The Gift of Education - Infinite Possibilities

We are once again attempting to raise funds to pay the school fees for 36 students to attend high school here in rural Kenya. As many of you already know, schools in Kenya are all fee-based, and as such, a million or so youth are unable to attend school due to their family’s inability to pay their fees.

 

In an attempt to help children in our area, Ruth and I have chosen 36 young women and men who have shown solid academic abilities but who most likely will be prohibited from going to school due to a lack of funds. The economy here in rural Kenya has always been challenging, with most barely hanging on, and with the coronavirus’ economic impact, the challenges faced by poor Kenyans have significantly increased.

 

Each student will need approximately $550 to fund their fees for the entire new school year, which will begin sometime in May. This is a slight increase from last year, but the schools here have instituted many “new fees” supposedly for coronavirus needs and increased costs. In most cases, we would want the families of the youth being supported to pay those extra fees, but with the economic challenges they are all facing, we will attempt to fold those costs into our funding.

 

So here is the math: 36 students X $550 equals $19,800 or 1,980,000 Kenyan shillings.

 

The funds donated to this GoFundMe funding site will be sent to my account in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since Ruth and I are currently in Kenya, I will receive the funds in shillings via the ATM system. Once received, we will place the funds directly into the school’s bank account for each student. No funds will be given directly to the students or their families, so all funds are guaranteed to go directly towards the students’ fees. 

 

Upon payment, the bank will give Ruth or me a receipt showing the funds paid, the student’s name, and the school. We make copies of all receipts, giving one to the student, who will then take it to their school on the first day of the new school year as their proof of payment. Ruth and I keep the other copy “just in case” it is needed due to a lapse of accounting at the school. Two examples of Kenyan bank receipts are in the pictures below.  They show the bank, the student's name and class, and the amount paid in Kenyan shillings.

 

Most of our fundraising is done on my Facebook page so everyone can keep up to date on how the project is doing. We will also personally send a thank you and a notice that any donation anyone has made has been received.

 

We have been doing this for nearly ten years now, and with help from people from all over the world, we have been able to raise the funds needed. We have high hopes we will succeed this year too. With your help, we will be able to succeed again. And like the starfish story, with over a million youth now able to attend school here in Kenya, what good does helping just 36 matter in terms of the overall need?

 

It may not do much to the overall problem, but It matters a great deal to the 36 youth who will be able to go to school. Please help us create the opportunity for these 36 to find new opportunities to make their dreams come true.