Striving for Success

I want to become a neurosurgeon and help improve the quality of life of people in my community.”

Elizabeth is 16, and in her family she’s the sixth born of seven children raised in Machakos town, Central Kenya. Her elder siblings are all married with some of her sisters married as early as seventeen. Before joining Jitegemee, Elizabeth had been in and out of schooling for years, her primary school graduation date delayed for years, having to drop out of school for lack of tuition fee.

Her father runs a small business in Machakos town, and after her mother recently moved back to their rural home, it is just Elizabeth and her younger siblings at home in Machakos.

Year in and out, Elizabeth struggled to concentrate in class not sure when she would be sent home for not being able to pay her school fees.

I was extremely restless in class, I didn’t have textbooks to study, at times I would come to school hungry.“

In 2019, Elizabeth was selected as a Jitegemee scholar, which turned things around. With Jitegemee’s support, her tuition fees were paid in full, she had new uniforms and textbooks, and she also received food supplies.

Now, examination after examination, Elizabeth is top of her class, although she admits Mathematics is still a struggle.

“I don’t quite understand it that well, but with science, I get it, I enjoy it, it’s practical,” she smiles shyly.

Elizabeth modestly points out that many girls in her class, like her, also want to be doctors and like many of those smart aspiring girls, she hopes to go to Kenya’s leading Public High School, Alliance Girls.

Everyone who goes to that school excels in school and build successful careers, I want to be like them,” she notes.

When Elizabeth isn’t buried in her books, she loves to play football and spend time with her siblings.

To her peers she has this advice to give:

Use the opportunity you have been given well, there are many children whose parents are struggling to put their children through school. For you who have received sponsorship don’t waste it, work hard so you too can give back to those in need.”