SHOFCO

"My name is Phenny, and I like in Kibera. I have two small sisters and one brother. My mother sells vegetables and my father is a casual laborer. My plans and aspirations for my future is that after form 4 I would like to join a computer course. After passing my exams, I will join a university where I will train to be a doctor. After becoming a doctor, I will buy a plot where I will plan to settle and build a house. From there, I will be able to assist my brother and sisters academically."

My name is Nzoka Annastacia Wayua and I am 15 yrs old, I went to school at Seedlings primary school and got 364 marks. We became hopeless after scoring good marks since my parents did not have the school fees, they had to seek for help from SHOFCO where I received a scholarship and joined Queen Of Peace Nembu Secondary School. I have always been motivated by this scholarship and I kept working very hard to get good grades. My family consist of four people, I have a brother and jobless parents. Life is hard as we cannot be fed properly since my parents do not have school fees. I want to be a doctor in future to help my parents, my brother and my community.

I studied at Olympic primary school now attend Nyambaria High School. My studies were always impacted by the level of poverty my family lives in. My family's resources went to medical fees for my mother before she passed. My two older siblings joined university but couldn't manage the fees and are now at home. This scholarship is the only way my family could manage to send me to school. I work hard to get good grades so I can also study at university. I am very thankful for this opportunity.

My name is Hassan Juma. I'm 16 years old. I studied at Olympic Primary School in Kibera where I scored 348 marks out of the possible 500 on the KCPE. I joined Pumwani Secondary school in Starehe constituency, which is in Nairobi county. I am very grateful for the scholarship program. It is the reason why I joined high school since my parents earn very little money. I did not experience harsh challenges in school since I just joined the school and within the first two months we had to be released due to COVID-19 outbreak that has affected the whole world. While at home during this period, my parents struggled and bought me a few revision materials. Currently, I'm revising to boost my knowledge since I do not want to be behind when schools open. I need to work hard and show that the scholarship was really necessary and to appreciate and give back to the community. I have four brothers and one sister plus my two parents. The family is already large and I must work hard to save them from poverty. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to study.

Clinton is an orphan, whose parents passed away when he was a small child. Since then, he has been raised by his aunt. She has been his primary guardian and she has made sure to pay his school fees. Clinton aspires to become an engineer. His dream project, however, is to start an organization that serves street children and orphans.

Deborah Nyaboke Nyakwara of Sironga Girls High School in Kisii, I am 14 years old and I am from the Kibera slum in Nairobi. My parents were unable to get the school fees and through the acces of the SHOFCO Scholarship program I managed to join the school. Still I could not get the boarding essentials and took too long at home waiting for my parents to purchase them. During this pandemic we are at home and the truth is that life is harder here than in school. Most times we go to bed without eating anything. We are also restricted in movement and my parents keep us indoors. We also lack facilitators who can help us as teenagers and encourage us to study than we used to be taught in school. I thank you for your support that reduces the burden on my parents.