The following is a contribution from one of our former students, Priscillah, who wanted to share what her experience with MOCF has meant to her life:

My name is Priscillah. I am 18 years old. I was born in a small village in Kisii called Getare village. Sometimes life becomes so uncertain and unbearable due to the loss of a loved one. My life’s journey has been tough since the death of my father in 2008 when I was seven years old. My dad passed on and left behind four children. I am the third born in my family and every time I saw my mum struggle to raise us or rather look for our basic needs, I wept silently. She was unemployed and after my father’s death, she was rejected by all our relatives and friends.

One thing I always admire in my mum is that she is a prayerful woman. In 2012 an uncle of mine came to our home to visit us. At that time I was in grade six at a local primary school near our home. From the conversation between my uncle and my mother, I could hear the mention of a school that sponsors orphans and children from humble backgrounds. It was a sign of hope. The following month after my uncle's visit, I went for an interview at Margaret Okari Primary School. This is the first time I met Auntie Kwamboka, a very jovial and lovely woman who became my second mum. Fortunately, I got admission to Margaret Okari Primary School where my life changed and I was shaped into the person I am today. I went from walking barefoot to school to wearing good shoes and socks. From wearing torn clothes to wearing  a new school uniform. From walking daily from home to school to waking up every morning at school and all I  had to do is walk to class. The faded future I had seen before started gaining some light.

I joined Margaret Okari Primary School in grade six in 2012. The experience I got there was  not only lovely but splendid and magnificent. It was like a small heaven on earth to me when I compared my life at home and my school life at the Okari School. The food was readily available and well cooked. I had a warm bed to sleep in, good teachers who treated us like their own and good colleagues who  were warm and welcoming. One most important thing that I gained from the school is the spirit of giving back to the community. This I especially learnt from Auntie Kwamboka and the visitors from the USA who used to visit us.

In 2014, I did my grade 8 national examination and passed with 395 out of 500 marks. I was proud of my accomplishment and I think the school was proud too. It is through Margaret Okari that I got to join the school of my dreams. The motivation I got from my teachers, especially our Head Teacher Mr. Wekesa, who was more like a dad to me, gave me hope for the future. I believe that someday I am going to be like Auntie Kwamboka by impacting the lives of the community through giving back.

I joined Starehe Girls Center, my dream high school, which shaped my future. I was fortunate to earn a scholarship to Starehe from Equity Bank. It was like a dream come true. I graduated in 2018 with an A- and went to work for Equity Bank in Nairobi for nine months as a way to earn tuition support for university. I am now pursuing my dream career of a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery. I strongly believe that it is by God’s grace that I am here. He closes one door and opens another. I am proud of being an alumnus of Margaret Okari Primary School. It was the best place to be.

I can write much but words are not enough to describe how grateful I am to everyone who supported me to become the person I am today. It is not the end of the road still and I believe that someday I will also stretch a hand to the needy who cannot afford a quality education.