Class: 8th Grade Graduates of 2022 April (Rodi)

Adrian (14) told us, “When my parents died, they left behind three children: my sister Gloria, my brother Basil and I.”  His Aunt Faith took them in and tries her best to take care of them but their life is difficult as she has no job nor any garden plot. They live in one of … Continued

Ashler’s parents died about 12 years ago in a traffic accident. She told us, “My parents suffered a lot and struggled just to have food for the family.  They meant everything to me and when they died, I realized that I was going to be an orphan and I felt very lonely. Ashler, her little sister, … Continued

Beryl’s parents died when she was about 3, c. 2011. They were extremely poor but had some income from her mother selling raw sugar and her father as a motorcycle taxi driver (“boda boda”). After their death, a friend of her mother took her in. Beryl told us, “My guardian works as a maid.  We only … Continued

I thank the Almighty God for having me at Achungo.  I came 8 years ago [when he was 7]. From the first I felt much happier because life at home had been very difficult. I had been living with my uncle and he would come home drunk and start all his dramas.  My brother, John, and sister, … Continued

Britney (15) first came to Achungo 11 years ago into the preschool. When she was very young her father had died in a road accident and her mother soon after. Hearing of her situation, Director Nyangi brought her to Achungo. But after a few years, because she was taken in by a serious of families, … Continued

Collince’s parents died in a road accident when he was quite small and his uncle, John Otula, took in Collince and his brother (Denis) and Sister (Sarah). They are quite poor and sometimes go without food. One day Collince was walking on the road, looking for some help or for a job to help the … Continued

“Before Achungo I lived in a small slum.  Life there was not a walk in the park because it was very difficult to earn a living. My father burned found wood to make charcoal to sell for food for our family and provide for our education. My mother tended our maize but the harvest was … Continued

Emaqulate’s parents died several years ago in a road accident. While they were alive, they would try to find work in order to pay for food and clothes, but a day’s wages were 100 Shillings (about 90 cents, U.S.). She says her 4 brothers ran away after her parents’ death, leaving Emaqulate alone. She was … Continued

Evance’s father died in a car accident a few months before his birth and his mother died during his birth, so he has never known his parents. He has lived in Rodi-Kopany with his brother, Liam Gareth.  His sister, Megan Valerie, has died from disease, so it is just the two brothers. Liam works as … Continued

Everlyn (14) writes, “I came to Achungo 8 years ago and immediately felt very happy because it was my first time attending such a good school.  I was particularly attracted to the way they respect their teachers. Before Achungo I was at Ndiru Primary school.  I would often go behind the bathrooms to cry because I had … Continued

Ian’s story:  “My father died in a road accident while riding a motorcycle taxi and my mother died while giving birth to me. I don’t have any brothers or sisters and was taken in by a friend’s father, Mr. Otieno. He was 35 and had a garden where he would grow vegetables to sell. I … Continued

Jack (15) told us, “My parents died when I was very young and I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but live in Rodi with my grandparents. They heard about Achungo from our pastor and entered me into the preschool 11 years ago.  The best thing about Achungo is that the teachers are passing knowledge to … Continued

James’ story (he’s 15): “My parents and my brother died in a car accident when I was very little and my aunt, Patricia, took me in. She works as a watchman in Kochia. After my parents died, other people stole our subsistence garden that was our source of food. When I was about 5, a … Continued

After Jealan’s parents died, she lived near Ongine with her grandmother before she also passed.  Jealan (14) told us, “She had a small garden but most of her plants died due to poor soil.  She would sometimes work as a housekeeper to earn some money. Life was not easy and we could go without food … Continued

Kennedy’s parents died in a road accident when he was an infant. He was living in a nearby village with his elderly grandmother (he has no siblings) when he heard about Achungo and joined the first grade. He says he’d had no way to attend school otherwise. “Achungo has been a good school in terms … Continued

Kerry (16) lives with Lindah, his 26-year-old guardian, and his 2 sisters. He was often out of school, getting up at 6 a.m. with Lindah to find farm work so they had money for food and school fees. They also have a small garden. Lindah found church pastors to sponsor school fees for Kerry’s sisters … Continued

“I lived with my parents until they died 6 years back. Mary Anyango was 36 and Fredrick Otieno was 88. They did not have work and could only provide us food for dinner. Lunch and breakfast were only words in a dictionary. They were poor as church mice. I don’t have brothers or sisters. After … Continued

Manuel (14) was brought to Achungo 5 years ago by his grandmother (90) who survives by growing kale to sell. His parents were killed in a road accident. Manuel told us, “Things have been hard since they died, but I started liking Achungo from when I first entered the school gate. It is the best … Continued

Ogollah Maxwell (16) has no siblings and never knew his parents. They abandoned him after they divorced. Director Michael found out about him and brought him to Achungo into the preschool. For a while he lived with some relatives but when they learned he was getting help from Achungo, they kicked him out (he later … Continued

Humphrey (14) was brought to Achungo by his aunt and uncle 10 years ago because they could not afford to pay the fees for public school. They are elderly and have no income but survive from the small garden given them temporarily by family. Humphrey’s father abandoned the family and then his mother left his … Continued

Peter’s elderly grandmother brought Peter to the Achungo preschool 12 years ago, having heard about it from Director Michael. His parents had died in a road accident when he was very little. Peter says, “it was very hard to get food to eat and sometimes I would have to beg or steal.” His grandmother has … Continued

Roveline (13) doesn’t remember her parents as she was about a year old when they died. She lived near Director Michael with her grandmother and learning that there was no money for her schooling, he brought her to Achungo at 3 years old. Her grandmother died soon after from cancer and Achungo Director Michael took … Continued

Since the death of her parents when she was a year old, Stacy (15) has lived with her uncle (80). He washes cars for a living [that is, he sets up roadside near a creek or other water source and offers to handwash vehicles]. He has no subsistence garden because he sold it to pay … Continued

Tillen’s grandmother heard about Achungo from their Pastor and enrolled him 12 years ago into the preschool class. She is 68 and survives by working her garden but her brother is trying to take it from her. Tillen (14) told us, “My father died when I was small. I never knew my mother but my … Continued

“I came to Achungo several years ago, brought by Director Michael Nyangi. He had attended my father’s funeral and decided to bring me to the school.  I was in Kindergarten at Kobodo Primary school, but it was difficult for me due to lack of learning resources and basic needs. It doesn’t compare to Achungo because at … Continued

Vital (14) came to Achungo 8 years ago when his grandmother heard how well Achungo students were doing. He never knew his parents and has always lived with his grandmother. They live off their small garden as she has no income.  His brother and sister died long ago when Brian was 5 and Laurine was 7. … Continued

“I live in Kochia, Homabay County, with my grandparents, Pesila (79) and Daniel (85).  She does laundry for people and he is a car washer who washes other people’s cars.  My brother is a beggar in the village and was unable to go to school. My sister, Sheila, died when she was 12 due to a … Continued

Xavier’s parents died several years ago and with his 3 siblings (brother, Elphas, and sisters, Joy and Rachel), Xavier was taken in by their current guardian (likely a relative or family friend). Their guardian had no work and so they didn’t have money for proper clothing. When Xavier would go to the public school, the … Continued