Morine’s dream was to become a medical doctor.
- Born in 1996 in Homa Bay county, Kenya
- Sponsored from 2011 to 2013 for her secundary education
- Sponsoring continued in 2015 for her nurse training
- She graduated in 2018
- She works in Nairobi Hospital as a nurse
- She is 30 years old
Why did we sponsor Morine?
Her father did not earn enough as a security guard to pay for a daytime secondary school education. She has three brothers, all of whom only attended primary school. Morine dreamed of becoming a doctor and trusted that her father would do everything he could to give her the opportunity to attend secondary school. Paying high school fees was a struggle, finally an aunt paid for Morine’s day school. Fortunately, thanks to the support of benefactors, Morine was given the chance to attend a good boarding school. This also meant an end to the long walks to school, going to school without food, and having no proper light in the evenings to study. However, the benefactors’ funds soon ran out, and without new support Morine would have had to leave secondary school again after just one year.
Morine was highly motivated, worked hard, and achieved good academic results. Kids to School believed she deserved the opportunity to receive a good education that would improve her future prospects. The organization began sponsoring Morine in 2011, when she was in her second year of secondary school, because she would otherwise have been forced to discontinue her education after her previous sponsorship ended. In her third year of secondary school, Morine’s mother passed away. Despite this setback, she successfully completed her secondary education in 2013.
Kids to School also supported Morine in pursuing further education, as this would give her a real opportunity to build an independent future. It was disappointing for Morine that she had to give up her dream of becoming a doctor because her final examination grades were not high enough for admission to medical school. As an alternative, she began nursing training in September 2015. She successfully completed her studies in November 2018 and has been working at Nairobi Hospital since January 2019.
Morine’s own words (Kids to School Newsletter March 2019)
I remember the day very well. I had been waiting so long for it, and it finally came: My first day in boarding school. All my problems were finally over. The daily walks to school in the morning and back in the evenings, sometimes in heavy rains, sometimes the rivers overflow to the extent that I could not cross, going to school without food at night, and the poorly lit lamps for reading at night. All this was over now. All I had in mind now was to read, read and read. All thanks to a sponsorship that came in the village taking children from day schools to boarding schools. All my dad had to do was to pay a sum of 4000 Kes (about 40 euros) and the rest of the school fees was paid by them. This organization did not last long though and they pulled out having run out of funds because of sponsoring too many children. Here we were, back to square one. My mom kept on coming to plead with the school repeatedly to let me study and then the fee was to be increased even though they knew very well that my family could not raise such an amount. Going to high school was such a struggle. My dad didn’t have enough money to pay for my day schooling and I knew it already when I was in primary school. But I had one thing in mind, and that was to trust his words that he would do anything in his power to see me go to high school if I passed my final exams. When I passed my exams, he did everything, including talking to relatives and by God’s grace my Aunt volunteered to pay for my school fees in a day school. After several months, Sr.Theodora (bursar of the school) called me and the news she gave me was like a dream. There was an organization which wanted to sponsor five students who were hard working and whose parents were unable to pay for their fees. I was one of them. I was so happy and could go on singing and singing. God had sent a helper to me. The helper was the foundation KIDS TO SCHOOL. Sr. Mila came to the school to visit us. Also Ans visited our school in Raruowa. Each year we visited Nairobi to join the annual students’ day of Kids to School. During our first visit we met Ruud and Ans. I also met other students from other parts of the country who were in the same foundation. My first mentor was Mr. Andrew and he struggled with me so much showing me the right way, we went through a lot together. Later on Mr. Nicholas became my mentor. I must say that he is a good listener and advised me on the right choices. He was there for me when I needed him the most. Everything was going on smoothly until my third year in High school when I lost my mom from cancer, may her soul rest in peace. It was so hard for me to cope with the loss of my mother. The foundation supported me together with my teachers and family. I sat for my final exams. Thereafter I did my computer packages with the support of the organization I was so lucky to be in this organization for they were ready to pay for my schooling not just in high school but also further studies which is so rare. When my results were out, I was a bit disappointed I expected higher grades. My dream always had been to become a medical doctor but for that my grades were too low.I applied for Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in a local University but didn’t succeed. Then one day Sr. Mila suggested that I pay her a visit and I got a chance to talk to Sr. Irene who advised me to start a nursing course in the same school she was studying at that moment. I joined Cicely McDonell School of nursing. I was so happy to join the school. It was a very good school with cool learning environment, good food, and everything that one would wish for and had great expectations. In the school there were a lot of challenges such as standing for a long time during practical’s and there was a lot to cover in a short time. But with time, I was able to adjust. Ans and Jose visited me during my first year and even though I wasn’t able to take them round the whole hospital, I felt great and blessed to have them. This was such a great motivation. I had a lot to share with Jose since she is also a nurse. During my second year, the school increased the fees by 40% since we had new buildings with better study rooms and hostels. I informed Mr. Andrew, my mentor at that moment and he informed the organization about the changes and my school fees were paid to completion. In my third year, I got sick from cholera and got admitted to the hospital. On discharge, the hospital bill had gone too high for my family to pay. Once again the foundation interceded on my behalf and there came a reduction in the bill. The foundation however was not planning to pay. Finally my family managed to raise 50.000 Kes and my classmates raised 78.000 Kes towards this. I can’t fail to recognize the efforts of Mr Andrew and Mr. Nicholas during this time for they devoted their time to advocate on my behalf. I sat for my nursing council exams and passed my exams. It felt so good to finish school and now I am a qualified nurse. During my graduation, Ans came and attended my graduation. This was such an honor and I am grateful that she created time to come. My father was so happy to meet her even though they had difficulty communicating to each other. He keeps telling me how sweet and kind she was. Thank you.
Here I am today, a graduate with diploma in nursing in the best school in the country. All this would have not been possible without Kids to School. I am grateful for all the support from you and thank you also for shading light in my family. You have raised me to a point that I can take care of myself and saved me from early marriage and early pregnancy. Everyone in my village is proud of me and the confidence and joy in my father’s face is beyond explanation.
Thank you.
Regards, Morine.
