Recently our 8th graders finished their exams, meaning that they are done with 8th grade and will move onto high school in January. We are spotlighting these students, who are the highest performing class we’ve had yet!

In Kenya, even public high school has a tuition. The better high schools tend to have higher tuitions, and students are placed in a high school by their exam scores. These students are bright and promising. Read about them below. High school classes are the most in need of sponsorship because their education is more expensive. If you’d like to sponsor their class during their high school years visit the Sponsor Students page. 

 

Sime Willyster Akoth

I have been at LightHouse Academy for six years. I like being a student at LightHouse Academy because of the good performance. I like playing football [soccer] and singing. When I reach college, I would like the course of a nurse. When I grow up I would like to help our community by building more schools and helping the orphans.

-Sime Willyster Akoth, 14 years old

 

 

Teddy Joshua Alando

I have been at LightHouse Academy for two years…and by God’s grace – wishing it to be the last year. [Because he will graduate.] As a student at LightHouse, I really like much about my school: my good friends, our beloved “Mums” here for us, our studies, our teachers, only to mention a few. My hobbies are reading magazines, drumming and playing music. About courses, I would like to take “journalism”, if possible! For my community, I would first find a way on how to help them live a deep life in a way of not spending a lot of money on buying things that “we can make ourselves”. For example, the planting of trees as a result of using them in building up schools; we must create an awareness on the importance of replacing a traditional way of making charcoal by not cutting or bringing down the trees. By all these, this will leave my community not having to live a life of losing just to have.

-Teddy Joshua Alando, 17 years old

 

Opere James Oahiambo

I have been at LightHouse Academy for four years. I liked becoming a student at LightHouse because the performance was good and students were disciplined. My hobby is playing soccer. I would like the course of piloting in college. I am planning to help the community by building schools for the orphans and starting some projects which could help the community to grow economically.

-Opere James Oahiambo, 14 years old

 

Scholar Achieng

 

I have been in LightHouse Academy for four years. Being a student at LightHouse has made me benefit much in my primary education and it has made me and other pupils to have good performance. I like swimming in the river during my free time. I would like to take of journalism in my college level. I am about to start a Youth Group in the community that can help them to earn their living standard.

-Scholar Achieng, 16 years old

 

Effie Adhiambo

 

 

I like being a student at LightHouse because of the good meals they provide, the good performance they have and the quality teachers they have. I like swimming as my hobby and I would like to take journalism courses in college. After completing college, I would build hospitals and start some projects that would help my community.

– Effie Adhiambo, 15 years old

 

 

 

I have been at LightHouse Academy for four years. I like being a student at LightHouse Academy for the better and good teachers who are employed. I am a boy talented in football [soccer] and dancing. I plan to have a course of becoming a doctor when I grow up. I plan to help the community after my education by building more schools for the orphans and health services for those who are sick.

-Tonny Austine, 14 years old

 

 

Linda Akoth

I have been at LightHouse for ten years. In LightHouse, what I like is how we are being aught and how we do play during physical education. My hobby is playing in football [soccer] matches. I like it very much. When I finish my secondary education, I would like to be a doctor in the future. If I finish college, I would like to help my community by building a hospital for them to have better treatment.

-Odera Linda Akoth, 13 years old

 

 

Siwo Abigael Aluoch

I like dancing and reading storybooks. I’ve been at LightHouse Academy for four years. I like being at LightHouse Academy because of the good performance in the school. I would like to train in nursing in college. When I grow up, I would like to help my community by planting trees and building hospitals.

-Siwo Abigael Aluoch, age 15

 

 

Anna Adhiambo

I have been at LightHouse Academy for 8 years; I like being at LightHouse because of good performance and proper hygiene. My hobby is reading storybooks, dancing and playing volleyball. If I finish college, I want to be a lawyer in the future. After finishing all that, I would like to help my community by building schools for orphans and needy people.

 

– Anna Adhiambo, 13 years old

 

 

Lovintronner Akoth

 

I have been at LightHouse for 6 years. I like better teaching and good performance at LightHouse. I like playing soccer and I would like to be a pilot in the future. I would like to build schools for the orphans and provide basic needs for the widows in my community.

 

-Lovintronner Akoth, 14 years old

 

 

 

Mary Patience Akinyi

I have been in LightHouse for 9 years. What I like in LightHouse is proper hygiene, proper teaching, and a balanced diet. My hobby is listening to music and reading storybooks. I would like to be an actress. I would like to help the community by distributing basic needs to the needy and the poor, and organizing an orphanage school and children’s home.

-Mary Patience Akinyi, age 14

 

 

Ann Ogutu

 

I am Ogutu Ann Akinyi. I am a Kenyan aged 17 years old. I have been at lighthouse for 6 years. I like the good performance of Lighthouse and how the cooks are humble to me. During my leisure time, I like visiting the needy and playing football [soccer]. When I grow up, I would like to be a teacher. I plan to help my community by building schools for them.

