In just three weeks, our family will move our middle daughter into her first year of college.
A week later my eldest will be back on her campus, and our son will start his sophomore year of high school. As they’ve been working hard, saving for college, and enjoying time with friends this summer, I’ve found myself moved to tears of gratitude. Why? Because friends and family have shown up in such practical ways for my kids – opening doors to job interviews, helping us find needed academic tutors, giving gifts toward first year expenses, and letting them know they have a home away from home. Unfortunately, such kind support is not there for the children and youth we work with in Kenya, many of whom live in conditions that break families apart and where survival is day to day.
Recent national unrest in Kenya is causing fear and anxiety at a time of year when the 9th grade students are also waiting to find out which secondary school they can attend based on their national exam and their ability to pay. Each year, nearly a million such students are unable to pursue an education past the 8th grade due to the country’s fee-based structure. Though modest by our standards, school fees are often an insurmountable barrier for many families. That’s where KCEF steps in through our partnership with Education for all Children.
EFAC awards full secondary school and university scholarships to the poorest children —often orphans—who score in the top 10% nationally. They also provide support and mentorship to help these students as they move away from the slums and their families and into boarding schools of national standing—schools where some children might find themselves wearing shoes or sleeping in their own beds for the first time. And what I love is that the students are also asked to volunteer at their primary schools after they finish secondary and before they start college. KCEF supports 87 such students through scholarships and through matching a penpal with them from our community. We don’t always know the impact of the penpals’ letters, but this week Geylord, one of our students, wrote to his penpal, David Friedrich, a KCEF board member. Geylord and students like him are why we do this work:
Looking back at where I started, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. From a young, hopeful student joining Form One, I’ve grown in many ways—academically, mentally, and emotionally. With your generous support and belief in my dreams, I successfully completed high school and am now in my final year at the university, pursuing a degree in Law…
(left) Geylord in 2021 (right) Geylord in 2025 Ready to Graduate
…Your sponsorship has meant more than just financial assistance. It was a constant reminder that someone believed in my potential, even when I doubted myself. You lifted a burden off my shoulders and gave me the space to focus, grow, and push forward. Your kindness gave me a chance many only dream of, and I am determined to make it count.
I sincerely thank you for standing by me. I carry your support with me every day, and I promise to keep working hard so that one day, I too can uplift others as you have uplifted me.
A driving question for us at KCEF is how we can ensure that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic status, knows they are not alone and that they can have hope and a future. When we see students like Geylord thrive and aspire to give back to their communities, we are reminded of the privilege it is to do this work. If you would like to become a penpal to a scholar like Geylord, let us know on this link! The commitment simply requires writing three letters a year —one per term. Thank you for being part of our village—KCEF, EFAC, people of faith like yourselves—lifting the burdens for students like Geylord.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
With deepest gratitude,
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash