By Alice Gathe | Project Leader
Michel’s story is one of courage, resilience, and hope. Her family resides in Kajiado County, where most families depend on cattle keeping for their livelihood. Despite growing up in a family facing immense financial hardship, Michel has always stood out for her determination and academic excellence. After scoring an impressive 375 marks in her KCPE exams, Michel earned admission to a national girls’ high school in Kenya. It was a moment of pride for her family, but also one of heartbreak she was unable to join her peers because her mother could not afford the school fees. Her mother, who earns a modest income through door-to-door laundry work and occasional farm labor, had exhausted all options. Desperate and with nowhere else to turn, she walked into Affecto Foundation offices with Michel, hoping for a miracle. At that time, the family was living with a relative after being evicted from their home for failing to pay rent. Life had not been easy for Michel’s family since the passing of her father. When he died, relatives drove them away, leaving them with nothing. Michel’s mother had to rebuild their lives from scratch while caring for her children and her ailing mother. She shoulders all responsibilities alone, doing her best to provide, even when opportunities seem few and far between. Michel is the youngest of three children. Her elder sibling completed high school with a B- and is now in university, while the second-born sister faced frequent interruptions in her education due to school fee arrears. Just before her KCSE exams, she was sent home and had almost given up hope of sitting for her final papers. Through the timely intervention of foundation, her fees were cleared, allowing her to focus on her studies. She went on to score a B+ and is now enrolled in one of Kenya’s top universities. For Michel, these experiences have only strengthened her resolve to change her family’s story through education. She dreams of becoming an engineer, a goal that reflects both her love for science and her desire to create lasting change. In school, she has shown great leadership and excellence in her academics, inspiring her peers through her focus, humility, and commitment to excellence. Although her mother had to drop out of school in Class Eight because of financial constraints, Michel and her siblings are rewriting that narrative. Education, once a distant dream, is now their pathway to a brighter future. None of this would have been possible without the kindness and generosity of GlobalGiving donors, whose support through Affecto Foundation continues to give hope to families like Michel’s. Michel’s journey reminds us that behind every scholarship is a story of transformation. Through the support of GlobalGiving family, a young girl who once faced despair is now filled with promise, courage, and the belief that her dreams are valid. Her success is not hers alone, it belongs to everyone who chose to believe in her.
By Alice Gathe | Project Leader
By Alice Gathe | Project Leader
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