Education Brings Renewed Hope for Kids in Kenya!

As the Saying Goes…Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover!

When kids apply for help to attend school, we listen to their background story and take their picture to show potential sponsors. Here’s one story….about a girl called Belinda.

When we received Belinda’s application here in the U.S. for her need for school fees, the picture that accompanied her application showed a young  girl, arms folded across her chest with a look of defiance by both her posture and the look on her face.

Turns out nothing could be further from the truth, but those were exactly our thoughts when we saw her picture.

We contacted a staff member in Kenya to ask about taking another picture explaining that no one would choose to support her by the picture we had been given.

That’s when we learned the rest of her story. 

Belinda’s father was paying her education costs until he became seriously ill and was in the hospital for several months.  The family of four children was now left with zero income, leaving no alternative but for Belinda to drop out of school. 

To make matters worse, the rent on their home hadn’t been paid in five months. There was no money and they were soon going to be forced out of their home.

On picture day at our Kenya office for all new applicants, Belinda came knowing she needed to report to the office in order to complete the application process.

It quickly became apparent to the Olalo staff they weren’t going to be able to get a more appropriate picture of her and questioned her.

It turns out, after many months in the hospital, her father had just died.  It was so recent he had not been buried yet. Belinda fought to hold back the tears that day. Her resistance to crying was to put forth a look of defiance and anger.

Burdened with the death of her father and the fact the rent on their tiny home was five months in arrears, it was almost more than she could bear…but she wanted to get an education, and so she came to complete the process, to be given a chance.

Your partnership with Olalo of Hope-Kenya’s Education program allowed Olalo to pool together enough funds to put Belinda back in school for the year.  We cannot thank you enough for allowing us to do that.

There are so many other stories with circumstances that mirrors Belinda’s. With your continued support we will be able to help others who find themselves in similar positions and in need of help covering school tuition/fees.

Belinda’s story also reminds us all not to judge a book by its cover.…you just don’t know what’s behind it until you ask with sincerity and compassion.

In case you’re wondering, Olalo’s Community Support program was able to pay the back rent for Belinda’s family and give them time to get their situation in order.

Thank You for partnering with us…and thanks for giving Belinda an education!

Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya

Our Education Fund helps insures the young people in Oyugis, Kenya, are given the opportunity to increase their chances of leaving behind a life of poverty by getting an education.  Less than 50% of all school children are able to attend a Secondary School (the equivalent of our High School), due to their poverty.   

The students you support have a strong desire to succeed in school and succeed in life.

Let me tell you about two young boys that are supported by Olalo sponsors…. like you!

Our first young man we’ll call John.  John was in his first year of Secondary School when his Uncle, who supported his education, died.  His Uncle was his sole source of help, so now there were no funds to pay the school tuition.

When the next payment to the school was due, John was sent home since he didn’t have the money for tuition.  Each day John would arrive at school only to be turned away and sent home.  The thing is, John wouldn’t go home.  Instead he sat outside in the dirt, below the classroom windows and listened to the lessons, and since he already had the text books, he would continue to study along.

That is until Olalo was made aware of John’s story and funds were used to pay his fees and get him back in school.  Learning is much better sitting in the classroom rather than in the dirt outside the windows.

Felix is another student whose desire was to receive an education.  Following one of the school breaks, Felix didn’t return to class.  He was an excellent student with great potential, so when he didn’t return to school, a school administrator went to find out why.

He learned Felix was out near his grandmother’s home close to Lake Victoria (about an hour away).  His grandmother told the administrator that he was at the lake fishing.

When Felix was found, they learned that whenever school was out…on weekends and during the breaks...Felix fished at Lake Victoria to earn the money needed to pay for his own education.  This time he hadn’t returned to school because he hadn’t caught enough fish to earn the money needed to pay the school fees due upon his return.

Needless to say, he was taken back to school, Olalo was alerted and able to pay for the rest of his education.

None of this would be possible without you…our wonderful supporters of our Education Fund. 

Thank you so very much for helping these kids pursue their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. You are making a difference in so many lives…not just the student, but the entire family benefits from the student’s education.  Often our students are the very first in their family to attend school beyond the 8^th grade and the entire family celebrates!

Thank you for making this all possible!

Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya