Projects in Kenya 2023
Heart of Ruth
Heart of Ruth and the students we support had a great year in 2023. We had many fundraising initiatives located between Sudbury and Muskoka, Ontario and our students continued their education journeys. With your help, we sponsored 25 students- including 7 in University or College. Due to lack of sponsors, and a huge education commitment already, we were unable to provide post-secondary sponsorships to students graduating from Secondary School this year. We teamed up with Thrive for Good (another incredible Canadian non-profit organization) and were able to send 6 students in Kitale for a month-long course on organic agriculture. Here they learned the most sustainable, and easy way to grow medicinal plants (like ones to naturally treat malaria!), and vegetables in Kenya. The 6 boys took this knowledge and applied it to their communities and homes along the coast of Kenya. Unfortunately, in 2023 Rainbow House Children’s Home officially closed. Heart of Ruth Mission has supported the home itself for many years in various ways, however it was the UK that funded the homes monthly expenses, and they were unable to continue. The children were sent home to live with remaining family whether that be an aunt, or a grandparent. Social workers have been involved with regular family visits while they adjust to life outside of the orphanage. Heart of Ruth Mission continues to support some of these students from home. Most students in our Education Sponsorship Program are nearing the end of Secondary School or are in College/ University so we can communicate with them directly and not rely on second-hand information. Our remaining funds will continue to support our currently sponsored students. Thank you to all our 2023 self-less donors. We truly could not change the cycle of poverty for these students without you.
“Heart of Ruth’s support has been instrumental in alleviating the financial burden associated with pursuing higher education. Thanks to your generosity, I have been able to focus more on my studies and academic pursuits without constantly worrying about my financial aspect. Your belief in my potential and your willingness to invest in my education have not only lightened my financial load but have also served as a source of immense motivation and encouragement for me knowing that there are individual like you who are willing to support me. I am committed to excelling in my academic endeavors and eventually giving back to the community in meaningful ways, just as you have done for me.”
~ Emmanuel Mwatore (Photo of him below)
Watoto Wetu
Activities
Watoto wetu is one of the projects implemented by Fadhili Trust that focuses on offering education support, upkeep and transport to and from school, hostel fee for those in college and shelter to a few who are not able to afford (so far only one family is being paid for rent). The focus of the project is to improve the livelihood of the children from the vulnerable families in the community with hope of alleviating poverty in the long run.
For the year 2023-2024, we have 28 students on education support clustered as follows:
- Primary school – 1 student in grade 8
- High school – 8 students (6 in grade 12, one in grade 10 and one in grade nine)
- Post high school (waiting to join college) – 4 students
- University / College – 13 students (3 have finished class work and are on practical attachments, the rest still on class work)
- Deferment – 2 students (one who conceived at college level, she has since then given birth to a baby boy)
- Dropout – 1 student who fell ill mentally while at college level thereby not able to continue learning
Challenges
There are some students with special needs like medication in our case Ida who oftenly fall ill due to sickle cell anaemia and Moses who developed a mental illness while at school, but this has not been possible to support due to limited funds.
REACHING THE MOST DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN WITH EDUCATION: STORY OF BRIAN OUMA
Through the Watoto Wetu program, Brian Ouma, a 20- year old student in Form Four at Aquinas High School in Nairobi County is slowly nearing the realization of his dream to 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 our parents since all my siblings have either been sponsored or are being sponsored by the organisation. The organisation carters 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 Tuberculosis 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 tuning point. On his way out of the police stattion’s gate, he 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 ssistance.
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, atleast 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 whie in Class One and focused on making me understand the subjects. I ended up performing really well 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. In 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 at home. I am optimistic that I wil perform well as 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.
