Keep a student in school

In 2024, 23 students under Affecto Foundation’s Watoto Wasome Program sat for their KCSE examinations. Among them was Peter, whose journey reflects the power of education and opportunity.

Growing up in Dandora, Peter’s life was unpredictable. Crime, unemployment, and financial struggles shaped his daily reality. His mother often reminded him that the only inheritance she could offer was "a God bless you." But Peter believed in something greater—education as his way out.

After scoring 405 marks in KCPE, he earned a spot at Murang’a High School. However, affording school fees seemed impossible. With no other choice, he took up a job as a painter, earning Ksh. 2,500 per month to support his family. Despite losing hope, his mother remained persistent.

A turning point came when his story was shared on a radio station, catching the attention of Affecto Foundation. Soon after, he was invited to Ruiru, where he became part of the Affecto family, receiving both financial and mentorship support to continue his education.

When the KCSE 2024 results were released, Peter emerged as one of the top students in the country, scoring an A plain of 83 points. His success was part of a bigger story—Cohort 5’s outstanding performance, with many students excelling beyond expectations.

Peter now dreams of joining an international university to study Medicine or Engineering, with hopes of giving back to his community.

Affecto Foundation extends its gratitude to the GlobalGiving family for their unwavering support and partnership. Your contributions continue to change lives, proving that education is the greatest investment in the future.

Wanyonyi is a determined young man from Bungoma who, despite facing significant challenges, has shown resilience and hope for a better future. In 2019, he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams and scored 323 marks out of 500. This performance earned him a place at Bungoma High School, a dream come true for a young man who had worked hard to secure a spot in  secondary school.

However, Wanyonyi’s dreams were soon met with a major obstacle—financial constraints. The inability to pay school fees and cover other essential school requirements forced him to drop out during the second term of Form 3 in 2022. Although this was a decision he did not want to make, the pressure of unpaid school fees and the burden on his parents became too overwhelming.

After dropping out of school, Wanyonyi joined the construction industry, as a casual worker. He took on hard physical labor to help support his family. Despite the difficult nature of the work, Wanyonyi remained hopeful that this was a temporary setback. He believed that through hard work and faith in God, he would eventually find a way to return to school and continue his education.
Wanyonyi’s decision to work in construction was not only about supporting himself but also alleviating the financial burden on his parents. He never lost sight of his long-term goal: to go back to school and pursue his dreams.

His situation came to the attention of a school teacher who was determined to help. After conducting due diligence, Affecto Foundation was able to assist Wanyonyi by clearing his school fee arrears. This gave Wanyonyi a chance of going back to school. He was overjoyed and deeply grateful for this opportunity. It was indeed an answered prayer.

With this second chance to continue his education, Wanyonyi is more determined than ever. He is committed to making the most of this opportunity, not only for himself but also to make his family, friends, and supporters proud. Wanyonyi and 157 more students at Affecto Foundation’s Watoto Wasome program have successfully completed their academic year 2024. We are immensely grateful to GlobalGiving  for the intervention in making this happen.