Esther

Esther’s own words:

Kids to School Newsletter, March 2018

Your destiny or fate is determined by your choices and actions. If you do not control and shape your destiny or fate, your future will be determined by
what will happen – Dr. T.P. Chia

The above statement is a true reflection of my life. From the small village of Otok Rongo in Karachuonyo Constituency in Homabay County all the way to the City of Nairobi courtesy of Kids 2 School Foundation; isn’t God Great? As a primary pupil in a small town in Kenya, I had dreams, big dreams that I would pray every day to God to make them come true. Having lost his job in my last year of primary school, my father and I were not sure of the possibility of joining a secondary school. Believing that dreams are valid, I sat for my exams and qualified to join a good secondary school but the joy was short lived as there was not enough money to enable me join my dream school. Through the help of few villagers, my father managed to collect some money and I joined a small secondary school in my village. Despite having reported later than the others I managed to pass well and as fate would put it I was the best. Six months after joining secondary school, a man famously known as Mr Owino announced in the village that he had contacts with some “white people” who could pay school fees and as the norm, I registered with him and transferred to St. Lucy’s Raruowa Secondary School in Homabay County together with other girls (Levis Nyalando and Maureen Atieno) having promised to pay our fees. He never paid a dime to the school and I was once again helpless as my school fees arrears had piled up. Then ‘boom’ along came the Carmelite Missionary Sisters; forever grateful for having met the wonderful and beautiful souls. With the help of Sr Milaluna who was already part of the local advisory council to the Foundation and also serving as the financial coordinator and Sr. Anthonia Ochike (Then Principal at Raruowa Girls’ Secondary school where I studied), five new beneficiaries were accepted in the Foundation! This marked the beginning of a beautiful story. I am now in my final semester of four years at Kenyatta University Law School. This came after passing well in my final exams in secondary school meriting studying law in Kenya. I joined law school in September 2014 and since then I have been involved in many activities in and out of Campus. In first Year, I joined a Charity Group in school which focused more on helping out in children’s homes, mentorship and also donations. We would sell commodities like sweets in school to raise money for our activities and this has been successful. I currently have two mentees who look up to me as their big sister. After my second year, I went for Judicial Attachment at Makadara Law Courts where I got to learn more of the court system and the Kenyan Criminal Justice System. This was an eye opener for me as I got the opportunity to spend time with the judges and magistrates and learn from them. I also got the chance to write many judgments in relation to the criminal cases at the court. The site visits played an important role as they formed the foundation of my research paper on the Prevalence of Sexual Offences within the court’s Jurisdiction and scoring highly on it. I still help the magistrate who supervised me to write judgements and other necessaries like inquests to date. It was also in my second year that I joined Africa Youth Leadership Forum, an organization that aims at training student leaders, mentorship and friendship. Through this organization, I realized my talent and interest in events planning and public relations. I have been able to be part of many planning committees for their events like the Annual Student Leaders Retreat for all student leaders in Africa, Mega end year dinners where I am always the head of the team, the Annual Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast of Kenya graced by the President and many breakfast meetings. We are currently working on a Breakfast Meeting for Deans of Student Affairs in all Universities and main Colleges in Kenya. In my third year in the University, I got the chance to undertake my internship at the Ministry of Water where I learnt many things. Got the chance to draft a lot of documents in relation to the Ministry especially contracts. Spending time with the State Counsels and learning more of what they do awakened my interest in the commercial world and would like to take that direction after school. I also did a research on Water Legislation in the country which impressed my supervisor. Later in the year, I applied to be part of the Youth Programme for Women Deliver Programme which was successful and I give thanks and Glory to God. This is a programme that seeks to empower young women advocates in advancing their career through monthly based meeting, workshops, community based programmes and conferences. Without doubt, it is clearly evident that the scholarship has played a key role in enabling me achieve my educational dreams. Acquiring a degree in Kenya is very expensive when one has to pay school fees as a self-sponsored student, and due to the generosity of the foundation, the financial burden placed on my family to fund my education has been reduced. Apart from fees, one has to worry about rent, food and other things. The foundation having reduced the financial burden then meant that I spent much of my time on my studies, research and extracurricular activities and less time worrying about my finances.

Thank you very much for investing in my future and the future of other beneficiaries. My last semester at Kenyatta University ends in May after which I will undertake my internship as I await graduation in December. I am interested in working with Companies, Parastatals, Banks and NGO’s with legal departments and am in the process of researching and doing my applications for the internship to be able to get a place by the time I am done with school. After attaining my degree at Kenyatta University, I hope to join Kenya School of Law in 2019(February) to be able to be admitted to the bar as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and to attain my practicing certificate. I sincerely express my gratitude to the Foundation for investing in me, I hope to honour you with my success and also give back to see one succeed as I was uplifted. My sincere appreciation to:Kids to School Board in Netherlands; Sr. Milaluna Arranchado Moralde, – Financial Coordinator; Sr. Anthonia Ngozi Ochike – Former Principal Raruowa Girls’ Secondary School; Local Advisory Council; my Family; Kids to School Beneficiaries. May God protect you, reward you and bless all of you. You are jewels.

Love and Prayers, Esther.