Through Fadhili Trust’s Watoto Wetu program, Brian Ouma, a 20- year old student in Form Four at a National school in Nairobi County is slowly nearing the realization of his dream of becoming a Civil Engineer. This is after Fadhili Trust identified an education need, sponsored his education from pre-primary, to primary and now he is in his last year of his secondary school education.

“I lost my father when I was only Five years old. My mother, who was and still is a cobler struggled to meet a seven-member family’s basic needs. Over the years, Fadhili Trust has become like our parents since all my siblings have either been sponsored or are being sponsored by the organisation. The organisation caters for our house rent, school fees, transport to school and even school pocket money and we are forever indebted,” says Brian, with his face beaming with joy.

Initially, Brian and his family lived in a one-roomed house in Kware slums of Ongata Rongai. Later on, the family had to be relocated to a three-roomed house since the mother was ailing from a lung disease and the children were more susceptible to infection. Most times, the eight (8) year old Brian at that time, went to school on an empty stomach and could not concentrate in class. Hunger made him stay out of class and truancy became his order of the day. He ganged up with three of his friends and resorted to stealing scrap metals, sell and buy food for themselves. He ran away from home, became a street-boy and could steal from established garages and break into shops. One day, they dared to sneak into a police station to steal scrap metals that were to be police exhibit, unfortunately, they were arrested and put into police custody, where Brian managed to escape. This was the day he considers his turning point. On his way out of the police station’s gate, Brian bumped into his mother who bundled him on her back, took him home to freshen up and later that day, walked up to Fadhili Trust office to seek for education assistance.

With his eyes welling up with tears, Brians interjects, “Trully, I was becoming wayward and the moment Ms.Josephine of Fadhili Trust suggested a primary boarding school in Kitengela, I was excited about it. At least I was assured of three meals and shelter everyday and chances of relapsing back to the streets were slimmer. My elder brother took me for an interview. Unfortunately, I performed dismally and was taken back to pre-primary, four classes behind. I scored 14 Marks out of the possible 500 marks. My class-teacher saw my potential while in Class One and focused on making me understand the subjects. I had an exemplary performance in Class One that the school made me skip a Class and joined Class Three. I kept performing outstandingly well and maintained an upward trajectory until I sat for my Kenya Certificate of  Primary Education (KCPE), where I emerged the top candidate in the school with 371 out of 500 marks,” he says with a radiant smile, lighting up his entire face with warmth and joy.

Brian, currently a Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KCSE) candidate aspires to be a Civil Engineer. He has over the four years of secondary education maintained an outstanding performance of  between mean grade A- and C+ and even better grades in Mathematics, Physics and Geography. “School holidays are some of my dreaded days because am certain of going without food for days, the more reason I go looking for casual jobs to help ease my mother’s burden of providing food for us. On a good week, I used to make Kshs.2400, I give my mother Kshs.2000 and keep Kshs.400 for my use. However, now that I am a candidate, am forced to forego the casual jobs, stay at home to study and maximise the daylight, since we do not have power at night in our home, of which many days my siblings and I go to bed completely hungry. I am optimistic that I will perform well as I am putting the necessary effort towards it and achieve my goal of becoming an engineer, ultimately making myself, family and Fadhili Trust happy of my achievements,” adds Brian.

It costs KES 85,000 (USD 700) per year to sponsor a child like Brian to access secondary school education. Help us bring a lasting change to children and their families.