IEFT / Orkeswa School

Padre excelled in primary school and was ranked number four in his class. However, with six children to take care of, his family struggles to make ends meet. There are very few resources at home and they often do not have enough food to feed their children. Since none of Padre’s older siblings had the opportunity to go to secondary school, he hopes to be the first in his family to graduate so that he can give back to his family and his community.

Active and confident, Amina is a determined young woman who is very committed to her studies. In the classroom, she is a strong listener and a thoughtful student, crafting her answers and defending her points well. Smiley and curious, she asks questions frequently and is a leader amongst her peers. Amina lives with her step-mother and her father, who is a driver for Orkeeswa 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.

Neema came to Orkeeswa School with an appetite for knowledge and success that was born from a difficult upbringing. Neema's father passed away when she was young, and her mother has experienced mental health issues that made it difficult for her to support her children. Her grandmother ensured Neema and her siblings got the care they needed, but she was worried she would not be able to send them to school. Despite earlier hardships, Neema has become a lively and cheerful student with a passion for drama and singing, and she will surely be a star in her community!

Having grown up with her siblings and cousins under one roof after the passing of her uncle, Sarah knows the importance of family and kindness. Sarah is confident and well-spoken, and she is always ready to lend a helping-hand to others. As a true helper and lover of Biology, Sarah hopes to continue to take care of others by becoming a nurse.

Despite being one of thirteen children in her family, Rozi has no trouble standing out as an exemplary student at Orkeeswa. Rozi is a dedicated student with a love of language, history, and culture. Her favorite classes include English, History and Swahili, and she hopes to become a Swahili teacher after her education at Orkeeswa School to spread her love of language to others.