David, 21, is a fourth-year student at Kenyatta University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computer science. David joined Moja Tu in 2018 just as he was about to enroll in university, and he is one of our students who will be graduating this year. He reflects on his journey with Moja Tu.
Time flies fast. It seems as if it was just the other day, I joined university and the Moja Tu family, and now we are talking about me completing university? And what a journey it has been!
I have had a smooth time with my studies because Moja Tu has walked this journey with me. But that is not to say that I didn’t encounter any challenges. For instance, when I was joining the first year, I had difficulty making new friends. However, I eventually overcame it, and now I have many friends. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic slowed things down, but I am happy the world has learned to live with it, and things are slowly but surely returning to normalcy.
For the most part, college life has been fun, and I can’t emphasize enough the role that Moja Tu has played in ensuring that I focus on my studies and my well-being. See, my parents passed on when I was young, and my elder sister struggled financially. Were it not for Moja Tu, it would have been almost impossible for me to focus on my studies and hobbies, as I would constantly be worrying about college fees and where I would get my next meal.
Speaking of hobbies, I picked softball as a sport in university. I didn’t know anything about it initially, but I trained so hard that I made it to the university team. As a result, we have won many tournaments, and some of my team members and I were selected to the under-24 national squad representing Kenya in international matches. This is a dream come true as I have always desired to play for my country.
I enjoy hanging out with my friends during my free time. This spices up life and makes us momentarily forget the pressure of books and exams and simply live. I have been fortunate to be selected as a team lead with Moja Tu to help run some of the organization’s operations. Not only have I gained work experience, but I also get a little stipend that I use to help my elder sister and younger sister, who is still in school.
I hope to land a job after I graduate. I believe the experience I have gained while working as a team lead will stand me in good stead in the job market. I have also done short courses to improve my skills and make me competitive.
“I aspire to break the generational cycle of poverty that has afflicted my family and help the less fortunate in society. Moja Tu has shown me the actual value of giving back.”
Besides studies, I am hopeful that softball will open more doors for me, such as traveling to different countries to compete. I love traveling, and the prospect of it excites me.
Throughout my time with Moja Tu, I have always aspired to be a role model to the younger students, who I would like to encourage to keep working hard and keep pushing the boundaries.
To my sponsor, Khawaja Shams, thank you for believing in me. You are a gem in my life, and I thank God for bringing you into my life. You are the catalyst for my success, and I lack enough words to show gratitude in my heart. Kathy, you are simply the best. I might have lost my biological mum and dad, but I gained you and Michael, and that is all that matters now.”