SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
The third world is filled with thought leaders & humanitarians ready to CHANGE THE WORLD.
We have the resources and the team of capable thought leads that we need to end poverty and corruption in Kenya.
Educating a child is simply planting the first seed.
Every child I met had BIG DREAMS for their future.
But all they all had one thing in common…. They all wanted to improve the life’s of those around them!
UNDERSTANDING OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS
Most of our work currently targets children living in Mosiro and Kadjiado West.
The purpose of our sponsorship programs is to ensure that children are fully supported in their journey through school and equip with everything that they need to perform to their full potential in school.
We take into consideration everything that may be relevant on a practical, cultural, and emotional level for a child to succeed in school.
Our children are fully supported with their school fees, school equipment, uniform, food and accommodation.
We work closely with the child’s family and community, to get their blessing and consent for the child to go to school.
We share the importance and impact of education with the families, and where it is needed, we provide financial support to ensure the child in not required work instead of attending school.
In Maasai culture, young girls are married off at a young age by their parents, to financially support the rest of the family.
It sounds horrible, but young girls have been used as a form of currency for many years. In poor communities in Maasai, fathers often feel they have no other option but to marry off their daughters, to finically support the rest of their children and wives.
We try to foster a relationship between the sponsor and the sponsor child.
Children living in extreme poverty don’t always have a lot of people in their corner, offering support and encouragement.
We recognise that the importance of a sponsor exceeds their role of paying school fees; a sponsor can prove to a young person that they are worth investing in.
Sponsorships for Primary and High School
Our priority is to provide Maasai children with access to quality education, the resources and school supplies needed, and establish child protection measures which ensures the safety and continued attendance of the children.
We also educate the parents on the importance of education, and the impact that this investment into education can have on the greater community.
Sponsorships for technical Colleges
We have been focusing on giving opportunities to young girls who would not otherwise be able to go to university or technical colleges.
Last year we were able to put three young girls into technical college, all of whom were either promised marriage or being pulled out of school to become house help.
Our vision is to support them to start up their own businesses once they graduate school.
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
Hear the stories of some of the children who have been supported to go to school through Funguo Kenya's Sponsorship Program.
Nashipae's Story
Nashipae loves school, her commitment to stay in school is inspiring.
Nashipae needs to walk 2 hours every day to get to and from school, holding the hand of her friend because Nashipae is partially blind.
When we met Nashipae she was finding it increasingly hard to stay in school as she lost her sight.
Nashipae was facing the prospect of being forced into early marriage if she could not remain in school.
Nashipae was meant to be married off at 10 years old, but she begged her father to let her stay in school and not be married off. Eventually Nashipae and her father came to an agreement, Nashipae would go through FGM but she would be allowed to stay in school. Nashipae was woken up in the middle of the night by 4 women.
Nashipaes grandmother, grandmothers best friend, Nashipaes mother and another lady did the cut.
Indica and Felistus took Nashipae in as a sponsor child and found her a boarding school which caters for children with partial to full visual impairment.
Since going to school and having the adequate support needed for her sight impairment.
Nashipae has learnt how to cope with life outside maasai, leaving her family and community, having to learn a whole new language (Braille), and navigating a whole new friendship group.
Since we met, Nashipae have been put through a bit of an emotional roller coaster - initially we were looking into how we could treat Nashipaes eyes. After realising that her eyes were worse than we expected, we had to look into a school that could cater for her needs.
This was probably the hardest part of the journey so far because Nashipae had to accept that she may not get her sight back, and she needs to prepare herself.
Instead of letting that weigh her down, Nashipae took every challenge in her stride.
Nashipae has more friends than I can keep up with, honestly trying to get her out of the school today was such a struggle.
Nashipaes teachers are blown away with how well she is performing in school!
Nasiku's Story
Nasieku’s Story… well at least the start of the story.
Nasieku was rescued from becoming a house girl by chance a few months ago. Nasieku had been sent from her village by her parents as they couldn’t afford to put her through school, and they wanted the young girl to start making money for the family.
Being a house girl is very dangerous and only slightly removed from slavery. These girls are subjected to abuse, at risk of being r@ped, and they get paid next to nothing.
Felistus found out that this girl was leaving her village for work. Without hesitation felistus reported this case to child protection and instead took this girl into her own care. Since then felistus has been trying to get Nasieku back into school.
Today Nasieku is studying at a technical college, she is thriving in her course and her confidence has increased so much!
Nasiku's Story
Told By Felistus
I met Nasieku by coincidence, we shared a lift from my friend and a colleague. It was an early morning when my high school friend passed by my home in the village offering a lift to Nairobi My husband and I got into the car to Nairobi with our friends (a couple), at the back seats we were three, the little quiet girl, my husband and I; along the way I started talking to the young girl who was very shy. I asked "where are you going? Which school are you? How old are you?"The little girl would say a word and keep silent for a long time!I noticed there might be something wrong with the girl; she said that she is 14 years old and going to Nairobi to work!Ah to work??? Yes she said.
Our conversation continued she opened up that she is being ferried to work as a house maid because he family couldn't take her to high school. I interviewed her further further and asked if she wanted to continue with her studies, she starts crying saying she would loved to continue but since her parents are not able she chose to work as a maid.
At the moment invited my friend to our table, she looks scared because the girl was still sobbing. She asks, hey what's going on here why is my girl crying? What have you done to her? Haha!
There I stood up furious and straight to her face said, she is crying because of you! You child traffickers! How dare you both ferry this little girl for labor?
Can't you even assist since you both are working with the government? You take advantage of her vulnerability to oppress her more? My friend, her husband and my husband are now with us the hotel
came to a standstill; what is happening the manager ordered to be informed!
My friends ran away leaving us in the hotel!
I immediately call the children department which responded very fast that with immediate effect that child be taken back to her parents.
The hardest part of all, looking for my friends who went into hiding in a prestigious hotel, I threated them if they don't tell where they were I would report the matter to the police!
The lady my school mate pleaded with me not to take that step for they will comply. Fine, they came back asking what to do.
I gave them instructions to take back the girl to the children office and liaise with the parent.
The following day, my friend were scared to travel with us but then they funded our trip back to the children office.
At the children office, the family came and an audit was done by a social worker who ascertained that the family is really needy and that many children in that family are not continuing with their studies after the primary levels.
It's at this point that I assumed responsibility over Nasieku's education.
Thanks be to Indica whom I met at the right time, she did a
fundraiser which really is a blessing to the little girl, she chose to pursue a tailoring course at Namelok Technical training Institute!
We look forward to seeing her to her highest levels.