- Born in 2000 in Kakamega county, Kenya
- Sponsored from 2017 to 2018 to finish her secundary school
- Sponsorship continued from 2019 to 2023 for her Bachelor of Arts in Gender Women & Development
- She is 26 years old
Why did we sponsor Valary?
Valary’s mother’s only had a small vegetable garden to generate income for her family. It did not enable Valary to continue her secondary education. Valary’s father did not support them anymore since 2007. He was forced to flee town after the 2007 post-election conflict. This conflict turned into ethnic violence; being Kikuyu Valary’s father was forced out of the not-Kikuyu town they were living in. All their property was taken from them. These events led to the parents separation. Since then Valary’s mother had to provide for her children all by herself. The older siblings were only able to go to secundairy school thanks to the support of sponsors.
Without help Valary would have been force to quit secundary school in 2017. But she had good academic results, and was reported to being very disciplined, obedient, hard working and self driven. Therefore Kids to School gave her the opportunity to pursue her education. Her sponsorship began in January 2017, when she was in her third year of secondary school. Valary graduated in November 2018 with good grades.
As a result of her strong academic performance, Valary was also given the opportunity to continue her studies at a higher level, increasing her chances of building an independent future. In September 2019, she started a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Women and Development Studies. Valary successfully completed her degree in October 2023 with good results.
Unfortunately, we have lost contact with Valary over the last recent years. We hope, and assume, that her higher education has enabled her to build a better life and create a brighter future for herself.
Valary’s own words (Newsletter Kids to School December 2023)
I grew up in a close-knit family with three children. But the violence and civil unrest that followed the 2007 elections cast a dark shadow over the enjoyment I derived from my good academic performance. During high school, I went through a period of uncertainty and doubt. During that time, I met with Sr. Milaluna, a member of the Local Advisory Counsel, who proposed that I be sponsored by Kids to School. After graduating from high school, I chose to study Bachelor ofArts, Gender and Women’s Development Studies at EgertonUniversity. Gender equality is very important to me, and I would like to make a meaningful contribution to achieving it. During herstudies, I was actively involved in the Gender Student League, which not only gave me more insight into gender-related issues, but also allowed me to work with like-minded people. Despite these positive experiences, I also experienced difficult times in 2020 and 2021 when schools were closed for more than a year due to corona and in 2023 during the student strikes. I officially completed my studies in October 2023. In ten years’ time, I see myself working as an experienced gender expert and consultant. I am currently volunteering with Haven of Dreams, a women-led organization in Nakuru County. I deal with mental health and psychosocial support.
