There are thousands of learners who are still at home despite the government’s one hundred per cent transition from primary to secondary school in place.
Most of these learners are not able to transition to secondary school due to financial constraints.
Fortunately, the Affecto Foundation through its Watoto Wasome program has come to the rescue of 31 learners who missed out on joining secondary school three weeks ago, giving them the opportunity to pursue their secondary education through scholarships.
The team leader and founder of the Affecto Foundation Ndung’u Nyoro stated that learners who qualified for the scholarship had been selected from all over the country after they had applied and undergone a thorough vetting process to ensure that they deserve the support.
In addition, Nyoro also said that many bright children who do well in their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) end up living hopeless lives due to poverty.
The Watoto Wasome program has supported 150 learners through high school education over the last six years with 50 of them having moved to various universities across the country.
Among the learners who benefitted from the programme was one Rose Nekesa who comes from Bungoma County and had attained 364 marks in her KCPE examination. She was admitted to St. Mary’s Kibabii Girls’ Secondary School.
However, she was sent home a few days after she had reported to school since she only had Kes. 2,000 hoping that she could get more money to pay for the remaining school fees.
Her grandfather who had accompanied her to the Affecto Foundation Offices in Ruiru was forced to seek further assistance for her daughter to continue with her education.
Another beneficiary, Joy Wanjiru from Kayole had attained 408 marks and is set to join St. Theresa Mbooni Girls’ Secondary School after being awarded the scholarship.
Joy’s mother who is a matatu preacher was elated after hearing the news of her daughter being qualified for the scholarship.
However, the story of couple of Abdulahi Mohamed and Habiba Maalim from Mukuru Kwa Njenga in Nairobi gives many people hope. The couple had two children who sat for their KCPE examinations last year but because of poverty, they were not able to afford to take their son and daughter to the school of their choosing.
Fortunately, their son Mohamed Abdulahi received the scholarship and was able to finally join Form One and through the Affecto Foundation, his sister Iftar Abdulahi who got 389 marks in her KCPE is now set to join St Theresa’s Girls’ Secondary School in Kapenguria.
Another student, Derrick Ouma who scored 410 marks also had the same financial constraints which prevented him from joining Maranda Boys High School to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.
However, the Watoto Wasome program came to their rescue and he is now set to achieve his lifelong ambition.
All the thirty-one (31) beneficiaries will be joining the school next week after being issued with bank cheques.
The Affecto Foundation gives people hope that they can pursue their education due to financial constraints.
The foundation is committed to ensuring that deserving learners are identified and given the necessary support to continue with their education. They play a crucial role in achieving universal access to education.
If more organizations and individuals support initiatives like this then indeed no child will be left behind because of poverty.