Miracles Do Happen - 2009 Elimu Scholarship Status Report

During the 2009 school year, Nuru Center sponsored three needy Form 1 (freshman year) high school students through its Elimu Scholarship program. Along with the children who received this generous support, we would like to extend our gratitude to all those who made it possible. All three students reported to their respective schools during the first week of February, 2009.

The Children

Susan Wangui Mukundi

Susan is a 15 year old girl from Molo, a small town in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Born to a single mother, Susan has never met her father nor does she know who he is. She is one of four siblings and has an older sister in high school. Susan attended Kambala Primary School where she completed Standard 8 (8th grade equivalent) in 2007 and sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination, a national exam taken by all students upon completion of Standard 8 in primary school. Based on performance, this examination determines whether a child can proceed to high school. Students with the best results are chosen to attend the best high schools, which also tend to be expensive. Although Susan passed the KCPE exams well enough to attend high school, she was unable to begin high school in 2008 because her mother could not afford the tuition. This forced Susan to repeat Standard 8. Nuru Center determined that Susan was an excellent candidate for the 2009 Elimu Scholarship. Accompanied by a Nuru Center volunteer, Susan registered and reported to high school at Larmudiac Secondary on February 2nd 2009.

Carol Nyachama Monari

Carol is also a 15 year old girl from Molo who completed 8th grade in 2008. Carol is one of five siblings (2 boys and 3 girls) born to a single mother who is disabled and unable to work. In January 2008, her mother and the youngest sibling left home for an unknown destination. Carol and a younger sister were sent to live with their aunt who expected them to acquire odd jobs in neighboring farms so they could pay their share of the rent. Three months later their aunt kicked them out because they were unable to pay rent. Carol and her sister went to live with a cousin. On weekends, these young girls work on farms to earn money for food. One of Carol’s older brothers had to drop out of high school due to lack of school fees. Her other brother is in his second year at a local high school which he has financed by working during the school holidays. Nuru Center was touched by Carol’s story and chose her to receive the 2009 Elimu Scholarship. She started Form 1 at Kirobon Secondary School on February 2nd 2009. She was accompanied to her first day in her new school by a Nuru Center volunteer.

Josphat Keith Monicah

Like the other two students, Keith is also 15 years old. He is from Kitui district in Kenya. Keith is also a child of a single mother but unlike the other two students he does not remember his mother because she abandoned him when he was two years old. Keith was left with his maternal grandmother when his mother left their village. They believe she moved to “the big city” (Nairobi) in search of employment. She has never returned and to this day no one knows her whereabouts. Keith has been raised by his grandmother in utter poverty, occasionally going for days without food.

In a letter he wrote to Nuru Center, he stated that he wore his first pair of shoes when he was in Standard 7 (7th grade equivalent); the shoes were given to him by a friend. While attending primary school, Keith worked odd jobs in the village so that he could take care of himself and his elderly grandmother. Even with such a heavy responsibility, this fifteen year old boy managed to pass the KCPE exam well enough to earn acceptance into St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mwingi, one of Eastern Province’s coveted high schools. He became the third child to win the 2009 Elimu Scholarship. Interestingly, when he was notified of this award, he did not believe it. The offer seemed too good to be true so he decided to cover some of his school expenses by selling his family’s only possession - a goat that he had purchased with earnings from a job held at a local farm. His plan was to show up at the school with a few school supplies and plead with the principal to allow him to start school without the required tuition fees. On the day he was required to report to school for registration (February 2nd), Keith received a message from one of Nuru’s volunteers. The volunteer informed him that his tuition for the first term was going to be paid in full and asked him to meet her at the local shopping center so they could purchase his school supplies. Long story short, Keith reported to St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mwingi on February 3rd, 2009, with all his school expenses for the first term paid in full.

The Volunteer Reports

According to Nuru volunteers in the field, the look of joy and disbelief in these children’s eyes could not be expressed in words. None of these children thought that anything like this could happen to them but it is because of Nuru well wishers and supporters that we were able to send these children to high school. Nuru’s goal is to change lives- one child at a time, and these three are just the beginning.

The Need

Nuru was able to pay each student’s school fees for the first term. It is our intention to fund their entire four year high school education and that is why we are asking for your continued support. We are seeking donations for their second and third terms as well as for the remaining three years of high school. Your support for this cause will be greatly appreciated.

How you can help

You can help by making a one time donation to the Elimu Scholarship or by sponsoring one of these children. Please make your donation online or by mail. For more information about Elimu Scholarship and any other projects through Nuru Center, you may contact us in any of the following ways:

By Email: information@nurucenter.org
By mail : Nuru Center
P.O. Box 957418
Atlanta, GA 30095