SHOFCO

Even though life has been very hard, the efforts and support I got from the friends and well wishers has made me learn the disadvantages of depending on others. When i got the information about the scholarship my parents encouraged me to work hard and do my best in my studies. They helped to apply for the chance, and lucky enough I was called and got the opportunity to be one of the scholars.

My name is David Oduor Ogolla. I come from a very humble background in Kibera slum. My father is a juakali artisan (black smith) while my mother is a house wife. Both of their incomes aren't enough to support all the family requirements; but so far we have managed to remain a happy and focused family. Despite all the challenges in my family, I never lost concentration on my primary level academics at Olympic Primary School. Through my hard work I managed to score 359/500 marks, although I was aiming higher than that. With the good marks, I had no hopes to join any high school, not even the local ones in the slums because my parents were now concentrating on ensuring that my younger siblings are also educated through primary level. I put much concentration in my favorite sport (football) as I believed it would get me somewhere with no hopes of joining a high school. But a God sent scholarship opportunity came through Shining Hope for Communities at the right time and gave me a life time opportunity to attend secondary education at Orero High School. A big thank you to Shining Hope for Communities and all the cheerful givers. Through your effort my life and others' are going to change positively.

Abdi's father is the primary breadwinner in his family of six. His mother does not have a paying job. All five children attend school, and need their school fees and other expenses to be paid. Abdi was actually once chased away from school because he could not pay his school fees. Despite this, he remains an enthusiastic student with strong leadership potential. He is hardworking in his academics and studies very seriously. Abdi is also passionate about giving back to his community. He is determined to finish high school and attend university, where he dreams of pursuing medicine in order to serve those in need.

Nicholas has always been a good student. However, a few years ago his father lost his job and his mother had trouble paying his school fees on her own. "My plan in the future is to complete my education and I aspire to be a professional psychologist. I would love support with my school fees for my secondary level. I believe in the name of God and you guys, because I know that you are the ones who can help me and make me what I want to be. I know specifically that I have to focus on my studies if I get this opportunity. I am ready and willing to make you proud by attaining good marks in my studies. After my studies, I promise to stop and work very hard to eradicate the issues of poverty and corruption. These are the issues most faced by many people in the area where I live."

I managed to score 386/500 marks from a local government primary school despite coming from a challenging background. I have always remained focused so that I can be able to achieve my dream, which is becoming a pilot one day. After my primary level education I concentrated on football and handball to overcome the financial stress that we had, alongside my closed dreams of becoming an engineer. My father is a partly involved member with Shining Hope for Communities activities/ programs, and I managed to secure a chance through scholarships offered to needy children in the slums of Nairobi. I am now at Nambale Boys High School where I am working so hard to achieve my dreams.

Brigance is the second born in his family. His father works as a security guard and is the primary breadwinner. When he was two years old, Brigance lost eyesight in his left eye after an injury. As a result, he is passionate about assisting disabled individuals for the betterment of society. In the future, he aspires to become an environmentalist. He cares deeply about protecting the environment and aims to do so through clean-up projects, waste management initiatives, and tree planting campaigns -- all in an effort to "help Kenya achieve 10% vegetation by 2030."