HOPE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A DESERT
“Hope in the middle of a desert” is the term I find
appropriate to describe GEFA. I am the fourth born in a family of five children.
My father works as a casual laborer and mother is a housewife.
I had just completed my primary
education, and had emerged the best in my class and received two admissions to
national schools and one from a provincial level school, but I had no hope of ever
enrolling in high school. My first born brother had just joined college, second
born brother had completed high school and the third born sister was then in
her final year. My parents had spent all they had to pay their fees and had
even gone ahead and sold a section of our small piece of land to supplement
their income. There was nothing more to be sold and there I was ready to join
high school.
I still remember the morning when
my mother told me I would have to stay out of school for a year till my sister
completed her high school. I was totally discouraged, but in my heart I trusted
God to open a way. I started selling greens at our shopping centre and saved
some money and bought a school uniform, hoping that I would one day go back to
school, then something happened. It was on Sunday after attending the morning
service when one of my family’s friends realized I was not in school but at
home. When she learned why, she offered to buy me the bedding and supplies
necessary for school. I now had everything except the school fee of $190. I was
now convinced that no matter the circumstances I was going back to school.
One morning I gathered courage and
went to the school near my home that had sent me an admission letter and
requested to speak to the principal. This was the same school my sister attended.
I explained to her my situation and by God’s grace she allowed me join the
school on the condition that I pay half the total amount. My primary school
teachers each contributed some money and ¾ of the school fees was raised.
I was now admitted to school but
had no idea where term two school fees would come from. One of my primary
school teachers, Mrs. Mbugua, introduced me to her husband who introduced me to
Janice Croze Hall through an application letter. GEFA then started paying my
school fees and I settled to my studies. They provided text books, uniform and paid
my school fees.
I am now coordinating the
sponsorship for the 103 GEFA sponsored children in Kenya. I am also trying to
raise funds among Kenyans to sponsor more children. I am also a student in Diploma
in Social Work and Community Development. My hope is to see GEFA grow and reach
out to many needy children in Kenya and in the whole of Africa. I also believe
that I will one day be able to sponsor a child.
This is just me. There are so many
others who have much to say about how your sponsorship has helped their lives.
Thanks to GEFA and more so to you for your yearly contribution, it helps bring
hope to a Kenyan child.
Susan Chesire
Coordinator GEFA Kenya