Teenage mother among 168 needy students sponsored to school in Gem

A 19-year-old girl from Gem in Siaya County who dropped out of school at Form 3 after childbirth was lucky to return to school after she had her school fees paid by the Gem Educational and Empowerment program, a community-based organisation (CBO), on Thursday.

The teenager is among the 168 students who received educational support from the CBO, which operates under the patronage of Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga.

Speaking during the distribution of cheques at Wagai Resource Centre, Saviour Auma expressed her happiness at the support, noting that she is determined to complete her studies and become a useful member of society.

Her mother, a widow and a subsistence farmer, expressed her joy stating that she had been disappointed when her third-born daughter conceived.

"I will dedicate my time to babysitting my grandchild as my daughter goes back to school because I know that education will bring light to my family," she said.

Saviour is set to rejoin Form 3 at Ndere Secondary School, where she had dropped out.

Robinson Onyango, another student who scored 390 marks but lacked the means to join Kanga School in Migori County, also had his fees paid.

"I never knew I would go to secondary school because of my background. We heard about GEE CBO and searched for it with my mother. I will always think of my background and I promise to make you proud," said Robinson.

Emmanuel Adera, 16, who scored 397 marks in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams, was also lucky to get the support.

The sixth born in a family of nine from Malele Primary School will now join the prestigious Maseno School and hopes to become a medical doctor in the future.

According to the GEE CBO Programs Coordinator Joseph Kawuor, the organization was established to uplift the socio-economic and educational status of the needy and the vulnerable members of the community

Derick Ouma, a continuing student at Ndhene Mixed Secondary School in South Gem, noted that he had never been lucky to obtain bursaries from entities like the National Government Constituency Development Fund despite his many applications.

The CBO had on December 2, 2023, benefitted from a fundraiser that was presided over by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Ida Odinga, among other politicians.

Up to Sh900,000 was disbursed from the kitty with 12 top performers joining national or extra county schools sharing out sh340,000.

Sh560,000 went to 108 students; shared as a one-off payment of Sh5,000 per continuing student.

The identification of deserving students involved the local administration, opinion leaders, and school heads in all six wards of the Gem constituency.

Each ward got 20 slots, two of which were for students either joining national or extra county schools and the remaining 18 for continuing students.

Each of the 12 students joining national or extra county schools had their first term fees, which range from Sh21,000 to Sh42,000 cleared.

The organization committed to pay their school fees all the way to Form 4.

Speaking during the event, Abala Wanga averred that the beneficiaries will be nurtured and moulded into dependable future professionals that the community will be proud of and grateful to have produced.

"Having assessed the existing gaps in regards to bursaries and scholarships available to those who need it in this constituency, we decided to develop a model that would enable us to finance the education of bright but needy sons and daughters of this great constituency," said Abala.

The initiative, he explained, is a sure oath to revitalise the glory of the people of Gem.

He went on:

"Gem was known in the past for academic excellence. The number of professors from Gem kept rising in the past, but this is no longer happening. "

Abala, who is angling for the Gem MP seat in 2027, said that it is important activities that aim at "the public good and targets to empower the people must, at all times, be guided by the principles of fairness, equity, and utmost transparency".

Moving forward, the organization aims to offer bursaries to all needy students in the area and scholarships to orphans and needy students in secondary schools.

Also, it seeks to uplift vulnerable families through the provision of farm inputs.

The CBO will also be stretching its tentacles to address issues related to HIV/AIDs, epilepsy, sickle cells, and other chronic illnesses through campaigns for preventive measures, treatment, and vaccinations.

Abala noted that the CBO is doing whatever it is doing because it is the right thing to do and not because he is in competition with anyone in the constituency.

The educational support funds that he gave, for instance, he said, should not be misinterpreted to mean a competition with the NGCDF bursary.

"Ours, as an organisation, is to compliment other established initiatives," Abala said, further challenging other well-off members of the community to come through for the needy and help them achieve their dreams.

Even so, he vowed that he would not succumb to intimidations and unfounded threats from potential opponents who may be uncomfortable with his development initiatives.

GEE CBO Vice Chairman Roselyn Okoko urged residents to support Abala's good intentions, noting that "education makes people equal."