This Giving Season, Help Their Dreams Take Flight

Eric dreams of becoming a pilot. Mary hopes to become a judge. Faith wants to become a Christian Religious Education (CRE) lecturer. Their aspirations are full of promise, but for families struggling to meet the cost of education, staying in school is not always guaranteed.

This Giving Season, a scholarship can help students like Eric, Mary, and Faith remain in school, focus on their education and continue working towards the futures they envision.

Eric, 13, Grade 7: A Dream of Taking to the Skies

At just 13, Eric already has his sights set on the skies. A Grade 7 student at Thika Junior Secondary School for the Blind, he loves mathematics because it sharpens his problem-solving skills and brings him one step closer to his dream of becoming a pilot.

For Eric's family, meeting the cost of education is a challenge. His mother works part-time while raising Eric and his brother, who also has albinism, and caring for her other children. Balancing school fees with the family's daily needs can be difficult.

A scholarship would help ease this financial pressure and support Eric to remain in school, continue learning and develop the skills he needs to pursue his ambitions.

Mary, 15, Grade 5: Pursuing Justice Through Education

Fifteen-year-old Mary is a determined Grade 5 student who enjoys music and sports. She loves singing, playing the keyboard, and joining her peers on the netball field. These activities give her opportunities to build confidence, develop friendships, and participate fully in school life.

But her education has not always been consistent. Financial challenges have caused her to miss school for extended periods, including one interruption that lasted two terms (thirds of the school year). Each period away from school makes it harder to keep pace with her studies.

Mary is the firstborn of four children in a single-parent household. Her mother works hard to provide for the family's basic needs while keeping her children in school. Despite these challenges, Mary remains focused on her education and her dream of becoming a judge and helping others access justice.

She holds firmly to a belief that guides her journey: “Disability is not inability.”

A scholarship could help Mary attend school more consistently and give her the stability she needs to learn, grow and work towards her future.

Faith, 14, Grade 5: Inspired to Teach Others

Faith is a curious and thoughtful 14-year-old Grade 5 student who enjoys Christian Religious Education because it deepens her understanding of God. She also loves Swahili stories, particularly Sungura Chini ya Mti (A rabbit under a tree), whose clever rabbit character captures her imagination.

Faith is one of three children in a family with limited income. Her mother runs a small shop, while her father takes on construction work. School fees is charged per term but it can be paid  through monthly statements, meeting the cost of her education can be difficult alongside the family's other daily expenses.

Despite these challenges, Faith remains committed to her education and hopes to become a Christian Religious Education (CRE) lecturer, potentially at Mount Kenya University, where she can share her knowledge with other students.

A scholarship would help reduce the financial pressure on her family and allow Faith to remain focused on her education and the future she hopes to build.

Give the Gift of Education

For children like Eric, Mary, and Faith, staying in school can be the difference between having a dream and having the opportunity to pursue it.

The full cost of providing three students with a year of scholarship support is $1,440, and you don’t have to give the full amount to make a difference. Whether you give $10, $50, $100 or $1,440, every contribution helps students stay in school, focus on their education, and continue pursuing their dreams.

A scholarship is more than financial assistance. It provides stability and creates an opportunity for a student to continue learning, developing their potential, and imagining a future beyond the circumstances they face today.

Donate today and help keep a student's dreams within reach.

Written by Linda Wairegi, Communications and Assistive Technology Team