Coming up this December: Graduation from Secondary School. But what’s next?
Safe Spaces Nairobi is very proud to announce that right now, 15 Safe Spaces girls are taking their KCSE examinations. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education marks the completion of 4 years of High School and at the same time is the entrance requirement for Kenyan universities. 15 of our talented girls are lining up to prepare and pass the national exam, opening the way to college education.
The high school candidates are tested in 7 subjects: 3 compulsory ones, English, Swahili, and Mathematics. Plus a choice of at least 2 subjects in Sciences, 1 in Humanities and 1a so called practical or technical subject like a foreign language (Arabic, French, German), music, art, computer skills.
The KCSE examinations usually start on October 22 and end in late November. From December on, the exam is graded and the results are released at the end of the month. The passing mark is grade C+. This examination is very important because a good grade guarantees a place in one of the public or private universities in the country. So this exam has a major impact on a girl’s future career.
Our 15 girls have worked hard to prepare the exams. Many among them have the potential to become university students. Unfortunately, Safe Spaces cannot guaranty their educational future, as the organization doesn’t have the necessary funds to finance these promising girls’ higher education.
Here are the stories of 5 of our brightest girls who want nothing more than pursue their education. They dream of becoming a teacher, a business woman, a musician, a nurse, so that they can get a job and have a better future. They have ambition and what it takes to succeed. But no money to pay for the university fees.
My name is Millicent, I am 18 years old, I was born and raised in the Kayole slums. I am the first born of six children. My father is a garbage collector and my mother a housewife. We have always lived from hand to mouth as my father’s income has never been sufficient to support the family. I joined Safe Spaces when I was in primary school and 12 years old. Safe Spaces helped me better my life and believe more in myself despite the everyday challenges I face in the slum. Safe Spaces helped me through high school and I have always been a good performer. I will be doing my KCSE this November. I hope that I will excel so that I can go to Kenyatta University to get a degree in teacher training as I have always dreamt of becoming a teacher. I hope that Safe Spaces will help me reach my goal.
My name is Laura, I am 17 years old, I was born and raised in the Mathare slums. I am the second born of two children. I lost my father in a road accident and I have been living with my mother who is a casual laborer. I joined Safe Spaces in 2011 while in primary school and I have been an active member of Safe Spaces till date. I got a high school scholarship from Safe Spaces and joined a secondary school where I will be doing my final exams in 2019. After high school, I have always dreamt of studying music at a technical university in Kenya and hope that Safe Spaces will make my dream come true.
My name is Florence, I am 18 years old, I was born and raised in the Mathare slums. I am an only child. I was orphaned at the age of 6 after my parents were poisoned by unknown people; I have been living with my aunt who is a hawker. I joined Safe Spaces in 2010 and I have been an active member since then. When I finished primary school, my aunt was not able to cater for my high school education and Safe Spaces offered me a 4-year scholarship to High School. I am a very bright student who has the urge to be successful. I will be doing my final exams this year and I hope to pass and join the university of Nairobi to major in Education and Arts.
My name is Euphy, I am 18 years old and I was born and raised in the Kayole slums. I am the youngest of four children. I was raised by my father, a bus driver. My mother died while giving birth to me and I never knew her. Growing up with my father was never easy because he did not really care for us. When I was 7 years old, he remarried and my stepmother never loved us. When my father was not around, she would not give us food and she at times beat us and lock us out of the house. After years of hardship my older brother got a job in the slums and I moved in with him, though his income was never enough. At least I had peace being away from my step mom. In 2010 our father died in a road accident. In 2011, I heard about Safe Spaces from a friend and ever since Safe Spaces has always been my second home. After primary school, I never thought I would go to high school but Safe Spaces awarded me a four-year scholarship at a nearby secondary school. I will be doing my final KCSE exams this year and I am very hopeful that I will do well. I hope to go to university and study for a business management degree because business has always been my passion.
My name is Cecile, I am 18 years old, I was born and raised in Soweto, Kayole slums. I live with my parents, but they are both crippled, they sell sweets in the streets and don’t make enough money to support me and my 4 siblings. I joined Safe Spaces when I was 9 years old and got sponsored at primary school. Safe Spaces has had a major impact on my life ever since. After primary school, I got a Safe Spaces scholarship to join secondary school. My motto in life is that hard work pays. I have been putting more work and effort to my studies and I am very hopeful to pass my final exams which I will be doing this year. I wish to join the Kenya medical training college and study medicine and become a nurse.
How to make their dream come true?
Safe Spaces is looking for private sponsors who would agree to take on the commitment to support one individual girl. You can also form a group of sponsors with your friends of family members, to spread the costs. Imagine what that would mean for each girl, to have the chance to study in higher education and reach her goal. That would really be a ticket out of the slums!
At Safe Spaces, we already have private sponsors who support university girls for 4 to 5 years. Becoming a sponsor has its tax benefits. If you want to know more, please contact us at : info@safespaces-nairobi.org.
Our girls are super motivated, not afraid of the challenge. We are extremely proud of them because of what they already achieved with their previous scholarships to the various high schools, through hard work and basketball trainings. They just need someone to help make it happen!
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