-Ann Ogutu, 17 years old

 

Kevin Onyango

I have been at LightHouse for 7 years. I like my teachers and pupils. Ialso like our cooks and workers for they are obedient and gave me advice when I got onto a wrong path. My hobby is playing soccer and reading storybooks. I would like to do the course of piloting in college. I am planning to help the community by respecting my elders and therefore showing a good example.

-Kevin Onyango, age 14

 

James Onyango

 

I have been at LightHouse for four years. I like our teachers, our school, our breakfast, our lunch, the school manager, our performance and all the subjects that we’re being taught. My hobby is playing football [soccer]. I would like to do a doctor course in college. I plan to help the community by respecting the elders and doing things that may lead to development in my community.

-James Onyango, age 14

 

 

 

I’ve been at LightHouse for 10 years.I like the performance of students of LightHouse and the teaching of their teachers. I like playing football [soccer] as my hobby and I would like to do a course for a game warden. When I finish my course I will build an orphanage at my community and some project that could help the community to grow economically.

-Collins Odukah, age 17

 

Jacklyne Akinyi

 

 

I have been at LightHouse Academy for four years. I like how they teach, also how they cook. We always eat a balanced diet at school daily. My hobby is playing football [soccer] and reading novels. I always spend my leisure time playing football [soccer] and reading storybooks. If I finish my school, I will help the community by helping the needy, contributing food to the orphans and building the nation. I would like to be a pilot. I will go to Aviation College.

-Jacklyne Akinyi, age 15

 

 

Esther Akoth

I have been at LightHouse for 6 years. What I like about being a student at LightHouse, is how the teachers are teaching and the pupils are performing. My hobby is playing football [soccer] and farming. The course I would like in college is nursing. I plan to help the community by building a school for orphans and helping the needy.

-Esther Akoth, age 17

 

 

Irine Opudo

I have been in LightHouse for 9 years. I like being a student at LightHouse Academy because of the good performance in the school. I like reading novels. I would like to be a banker in the future. I am planning to help my community by building a school and a hospital in the community.

-Irene Opudo, age 14

 

 

 

Mercy Achieng

 

 

I have been at LightHouse Academy for 4 years and I like the teaching and good performance of LightHouse. I like singing as my hobby. I would like to do nursing as my course and I am planning to help the community by building water projects for the people to have clean water for drinking

-Mercy Achieng, age 17

“My relatives laughed at my mom telling her that I would not finish my education. They believed that the Rafiki method of providing education to girls was a crazy idea and would not work.

Every year they saw me promoted to the next grade. When I completed my 8th grade, they started a rumor that Rafiki had abandoned me and would not help me with high school education. When I graduated from 12th grade, they started a rumor that I was going to get married. I joined college in the city and they thought that it was true that I was married. Now I’ve graduated from college, and everyone is coming to my mom for advice on how they can enroll their daughters in Rafiki’s education program. Every year I learnt about Jesus at school and my life changed. I no longer participated in the things other girls and my relatives did. they laughed at me questioning my faith and waited to see if this God I was learning about at school would help me in my education.”

Clearly, this Rafiki student faced many challenges with her relatives and community during her education in the Rafiki program.

But she chose to stay focused and committed so she could complete the program. She recently graduated from college with a career in a specialty that she was passionate about.

Over the last 16-18 years many community members have doubted if Rafiki would realize its goals and mission of education that focuses on girls and the most vulnerable. But despite their doubts, God is faithful. He has shown His love and completed the work He began at LightHouse Academy. More and more, girls are leading and staying in school to complete their education through college.

This student’s story is one of many girls in the Rafiki education program. She is not the only one who has faced challenges. We trust that God will continue to help us reach more vulnerable girls. Rafiki has now completed the first circle of educating and caring for students from kindergarten to career.  It’s exciting and humbling to help focused, bold girls and boys to fulfill their God given potential and make their dreams become a reality.

Even with the odds stacked against them,  it is possible. Each transformed girl leads to a transformed family and a broken circle of poverty.

Through your prayers, support, and generosity, the dreams of these students become a reality and Rafiki reaches the most vulnerable girls and boys.

Join us in honor of International Day of the Girl.

Learn more about Rafiki’s work with women & girls.

The following letter was written by Calvince Otieno, who was sponsored by Rafiki Africa starting in the second grade. He wrote a letter of thanks to Rafiki Africa for the organization’s involvement in his and his family’s life. We edited the writing lightly, for comprehension.

My name is Calvince Otieno, one of the Rafiki beneficiaries. I come from a very humble family in Alendu, Kenya. I was born and raised in a family of six siblings. Four of my siblings died at tender ages due to malnutrition and easily preventable and curable diseases. My parents could not take them to the hospital due to inadequate funds and knowledge of their curable condition. I also lost my mother when I was only 8 years old. We were left in the hands of my dad, who was also affected psychologically by the sudden death of my mother.

