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.
Clinton’s mother works as a casual laborer, and she has struggled to pay all the family’s expenses. He was sometimes sent home for lack of school fees. Clinton dreams of having a better future, and believes he can achieve this dream through becoming a pilot. He not only wishes to see different parts of the world, but he also hopes that by securing a decent living, he can support his siblings and his mother.
School Year 2019
Brenda is the 3rd born in a family of 4 girls. Her mother is a housewife and her father works as a casual laborer in Kibera. Despite the little income that her parents earn, they have always prioritized her education and made sure they pay for her school fees, books, uniforms and anything else required. Brenda has really internalized the significance of education and has become a well-rounded, dynamic, and ambitious student. Brenda dreams of studying medicine and engineering, both in an effort to uplift those who live in poverty. Through medicine, she aims to “give back to society, by advocating for free health facilities and accessible dispensaries for everyone.” Her main aim in studying engineering “is to come up with ideas that can help the unemployed people to make their ends meet by creating more innovations in the country.”
School Year 2019
I am a student at Moi Girls School in Vihiga County of Western Kenya. Previously, I attended Ayany Primary School. I have had some challenges since starting high school, and it was difficult to make friends. I am working hard in school and improved in my weakest subject. I got the chance to be on the volleyball team at school. This scholarhsip program is the reason I have been in school, because my family is not able to provide the school fees otherwise. I am very thankful for this opportunity.
School Year 2022
"My ambition in the future is to get good grades throughout my high school career. I want to join a campus and study as a cardiologist. I would like to get a job at one of the biggest hospitals in Kenya and also be traveling from place to place treating people with heart problems. In 10 years to come I would like to find myself flying from place to place treating people. My inspiration is to help the poor and educate the children who can't help themselves in which I can form an organization that helps to sponsor those who are in need. I will also not forget these people who helped me go to school. I will help them in any way I can. My personal goal is to help my parents move to a better place and to buy them some of the things that they will want in the years to come."
School Year 2019
Florence was raised by her mother and grandmother. She enjoys playing football and netball. Although she works hard, her mother struggled to pay school fees for her and her brother. She dreams of being a community health work and building solid relationships with her teachers in secondary school. She wants to give back to her community and to help children and widows.
School Year 2019
Mazden's older brother dropped out of high school. Mazden saw how this lack of education severely limited his brother's prospects, and so he is determined to stay in high school. Once he finishes secondary school, he would like to study in order to become a doctor. Mazden also dreams of giving back to the community and inspiring other young people from the slums to reach for their dreams.
School Year 2019