Student Success Stories

Maureen

University

Maureen did not get high enough grades to secure a place at the university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Her academic career, however, would not end here. She carried on and enrolled in a diploma course at a local university. Knowing this was the second chance she desperately needed, she worked hard in school. Her diligence paid off, as she was consistently one of the top students in her class and graduated with distinction.

All this time, she had her eyes set on attaining a bachelor’s degree; she understood how competitive the job market is and how she would struggle to get a job without this degree. Once she graduated with her diploma, she approached her sponsors, requesting if they could fund her bachelor’s studies.

“They agreed, and I couldn’t be happier,” she says.

Her exemplary performance and good behavior stood in her good stead. Before joining Moja Tu, she often wondered if she would ever finish high school, let alone join university. She was always sent home for lack of school fees because her single mother couldn’t afford to pay the fees and fend for their family. She admits that the on-and-off appearances at school were getting frustrating, and she almost gave up. She also had no one to look up to, as no one in her family had made it to university.

“Life changed when I got the sponsorship. Every day that passes, I am grateful that I went and said hi to the sponsors when they visited our school while I was still in high school. That was where I was fortunate enough to meet my sponsors, Uhuru and Christie,” says the 21-year-old, who adds that she gained a new support system and family through Moja Tu.

This year, Maureen will be celebrating her seventh anniversary in Moja Tu, which she is pleased about. Her relationship with her sponsors has blossomed over the years thanks to the letter exchanges and video calls. Her sponsors have also visited the country together with their children, where they were able to further cement their relationship.

Maureen, who graduated with a criminology and security studies diploma last year, is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in the same. She is looking forward to expanding her knowledge and experience in the field.

“My sponsors and the organization have been very supportive. I have never lacked. I also joined the mentorship program that helped me boost my confidence and become more involved in life, as I was always shy and had low self-esteem. Moja Tu has been such a big blessing in my life, and I am grateful for everything,” she concludes.

Felix

Alumni

If you had asked Felix when he completed primary school if he would ever graduate from university, he would have said to ask a more realistic question! Thanks to Moja Tu’s sponsorship, his hard work, and his commitment, Felix now holds a bachelor’s degree and a diploma. He shares his educational journey with us:

“My name is Felix Mwonga. I am 26 years old, and I come from Makueni, in the eastern part of Kenya. I joined Moja Tu in 2014, just after my primary school education. Before joining Moja Tu, I was preparing to enroll in high school, but my parents could not afford my school fees. So, I began working casual labor in my home area to try and raise money for my school fees. At a meager $1 per day of pay, I was a long way from my goal. The money was not even enough to cover transportation to school.

Around that time, Moja Tu visited my region, seeking students from disadvantaged backgrounds for educational sponsorship. When I heard about it from a family friend, I quickly sent in my application and met them. I was determined to get the scholarship because I knew that was the only way I could attend high school.

I was accepted into the program, and life has never been the same! I instantly acquired a new family that genuinely cared for my well-being. I have also made friendships to last a lifetime and will never forget the support of my sponsors.

I am most grateful to Kathy and my sponsors, Abbey and James, for their unconditional love and support. Thanks to the video calls and mentorship sessions, I have gained valuable knowledge and am now a more informed graduate.

I graduated in November with a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology with the plan to become a network administrator and consultant. I am so happy to have finally graduated with my degree, which is something I didn’t think possible a few short years ago. I initially earned a diploma (2-year program), and then my sponsors graciously continued supporting me so I could earn my bachelor’s degree. For this, I am forever grateful.

My goal is to open a cyber cafe in my town that would provide local youth with an opportunity to learn computer skills. With the right skills, the opportunities are limitless. Hopefully, the cyber cafe can eventually develop into a computer college. Currently, I am interning at one of the leading hospitals in Kenya, The Aga Khan University Hospital, where I help hospital staff with IT issues.

I want to again share my appreciation to Abbey and James Tootle, James Anderson, Kathy and Michael, and the Moja Tu staff, who have been my greatest inspiration and support system. Long live Moja Tu.”

Amos

High school

Amos is a brilliant, hardworking young man. Being the youngest in a family of eight, he watched his siblings drop out of school after primary school as his family couldn’t afford to pay their fees. But this didn’t deter Amos. He worked extra hard in school and became the top-performing student in the primary exit exams.

Although he performed well, his brother, whom he lived with after his mother’s death, could not provide for his secondary education. Amos worried that he wouldn’t be able to attend high school.

Luckily, his headteacher recommended him to the area Moja Tu representative, who verified his situation and gave the green light for Amos to be considered for sponsorship. Amos was ecstatic when he found out his application was successful.

“My primary school deputy headteacher connected me to the Moja Tu representative who helped me join the organization. I was overjoyed when I got the scholarship. My friend and neighbor – Peter Mutuku – had just joined the organization, and I could instantly witness the transformation. He wasn’t worried about school fees and school supplies, which made him focus on his studies and be optimistic about the future. I was hoping that one day I would also be able to transform my future through education. There was no other way out,” Amos said.

Before getting the scholarship, Amos had no hope of attending high school; if he did, he would most likely have attended a local day school, most of which is ill-equipped. He thought of looking for casual jobs to pay for his school fees, but this would also mean that he would have to drop out of school at some point to raise more funds. Even then, he was not assured of landing a job.

