SHOFCO

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.

I was born in a family of four and I am the last born. I have lived with my mother's sister since I was 3 and she is known as my mother. I would like to be a pilot and in 10 years I see myself still pursuing my dreams. After school I hope to get a job and change the life of my family and proceed to change the living standards of my community. This is so every child can get the opportunity to go to school.

I come from a family of 6 living in the informal settlement of Kibera in Nairobi. I attended Kibera Primary School and now am a student at Koroko Secondary School. I am an active student in class and extracurricular activities. At home, we have no access to clean water, healthcare, or sanitation, and affording two meals a day is difficult. This scholarship is the only chance I have to go to school. I want to study hard to get good grades so I can join a top university, and I am very thankful for this opportunity.

I live in the Kibera slums in a village known as Kisumu Ndogo. I have two siblings and live with both parents. My favorite subjects are science, social studies, and Kiswahili because they are entertaining and give you the history of where we’ve come from as a country and as human beings. I love swimming, sports and reading story books which wholesomely engage me and keep me fit. I am aspiring to be a nurse so I can contribute positively towards people in my country by attending to them when they are ill.

I studied at Olympic primary school in Kibera and now attend Twenwek Secondary School in Narok County, Kenya. When I began high school, I had challenges in time management but I have improved. The school is big and the students are very disciplined. Before this scholarship, school fees were my greatest worry. Going to a good secondary school was always my dream and it has come true. My parents have struggled to support my brother, my sister, and I, and I am very thankful for this opportunity.

Agnes’s family has faced great financial struggles; however, even when they are unable to pay for food or rent, they still prioritize her school fees. This has made Agnes incredibly hardworking, disciplined and studious. She is a high achiever in school. Agnes dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon, which stems from her desire to save as many lives as possible. She is also passionate about neglected children and hopes to one day start an orphanage.