Fiona with her group during design thinking at a KEF Workshop
My name is Fiona, aged 21.I went to The Mary leaky Girls high school where I completed my KCSE in the year 2018. I come from Siaya county but currently reside in Kikuyu.
I grew up in a family where my mother had to play both parental roles. My dad died when I was 4 leaving behind 6 children and life after his death was not a walk in the park because we had to see our mom endure a lot just to make sure we had something to eat and went to school.
KEF came a time when school was now not my main concern, I had lost hope and without KEF I guess I was to join my mom and my elder siblings in the fight for our survival.
When I got the message that I had received the scholarship I was emotional. There was this sigh of relief that I had because now I knew that I would go to high school and I can admit this was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Fiona at Kabete National Polytechnic
KEF came as a blessing to my family. It gave us a glimpse of hope and after getting my scholarship and ever since then things at home were different in a very positive way. I did participate in all the mentorship programs, the CREW workshop and also got a chance to mentor another crew workshop and what stood out the most for me is the Family spirit in KEF because they have always in one way or another given me a sense of belonging and they make sure the KEF family remains a family even after completing high school
My best activity was one where we were told to draw a tree with the fruits representing what we treasure and want to produce, our fallen leaves representing what we want to cut off from our life (bad habits) and leaves and branches to represent what nourishes us, the people who play different roles in the nourishment so that we can bear the fruits that we desire and that was one lesson that really got to dig deep inside me and that’s where my journey of self realization began
Fiona at Mary Leaky highschool
The biggest challenge I faced in school is the bullying I got and that one time things were tough at home and my academics and attitude were really affected
I have great passion in written art, poetry, and theatre arts and I enjoy most writing and listening to music.I am currently studying in the Kabete National Polytechnic, I am pursuing a Diploma course in Health and records information
I aspire to be someone happy and successful in future. So that I can give a hand to KEF and also sponsor students who also have no means to further their education
I can't say I have done much so far to my community but to my family I do try help in sustaining it and sometimes when I meet students who have lost hope I do tell them about KEF and how they helped me out
Fiona mentoring at a KEF workshop
Dear Jeanne, all I can say now is thank you because I don't think there are any better words to express my gratitude the only thing I can do is to pray for God's continued blessings upon you and your family and when I become successful I will also give other students a chance to education and a better life as you did to me. THANK YOU JEANNE
To the new scholars, life will never be a walk on the park, but the time to change your families and your own lives is now. Now that you have the opportunity to continue with your studies go study very hard in school like your life depends on it and when you emerge successful remember to extend your hand to those who also have a rough childhood as you did.
Thank you so much KEF for being my family.