“Moja Tu has significantly impacted my life by making the seemingly impossible possible. I am currently at one of the best schools in the country, offering a high-quality education. I am now confident that I will be able to become a doctor, break the cycle of poverty in my family, and give back to my community,” he says.

Next year, he will be sitting for his secondary exit exam, and he’s excited to see his dream of being a doctor become a reality. He is working hard to get a chance to study medicine and earn himself the title Dr. Amos.

“I want to thank Moja Tu for restoring my hopes of getting an education. Thank you for changing my life, helping create a one-on-one relationship with my sponsor, and allowing me to dream big. Asante!”

Students like Amos are chasing their dreams with the help of a generous sponsor. Please help us reach more students with the life-changing gift of education by donating to Moja Tu today.

Prudence

Alumni

Prudence, 23, is a proud Moja Tu alum. She joined the program in 2015 after losing sponsorship with another organization due to circumstances beyond her control. Her family background and her drive for education made her a natural pick for Moja Tu sponsorship.

Moja Tu supported her from high school until college, where she graduated with a degree in hospitality management. She currently works in the hotel industry, and seeing her living her dream is inspiring.

“I was raised by a single mum who was jobless at the time. She struggled to feed us, put a roof over our heads, and send us to school. At one point, she had to choose feeding us over educating us. I was on the verge of dropping out of school, and there was nothing much I could do about it,” she recalls.

She was saddened by the situation because she really wanted to go to school. When she heard about Moja Tu, she was filled with the hope of continuing her studies uninterrupted. She eventually got the scholarship, which helped ease the burden at home, so her mother could now focus on caring for the family.

“When I say Moja Tu was God sent, I mean it. I returned to school, and the program equipped me with texts books to help with my studies. I then went to college, where I pursued a diploma in hospitality. I was happy since it was my dream career, and now I am living my dream as a hotelier,” she reveals.

Prudence adds that Moja Tu programs, such as video calls with sponsors and mentorship, helped boost her confidence.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been exposed to numerous opportunities. Before joining Moja Tu, I was shy and struggled with low self-esteem. As I became part of Moja Tu, I learned to be confident and articulate from the one-on-one calls I had with my sponsor,” she says and adds that this proved helpful when she joined the job market as she interacts with many people in her line of work. Sometimes she is required to speak in front of crowds.

“I would love to show my appreciation to my sponsors for paying for my fees and supporting me, Kathy for always encouraging me, and the Moja Tu family for giving me another family, unconditional love, and immense growth. I don’t know what I’d give to show my gratitude, but I consider this the greatest part of my life as it molded me into a responsible and productive youth. Asante sana Moja Tu,” Prudence shares.

Joseph

university

Joseph Kinuthia is a fourth-year student at Chuka University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History. He comes from a humble background, and he is the only one of his family’s four children to have had the opportunity to attend high school. His siblings had to drop out of school due to his parent’s inability to pay their fees. The opportunity for Joseph to attend high school and now university would not have been possible without the help of Moja Tu.

“The kind gesture from my sponsor and Moja Tu, in general, has made me develop the virtue of kindness. In school, I try as much as possible to help students who are stuck academically. With Moja Tu, I am always available to lend a hand whenever I am needed,” he says, adding that, for now, that is his small way of giving back.

“Knowing the importance of education and having experienced firsthand the generosity of a kind sponsor, I would like to pay it forward in the near future by sponsoring a student from a disadvantaged background.”

Joseph understands that sponsorship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he makes sure that he puts it to good use. As such, he is working towards attaining good grades in school, and so far, so good! He also applied to be a part of the Moja Tu mentorship program that seeks to empower students to focus on their studies while navigating life’s issues. He reveals that coping with challenges is his biggest takeaway from the mentorship sessions. “It has also helped me develop my communication and interpersonal skills that will come in handy when I eventually join the job market in a few months to come. I am also more confident,” he elaborates.

Joseph’s dream is to work as a business development manager. “Moja Tu has been instrumental in helping me move closer to my dreams by sponsoring my education and giving me hope and courage through the mentorship program to achieve my dreams.”

Coming from an impoverished background, Joseph says he would like to address the issue of poverty in his community. He will use the economics skills he gains in school to teach his community entrepreneurial skills and emphasize the need to educate children. Drawing from his experience, he attests that education helps to improve one’s quality of life and wants every child in his village to go to school. Since charity begins at home, he has vowed to enroll his siblings in artisan courses once he gets a job. “This will help them to secure blue-collar jobs that are very much in demand.”

As he winds down his university studies, Joseph is grateful to his sponsor and Moja Tu for keeping the promise to see him through high school and university. “I am prepared for the job market. I went for my internship in my third year, which helped me gather relevant experience and prepare me for the world of work. I would like to thank everyone who made this possible,” he says.

Students like Joseph are chasing their dreams with the help of a generous sponsor. All Moja Tu programs include life skills and job readiness skills. This helps ensure that graduating students like Joseph have the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to land a good job and eventually break the cycle of poverty in their families and community.

Please help us reach more students with the life-changing gift of education by donating to Moja Tu today.