David's story
David wrote a letter which we are presenting here:
At the end of 2008 the situation in Kenya is not good. The August harvest of maize was significantly reduced due to poor weather and the fact that many farmers could not afford fertilizer when they planted. The cost of food has risen three fold and many children will not only lack school fees they will go hungry.
After reading the following I hope all of you understand how much your support means to the Kenyan students. (After you read a story, please use your back button to return to the list of names)
Hudson's Autobiography
Born 24 years ago, Hudson Wereh Shiraku are the names I was assigned. Wereh is my father’s - so they said, but he declined responsibility. Being only sixteen, mum could not get a job as she had dropped out of school in standard four – this was because grandpa did not value educating a girl-child. It was also said that am not the first born as I think; at fourteen, mom conceived and aborted a baby girl. Given her status; age and level of education, mother could not take care of us - herself and I.
Read more about Hudson's Story....
Margdalene's Story
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Margdalene was assisted by Rod and Patricia Crossley through High School and learned in a building with mud walls, studying by the light of a kerosene lamp at home. She finished with an A- average (one of the top students in the country). She will begin university in September 2009 where she will train as a teacher of Math and Physics. While waiting to start her courses she is helping train and monitor women who are receiving small micro credit loans. One of them is her own mother! (But another young woman is supervising that loan.) |
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Harrison's Story
A group of boys was at the gate at first light. Some came with parents or older siblings, some were brought by teachers, some came alone. All clutched their school records and all had been invited for an
interview because of their very high marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. In all there were fifty hopeful boys invited but only seven would receive a scholarship to go on to Secondary School.
Read more about Harrison's Story....
Haron's success story
James and Ben
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BEN in Kisumu |
James is an African-Canadian who has been in maximum security prison for most of his life. A year ago a friend mentioned KEEF to him and told of the needs of so many deserving students in Kenya. James earns a few dollars in prison from time to time and he decided to contribute to the sponsorship of a student through KEEF. We chose Ben, a student in Clinical Medicine, as his student and we sent him photos and a letter from Ben. Read more about James and Ben |
Charles Mushiyi
Charles came to KEEF at the end of elementary school as a result of his older brother Nicholas receiving a scholarship to attend secondary school - he was out of school for at least a year due to a lack of money for fees. The mother of these two boys left home after their father was diagnosed with AIDS and to this day they do not know what happened to her or if she is still living. After their father died Charles and his brother went to live with a paternal uncle but they eventually escaped an abusive situation and found a loving home with their maternal aunt. Their Aunt Esther places a high value on education, having not had the chance to be educated herself. AIDS has resulted in increasing burdens on the extended families of orphans and these children are often not welcome in a family whose resources are already stretched to the limit.
Read more about Charles...
NEWS FROM YOUR STUDENTS: If you have tidbits of news of your students (like the ones above) you would like to share please send them to Marie Mackay (mariemackay(at)telus.net) or Peg Klesner (Lachaiam(at)telus.net