Monicah’s dreamed about studying Community Development so she could work with and for her community.
- Born in 2001 in South-Kadijado county, Kenya
- Sponsored since 2020 for her Bachelor of Science in Community Development and Environment
- Graduated successfully in 2023
- She works now
- She is 25 years old
Why did we sponsor Monicah?
Monicah’s mother divorced her husband because of domestic violence while Monicah was still in primary school. Left to care for her two daughters on her own, she became homeless and was forced to move back in with her mother. Monicah had to walk a very long distance to school every day. Her grandmother then arranged for her to complete the final years of primary school at the mission center of the Dominican Sisters in Loitokitok. This provided her with the stability and peace she needed to focus on her studies, and her academic performance improved significantly. Thanks to her excellent grades, Monicah was admitted to a good secondary school. Every year it was a challenge to raise the money needed for school fees, but with the support of various benefactors, she was able to successfully complete her secondary education. She graduated at the end of 2019 with good results. After her final examinations, she still had an outstanding school fee debt from her third year, which prevented her from immediately receiving her certificate, a common problem for many students in Kenya. Based on her strong academic performance, she was directly admitted to the program of her choice, Community Development and Environment.
Monicah is intelligent, optimistic, hardworking, and determined to achieve her goals. Both her primary and secondary education were marked by financial difficulties. For these reasons, Kids to School decided that Monicah should have the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of financial stress. Sponsorship began in November 2020, when she started her university studies. Monicah successfully completed her degree in December 2023 with good results.
After completing her studies, Monicah quickly found a variety of temporary jobs. She worked in a factory, as a storekeeper in a garage, and as a volunteer for Greenpeace. Her job at the garage enabled her to provide financial support for her younger sister’s further education.
Although she has not yet found her dream job, she continues to search with determination. She remains optimistic, her education has shaped her and given her confidence. She is aware of her strengths and capabilities. Most importantly, her education enables her to support herself independently. Ideally, she would like to secure a permanent position with an environmental organization.
Monicah’s own words (Kids to School Newsletter December 2023)
I was not born into the kind of family any child would wish for, but that has never stopped me from pursuing the life I wanted for myself. Domestic violence was unfortunately part of daily life for my mother, my younger sister, and me. To feel at least somewhat like a normal child, I held on to my mother’s words: every family has its own chaos. Towards the end of primary school, my parents divorced and we became homeless. Fortunately, I was taken in by the Dominican Sisters at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Centre in Loitokitok. Thanks to wellwishers I was able to successfully complete my secondary education. I was introduced to Kids to School by Sister Elizabeth, who at the time served on the local advisory committee of the organization.Because I had already developed a strong interest in environmental issues during secondary school, I chose to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Environment at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Alongside my studies, I was able to grow personally through the university’s environmental club. At the same time, however, I had to deal with the lasting effects of the domestic violence I had experienced as a child. There were times when I felt unworthy and lacked the confidence to continue pursuing my own path.
In December 2023, I officially graduated from university. Ten years from now, I see myself developing innovative strategies for environmental sustainability in a management role within an international environmental organization. In addition, I believe that my education and personal experience will enable me to support children and families who are affected by domestic violence.
At present, I work for Softcare, a company that manufactures sanitary products. It is not my ideal job, but I am confident that I will soon find a position that better matches my qualifications, ambitions, and passion for environmental development.
