Meet Our Students
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Lucy Sandey - her own story
I remember the first time I secretly followed the class full of students and teacher. All the pupils were writing their notes while teacher was explaining the geographical latitudes on the black board. It seemed like the teacher had a power of knowledge that he could share with his pupils. After this astonishing scene, I went back home and told my parents I wanted to become a teacher — a teacher with superpower to educate, to share, and to give something for others. However, my parents knew that there is no way they could give me a quality education to continue my secondary school and college without any spare money in our budget. So, we contacted Bright English Medium School who decided to support our family by letting me to study! I was hope and thankful for them that I made promise to this school — one day I will come back to BEMS and will be a teacher for all the kids like me — the ones that have big dreams and motivation.
Sarah Wangael - story told by her father
“Sara, Sara, my dearest Sara!” these are my first words back home after my work as a pastor. My little girl Sara always waits for me after work to play and talk with me about the things she saw or did during the day. She wants me to be proud of her. But I have to say — I am a strict parent, and I want my children to be good people: they should not disobey God’s wishes or be unkind to others. I want my kid to be a hard working student, the one that will later serve her community. However, I am afraid I will not have enough time as I have a strong disease in my body. The money our family does not spend on our kids to feed them goes to my medicine and pills — to kill the pain and allow me to continue my service as a pastor. I wish I could give better education to Sarah, to see how she becomes a nurse, but there is no money nor time. So here I am at BEMS — thankful for everyone who decided to support my girl.
Yusuph Joseh - his diary
Dear diary,
If only I could change the place and life I was born to live. I would be an English teacher. I would provide my mom and dad with better food on the plate, and I would give them the most beautiful costumes to wear, so they could always look like the people from my fairy tales. I would go to the university — the one like the other kids in my country are going to… Oh, what a great teacher I think I would be.
Neema Wangael - her own story
When I grow up, I am going to be an independent woman. I will have my own car and my office with a huge bookshelf next to my table. I am planning to build a house for my parents: safe, cozy and beautiful as those I see in the movies. The sick people will receive my help as well as poor people will get my donations. I will make my parents proud of me, I promise. I know that these dreams can be real.
Angel Samwel - poem written by Angel
I like to teach I like to play
I like to go to school all-day
As shy and small as I can be
I want to know a lot today.
When teachers come, I see the light.
The one that left my home last night
But I am sure I will bring back.
This bright and warmness back tonight.
Jenipher Kelembo (middle) - story told by her mother
The first time I ran away from my husband was when Jenipher was still in my stomach and Naningo was only one year old. They brought me back once, then twice. But I knew I had to get away from some of the Maasai traditions that would force my girls to experience female genital mutilation or forced marriage. What mother would want their girls to be beaten or have to agree with the 5 other wives in the family? But, of course, my decision to escape did not come without any consequences. The father stopped supporting the kids and left me alone as the only source of money to bring food for the girls and provide them with any basic needs every human being needs.
Nonetheless, we survived and stayed together. The only wish I always had as a mother for my kids is to educate them and give them a chance to grow and shine.
Thiopista Augustino - her own story
The time I was almost sold as a house maid, I knew that my dream to become a doctor was out of reach. No school, no friends. Just me — a 10 year old girl — sent away from her parents to bring food and medicine for the rest of the family members. I was ready to take this pathway. I was prepared to be a house maid for the rest of my life until a few days before my departure. In the morning, some people from the nearby school came to our house and pleaded with my parents to bring me to school: “She is very smart and could achieve a better education and future for all of you”. My mother cried. And I did too, secretly in my room. This conversation was the changed everything and my parents changed their minds and wanted me to go to BEMS. But as I am not a house maid, it is very difficult for my parents to fund my education.
Michael Yohana - his own story
When I say to my goat, “Kura, kura, Kura, kura”, she always comes back to me even from the furthest mountain. Kura is my best friend, and I love to take care of her. My mother and dad also like to take care of the cattle as they give us meat and milk, so we do not have to experience hunger, but these animals are not enough for the parents to fully support my two sisters and me for school. However, I still want to continue my primary education, so that I can spend hours and hours learning English and playing football with friends.
Bryton Martin - story told by his mother
He says he loves me because I am always around him when he is in trouble. Since he was two, I have had to become not only his mother but also his father as we were left alone in the far-reaching loneliness and poverty. As a wife, I was good in making cakes, so I decided to take it as an opportunity to gain some money for our family, since then, these cakes were supporting Bryton, Naomi and me. I was able to get them to BEMS, close to Loliondo village, and I can see how happy Bryton was the first day he came from his science lessons. “I want to be a doctor,” he told me with the biggest smile on his face.
Cecilia Sasi (right) - story told by the school manager
When Cecilia came to our school, she brought something special to every room she entered. I first met Cecilia while visiting surrounding Maasai families. The house looked very small and ruined, but when the woman outside the house spotted me walking around the mountains, she immediately invited me to their home. It was Cecilia's mom. We talked for more than an hour. I told her our school's story, and she told their family's story: poor and unable to take care of everything that is on their shoulders. With no prior education, they could not start their family business while their cattle were dying from the heat and lack of grass around the area. At some point in our conversation, Cecilia ran into the house with the biggest smile on their face explaining how she was teaching the neighbor's cows and goats how to sing and eat the grass properly. We all laughed out of this story, but then I saw the sad eyes on the mother's face: "None of us in the family were able to attend the school, but I would do everything so that my daughter can have an opportunity to get an education".
Naomi Martin - her own story
Whenever I am at home, I always help my mother clean the house and wash the dishes. My mother says I could be a good housemaid. Some spare money would help her to take care of my brother Bryton and me. But without education, we would not be able to achieve our dreams. That is what my mom knew when she separated from my father, who only wanted us to take care of the house or the animals. I will be thankful all of my life to my mother and school founder, who allowed me to go to BEMS.
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