I am Samuel Omondi Deya, aged 23, a Kenyan student. I am a total orphan after the death of my parents, my dad in 1994 and my mum later in 1997.  I remember when my mum died after the death of my dad, the villagers cry was, “who could take care of us?” I was so young then to comprehend what was happening but was told.
After the burial, I settled at my paternal grandmother’s place. It is after the death of paternal grandparents that I moved to my maternal grandparent’s place from where I started my pre-primary education. My younger bro and my only sibling would move to my aunt’s place.

It is here where I completed my primary education under free primary education programme by the government. I qualified to join one of the Kenyan national secondary schools, Maranda National School. But my worry was where I could get my school fees. Here I was, having secured a chance to join Maranda high school, but where was the fee?
It is then that things never worked out. To all my relatives, I was a liability. They deserted me. Disturbed, had to find a way of helping myself get secondary fees. This could enable me realise my dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Though, I also thought of becoming an engineer later in life.

I could later come to know of CACOP. I went through the application steps. The good news was that I qualified. I was so happy to extent of being moved to tears. I had to make some vows on this date. Vowed to ensure that my dream of becoming a doctor is realised. Vowed to say ‘thank you’ to the organization through my hard work. Vowed to one day start my own or support an organization supporting needy students.

I was later admitted to Maranda National School under the sponsorship of CACOP. It this organization, its donors and staff that acted as my mum and dad. It struggled to provide all the basics I needed for my secondary education.
When I sat my fourth form national examination, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, KCSE, I did well. I scored “A” plain of 84 points coming position 48 nationally out of over 416 900 students. I qualified for my dream course, bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery. I was selected to join one of the Kenyan leading university, university of Nairobi, where I am now, again supported by CACOP. Next year am proceeding to third year.

What keeps me going is that though at some point my hopes almost died due to lack of fees, through the organization I found hope, I found a home, I found a dad, I found a mum, I found a brother.  I mean I have an organization to count on, bank on and put my trust on. Sometimes I ask myself how possible I stay in school for over a year, and no single relative remembers that am in school and I require a lot, financially, morally and socially. But here is the consolation, I have an organization, whose donors and staff are concerned about my future. It therefore follows that I must work hard towards that future. I hope to see myself become a neurosurgeon in future. I know it is tough, but someone else did it why not me?

Having gone through it, it pains me to see an orphan drops out of school due to lack of school fees, it pains me to see an orphan go without food, it pains more when they are neglected by their close relatives, it pains me to see needy children in our streets as street children, it pains my heart to see people die of diseases that could easily be cured or controlled, it pains to see how the poor lags behind as far as information is concerned. It is ,however, sad to note that while an orphan goes without food, his/her immediate neighbour gets more than enough food, that while an orphan drops out of school due to lack of fees, his/her immediate neighbours are able to educate all their children, in fact in private institutions. My hope and wish is that this gap is bridged. It is only through education that we are going to have this gap bridged. But our orphans are disadvantaged, no fees. I wish I had a voice to speak on behalf of fellow orphans. I wish I could help.

I lack words to express my gratitude to the organization’s donors and staff. My hope is that the organization remains operational. I vowed that once employed I must take part in financing the organization within my capacity. My wish is that other beneficiaries do the same. Thanks. 

Samuel Omondi Deya, a beneficiary of CACOP/WVP Kenya                                                                       samueldeya389@yahoo.com

In September we had the pleasure of revisiting community groups in western Kenya whom we three years ago provided with a bag of money to set up social enterprises in support of orphaned children. Their businesses are thriving and some have even expanded to do other income generating activities. Here is the pan-paper group proudly showing the land they are now able to rent and cultivate (maize and millet).

We have now launched our 60 day campaign, #Change4Life, to recruit 20 new monthly donors! We have had many loyal donors over the years but now we are seeking to expand our donor base to include YOU! Over the next 60 days, WVP Kenya will be highlighting the various areas your monthly donation could help improve the lives of children and adults in these communities, adding to the sustainability of our work. From as little as £5 a month, you can make a difference in a child's life. Click here to make a monthly donation.

