SHOFCO

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 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.

"In our house, we lacked food and clothes. Sometimes I share clothes with my cousin. I rarely got anything to eat at home and sometimes it made it hard to concentrate in class. Sometimes my mom is able to make enough money washing clothes for us to eat but not always. My future plans and aspirations is that I would like to be a surgeon. My second plan is to help girl children in the community. In 10 years I would like to be in the United Kingdom helping Kenyan people with medical problems and doing research. I would also like to help street children."

"I come from a humble background of two parents, one sister, and one brother. We live in a single room house in Kibera. My current life situation is not so pleasing because my parents are casual workers and we live hand to mouth without enough food to eat or even good clothes to wear. Someday I would like to join the university at Nairobi and pursue a medical degree. I would like to be a doctor and treat people who cannot access medical help. I would like to help my parents by building them a big house and get them out of poverty. I would also like to help children from my slum who cannot afford school fees and their daily basic needs. My other aspiration is to be an ambassador for peace in the Kibera slums."

"Since 2001, when I lost my mother, and 2004, when I lost my father, I have been staying with my Grandparents. Even after finishing standard 8 I have been staying with my grandparents. I hope through your support to be able to finish school and to work hard and become a successful person in the future. In the future, I would like to be a nurse, a teacher, or an engineer. In fact, in the future after my successes in 10 years to come, I would like to support orphans. I understand what it is like to be an orphan. Through my difficulties that have been undergoing I am hopeful that I will succeed."

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.