MORE GOOD NEWS - BEATING THE ODDS

Here are our three University students.  Each has a remarkable story:

EDPOWERMENT'S THREE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: WINNIE, ANGEL AND TOM

Tom has just finished his coursework to obtain his Bachelor of Science degree this fall.  Right now all final work is being graded and Tom has begun to look for a job having completed several internships.  When he has some free time, he comes to the Kilimahewa to help out the students with math and computers.  In February 2009 Tom had completed Form 6 studies but did not do well on the Form 6 National Exam and therefore was cut off from further education.  Nevertheless he walked miles each day to teach math without pay at the Kilimahewa Educational Center where I was assigned at the time on a one month volunteer trip.  Tom became our first sponsored student.  He had to start with a Certificate program in IT and used his good grades in this program to gain admittance to the Tumaini University from which he will graduate shortly.  This is success – short-term and long-term – for Tom, his family and EdPowerment.

Winnie became a part of EdPowerment’s sponsored family last year.  She successfully graduated from Form 6 but did not receive any government loans to support University studies.  Although her father is a community leader with a solid small business, his obligations to his (extended) family prevented him from affording Winnie’s dream – to be come a doctor, specifically a gynecologist would help fill the void of female medical care in this region.  After interviewing Winnie and investigating her circumstances, EdPowerment has committed to paying her tuition and fees, which leaves her family to cover her board and personal expenses.  Winnie’s average in her first year of Pre-Medical Health Studies was a B+.  Right now she is on break teaching sciences at Kilimahewa.  In September she will resume studies as a First-Year Medical Student.

Angel came to the EdPowerment office last summer to appeal personally for an opportunity to pursue law at Mzumbe University.  Angel’s story is a testimony to desire, resourcefulness and perseverance.   Briefly, Angel’s mother died when she was born, leaving her parentless.  She subsequently came under the care of several relatives who allowed her to attend primary school sporadically as circumstances allowed. When her relatives no longer could pay her secondary school fees, Angel would hide in the bathrooms when students were called up and sent home because they had not paid fees.  Ultimately, Angel appealed for help to her teachers and community, and through the kindness of certain teachers was able to complete Form 6 studies and gain entrance into Mzumbe-Myeya Campus.  But Angel’s troubles were not over.  She was rejected for a government loan and once again left nowhere.  Angel wrote, “My hopes were destroyed when I end up with no loan.  I felt disappointed and asked God why I passed this difficulty from the day I was born until now. But all impossibilities to God are possible…” This time she took it upon herself to visit the village ward’s office.  The ward officer knew of EdPowerment and told her to write a letter that he subsequently left under our office door.

Today Angel has successfully completed her first year of law studies. Her first semester grades were all As and Bs and we are awaiting her second semester results as we try to help her find an internship for her two month break.

Tom Kway, our Operations Administrator, showing Angel how to use her new laptop.             How excited is she!

THREE STORIES.    

THREE LIVES CHANGED BECAUSE OF EDPOWERMENT’S INTERVENTION.   

PLEASE HELP US TO HELP MORE STUDENTS LIKE TOM, WINNIE AND ANGEL. 

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