Online campaign raises more than Sh300k for needy school girl
Kenyans have delivered the perfect New Year’s gift to a family from Kiandutu slum in Kiambu County which was struggling to raise school fees for one of their daughters.
Beryl Auma’s story was highlighted by NTV after her elder sister Juliet Akinyi scored a plain A in the 2016 KCSE exams. Berly’s hopes of joining high school however seemed dashed for lack of school fees.
But in a record 24 hours, an online fund raiser for the girl’s four year secondary education surpassed its Sh300, 000 target by over Sh50, 000.
During the interview with NTV, the girls’ mother, Joyce Achieng, recounted her predicament after her two daughters both passed their exams.
WELL-WISHERS
Akinyi had also thanked two organisations that paid her secondary education school fees and pleaded with well-wishers to assist her younger sister who scored 372 marks in KCPE.
Four days after the appeal, online funds drive campaigner, Ndungu Nyoro, shared the Mpesa paybill details and rolled out an M-Changa campaign.
By Thursday afternoon, Sh350, 155 had been raised online to help the family which depends on a father who roasts maize at Kiandutu slums for a living.
And in what is more good news to the family, multinational consumer goods company, Bidco Africa, has also pledged to offer the two sisters full education scholarship in addition to offering their mother a full time job.
Bidco said they will discuss with the family how they ant to be supported with the funds.
The mother, a mama nguo in the estates neighbouring Kiandutu slums in Thika thanked Kenyans for their support to her family.
SCHOOL ADMISSION
“I’m so grateful for this kind gesture by Kenyans. My prayer is that they continue in the same spirit, because assisting someone to get an education goes a long way,” Ms Achieng told Nairobi News on phone.
Auma had received an admission letter from Chania Girls but since her elder sister Akinyi scored a plain A from Mugoiri Girls, the school’s principal Jane Mugo had offered Auma a chance to study there owing to her sister’s performance and good conduct.
“Beryl is currently being assisted by her sister and parents do shopping required before joining high school. On Monday 09/01/2017 she will report to MUGOIRI GIRLS to begin a journey of hope and courage. Now Juliet can afford a smile. She can celebrate her achievements and also her younger sister’s,” wrote Mr Nyoro who led the online campaign.
The Juma family has lived in Kiandutu since 1992. The first of the family’s six children, a girl, lives in Kariadudu Slums, Kariobangi after failing to attain secondary education due to lack of school fees.