This July has been an exciting month for our CCT projects and our sports and health education workshops. A total of more than 900 children in schools within the Lugari district attended seminars held by WVP Kenya on behaviour change and communication. The children actively participated in these interactive sessions, as part of our health education workshops. In line with our capacity-building goals, the Chekalini group received tents and chairs from WVP Kenya; specific project training is planned for them to start hiring out their tents. The Pan-Paper team received their two motorbikes, as well as insurance on all three motorbikes in their possession. It is reported back that the motorbikes are working well for the members, below you can see them with their new motorbikes.

Within our scholarship programme, a group of five scholars received payment of their fees in order to join local polytechnics, with three pursuing electrician training and two receiving tailoring training. Within our education projects, the performance of children in relation to the IGA was discussed among parents in meetings across the district. The general consensus came to the point that the IGAs would help scholars improve their performance.

WVP Kenya is now looking for a Social Media, Campaigns & Fundraising Intern to lead a three-month fundraising campaign to promote WVP’s work to a wider audience through the website and social media, increase WVP’s private donations and diversify its funding base. For more detail, click here

In January 2014 we saw 54 of our graduating primary scholars enrol in secondary school. Over the past 4 years we have supported these orphaned and vulnerable children excel in primary school and it is with great pride we are able to support them through 4 further years of secondary education. We will cover all school-related expenses and offer life-skills services. It is our hope that many of these continuing scholars will obtain top marks and be offered government loans and scholarships to go to University. Those on the borderline to obtain top grades, and who do not qualify for government support, we will also try and support. This year for example we are supporting the tertiary education of 17 of our graduating secondary scholars. 

More than 500 orphaned or vulnerable children provided with direct community support

WVP Kenya is working with 16 community-based organisations to provide holistic support and care to the many orphaned or vulnerable children in Nyanza and Western Provinces, areas of Kenya worst hit by poverty and HIV/AIDS. In the first half of this year in Nyanza Province alone, more than 200 children were able to attend school through school fee payments made by the community organisations, and a total of 329 children were provided with school uniform and other items (including text books) as well as with medical assistance in a number of cases. In the same period, 225 adults attended 14 days of training on a range of topics including parenting, child rights and project management, and 224 children attended two days of training on child rights and responsibilities.

A Child Protection Unit known as KAGO was founded following support from WVP in October 2012 across the four communities of Akoko, Gombe, Magak, and Nyamwanga. KAGO has 28 members working on a voluntary basis, all of whom received 14 days of training in the area of child rights and protection.  This year, KAGO has been working closely with church and other community groups to ensure all children are being adequately and appropriately cared for in the communities, and has identified and dealt with a number of difficult cases. This work is supported across all WVP communities by our Child Protection Ambassadors, who work on a part-time basis to ensure the safety and security of their communities’ children, reporting difficult or concerning cases to WVP staff.                           

Thirteen WVP scholars who graduated from secondary school in 2011 and 2012 will be heading to university later this year. Having received their marks in March, the scholars have only recently found out where they are heading and what they will be studying, so now the excitement and planning can really begin! They will be reading a wide range of subjects, including eco-tourism, economics, medicine, biochemistry, architecture, and mathematics. In May 2013, a further three secondary school graduates began college courses in teacher training, electrical engineering, and business administration. In total, WVP continues to support 486 children through full cycles of primary, secondary and tertiary education. 

WVP has also continued to support to the most vulnerable of our scholars’ families, and has provided more than 50 small business grants this year. The businesses started range from small food stalls at the local markets to selling clothes and fried fish, and empower parents and guardians to provide for their children’s needs at home enabling the children to focus on succeeding at school.

Access our Skiliza Newsletter for summer 2013 here