard in my studies so that I can be a journalist. Journalism is my dream and I believe that when I work hard I can make it. "
School Year 2019
Ivin's parent's are day laborers and do not make enough money to pay her school fees. She has been able to attend school this far based on donations from a local church. She longs to continue to a higher level in school and to make her parents proud. She currently lives in a one room house with both her parents and her two siblings. She often has to go to school without eating breakfast first. She longs to finish school and improve the prospects for her family.
School Year 2019
I am an intelligent girl. My hobbies are drawing, colouring, and painting. At school I enjoy going for sports, but at home I enjoy playing and watching movies. My favorite subject is science because I enjoy doing the experiments with the teacher. I also enjoy english because our teacher reads fun and inspiring books to us. When I grow up I want to be a doctor so I can treat people with injuries and illness. I want to examine patients, take medical histories, and prescribe medications.
School Year 2024