Educate

by Fred Sadia The government of Kenya shut down schools all over the country in March in a bid to control the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases. Children all over the country found themselves in a moment of anxiety, not aware of what the future held for them. Parents alike found themselves drowning in uncertainty. The long holiday proved to be a thorn in the side of everyone in education. But Ndoto became a safe haven for many children, especially in our new library.

by Fred Sadia Dave in 2014 Not all sleepers get to land in paradise with every dream, but when the light of dawn casts a rosy hue across the morning sky, a dreamer cannot be tethered. Dave is such a dreamer. His story is one of resilience, perseverance, and hope. He lives beyond his broken past, focusing on his aspirations and keeping his dream alive. From a tender age, Dave always believed that a day would come when he would be a leader.

Education is a cornerstone of Ndoto. Last year, we extended the benefits of education to our Kenyan staff, too. When Joshua joined our team years ago, he was a high-school dropout taxi driver. While working for us, he earned the Kenyan equivalent of a GED. Last year, he began a certificate program, the only college program available to him. His school continued online during the pandemic, and he took extra classes while the Ndoto offices were closed to get ahead.

Students in Kenya got more disappointing news from their government. With the rising instances of COVID-19 in Kenya and the lack of resources in the school system, Kenyan schools will now remain closed for the remainder of the school year, which aligns with the calendar year. Hopefully, schools will re-open in January, but the Ministry of Education has announced that all grade school students will repeat their grade in 2021, as students only received one of their three terms in 2020.

by Fred Sadia Every year, Ndoto announces sponsorship opportunities for bright students who have financial need. Young people stream into the Ndoto offices to acquire the application forms hoping that they will qualify to join the Ndoto family. The staff then commences the vigorous selection process that lasts for several weeks and ultimately culminates in the final list of accepted students. During the selection process we meet students who have been neglected, rejected, and isolated.