The situation became unbearable for us, and we did not only lack the basic needs, but also the funds to pay for our education. This forced my only sister to drop out of school and get married at a very tender age.

Thanks to Rafiki, which came to our rescue. There are really no words to express my gratitude for all you have done for me.

Rafiki is like a candle that lightens the lives of others and brightens the future of those who have seen their future as the most black.

You shaped my mind and future and have made a huge difference in my life. You have gone above the call of duty for me. Thank you for your patience, thank you for giving me courage and making me a better person.

I am through with my diploma in nursing and, through God’s grace, I want to do more so that I can support and help Rafiki to touch and change the lives of many others, just as I was touched and changed.

My desire is to further my education and make it the world standard to have better opportunities to touch and change the lives of others. I went to India: it was a great experience and good exposure. I pray to achieve more and am certain Rafiki will help me realize my dream once again. Rafiki ni rafiki kweli. (Rafiki is truly a friend).

Meshack lost his wife during child birth and was left to care for six children.

He had to send the newborn baby and Meldin, his seven year-old daughter, to live with a relative, because he could not afford to take care of them. For over two years, Meshack and his remaining children lived in a very small and unsafe home. [Read more of their backstory here.]

Rafiki Africa Foundation came to know about the family’s situation during a home visitation by our social workers.

The two teenage girls attended LightHouse Academy (LHA) and lived a very difficult life. They could not focus on their education because they had taken over

their mother’s responsibilities of providing for the family. Rafiki started working with this family to provide basic needs for the home. LHA offered Meshack a part-time position.

In addition, with the help of a generous U.S. sponsor, Meshack was able to reunite his family. Now they live in a safer home together. He can provide three meals a day, health care and other needs for his family. All the children are happily reunited and attending school at LHA.

This is a continuation of “Being a Friend to Kenya”, written by Jordan Bush, featured in the November 2012 issue of the Fine Living Lancaster magazine. View in the PDF version of the issue here.  You can find the article on page 142.

George is a young boy in the seventh grade with four paternally orphaned brothers.

He lost his father over five years ago in the war against AIDS. George’s mother was then given a husband to look after her and the boys. As it turns out, they are both HIV positive, and she visits a clinic each week to receive antiviral therapy. Concurrently, she is pregnant with a sixth child to her second spouse, who does not provide for the family.

Daily at sunrise, the four oldest boys, George, Stephen, Clifton, and Brian, walk hurriedly together for LightHouse Academy. The journey takes over an hour, through the hills and under the hot Kenyan sun. There, they find the only consistent food and clean water in their lives, learning and singing along with their classmates. After a full day of classes they face another adventure returning home. The boys have only one hour of daylight to complete any schoolwork before it is too dark to read.

After sunset, the four eldest sleep together on one bed, lying width-wise with their legs hanging off the edge.

Brighton, the youngest, shares a bed with his mother. On weekends, the young boys show tremendous entrepreneurial spirit and make rope from sisal leaves, and burn trees to make charcoal. They sell both products to buy and plant seeds to grow food in support of their family. Clifton, who is only in sixth grade, is also reponsible for taking care of their neighboring grandparents.

A day of making charcoal will yield 100 Kenyan shillings, or the US equivalent of earning $1.15.

A few bundles of rope produce half that sum, enough for a large bottle of Coke. Their mother supports Rafiki’s vision entirely, knowing that her boys’ only hope for a promising future rests entirely on the education they receive at LightHouse Academy.

UPDATE: Because Rafiki recognizes the interconnection of people and the environment, we no longer support the burning of trees to make charcoal. Drought is a huge problem in Kenya, and destroying trees, which bring rain and purify water, makes this issue worse. We work with families of our students to find other sources of income, and all students at LightHouse Academy receive environmental education and hands on experience.

This is a continuation of “Being a Friend to Kenya”, written by Jordan Bush, featured in the November 2012 issue of the Fine Living Lancaster magazine. View in the PDF version of the issue here.  You can find the article on page 142.

Fifteen years ago, Evans was living as a paternal orphan with his mother and younger brother Wycliff.

Evans’ mother became ill in bed and hadn’t been seen for a week, so her brother came to check on her. When he asked Evans where his mother had gone, Evans told his uncle she was sick in bed, feeding the 18-month-old baby Wycliff. Evans’ uncle found his sister passed away in her own bed, where she had been for some time with her baby still attached to her breast.

Evans has mental retardation from malnutrition as a young boy, but despite his obstacles he is expected to graduate from vocational college for carpentry at the end of 2012.

He is one of Rafiki’s earliest and greatest successes at LightHouse Academy due to his accomplishments from first grade all the way through college. Rafiki also provided him with his own hut and helped raise him from about 5 years old into adulthood. Rafiki is presently working to build Evans a new hut after he graduates. Evans has faithful sponsors from Lancaster that provided the means of sending him to vocational school to master a trade to support himself as a adult.