By Merry Broughal | Project Leader
Education Needs are Growing…and So Are We!
In December, the school year ended with 13 students sponsored through Olalo of Hope-Kenya graduating and moving on to the next phase of their lives. Several of those students are moving on to University, two of them have been signed to professional soccer clubs in Kenya.
Congratulations to all our graduating students!
We want to Thank You for supporting their dreams of a better life through the gift of an education which you helped to support.
Over the past months, Olalo had been receiving many applications from future teachers, nurses and engineers who needed financial support to pay for their high school fees, books and supplies. Funds allowed us to add students to replace those who had just graduated…thirty students are currently supported through Olalo.
In March, Olalo met with current students and their parents to discuss the upcoming school year and the expectation placed on the students…study hard, have good attendance and to ask for help if they needed help with their studies.
Parents were appreciative to know the expectations and extremely thankful for this opportunity for their children.
During a recent Vision Clinic in Oyugis, which Olalo partnered with in April, two of the clinic workers were so moved by those current and past students they met, that they each decided to sponsor a student’s education. While many sponsors never get the opportunity to meet their student in person, these new sponsors met their students as Olalo told them the news that they would be sponsored for their education. What a sweet moment that was!
In the meantime, we have 25 applications from students still waiting to see if they can continue with school now in 2018.
One of those students is Brian.
Brian is just beginning high school; he is 13 years old. He has no money and no one to support him. Brian’s neighbor told us that each evening she hears him outside his home crying and in distress.
Brian is currently attending school two days a week. The other three days he is working at a local carpentry shop to earn the money to pay for those two days a week at school. It’s getting harder each day to continue and he is falling behind in studies and having enough money to keep him in school…even at only two days a week.
This is the resolve so many children have in Kenya today. They know education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and do incredible things to get an education. Olalo would LOVE to tell Brian that his school fees are covered and allow this 13-year-old to just be a kid, go to school, study hard and fulfill his dreams.
We are also aware of at least 30 soon coming applications for assistance for beginning high school in January. So, while we are growing and adding more students….so is the need of many others.
It is with a grateful heart that we thank you to all who have donated to the education project of Olalo of Hope-Kenya, to allow kids to attend school and work to make a future for themselves. We need you...and the kids need you!
Thank You for your support!
Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya
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