Truly Kenya is a very big and beautiful country in the world. Many people from foreign countries come to Kenya because of our beautiful wildlife and landscape. Despite the fact that Kenya is a very wonderful country, life is not that easy.
You can’t simply walk up and down to have a bright future in your life. You really have to work hard either in your academic study, talents, or others.
In Kenya, the richest people are considered to be of high class. The poor are looked down upon by the rich. If you are poor, you are considered a useless person. Everybody in Kenya is really striving to be as hardworking as ants. The level of education is very high. Today for you to get a good job you have to get good grades. Life is not easy. You may even encounter some problems like robbery, rape, prostitution, drug abuse, among many others. Sometimes there is no political stability in Kenya. This brings conflict between the different ethnic groups. Some families are displaced from their homes and even others are killed.
I am Brenda and from a family of 4. I am 15 years old. Before I joined high school I encountered many problems. I would wake up very early in the morning and walk many miles to school. I would come across dangerous animals e.g. elephants, lions, and many others. But all this did not hinder me from going to school and performing well. Although my background was not from a rich family, I was never left wanting anything. I really worked very hard in my studies knowing that hard work never goes unrewarded. After I was through with my final examination of primary education, I got very good grades which qualified me to join a very good high school. I was so happy and my mother was very proud of me. I had a very fantastic holiday that year. My mother tried by all means to make sure that we had food, shelter, and clothing. She is a woman of integrity, strength and hope.
The date to join secondary school finally arrived. I was stressed because my mother could not afford to pay my school frees. I would cry all day, but my mother always comforted me, telling me to never lose hope because God had good plans for me. I was surprised to see my fellow colleagues go to school.
One day when I had gone to a nearby market to get some vegetables, I heard some women discussing that there was an interview taking place at a school called Daraja Academy and it would offer a free scholarship for four years. I was so happy and went to inform my mother of the good news. On hearing the good news she became as happy as a lark. The next day I woke up very early and I went for the interview. When I reached Daraja I was surprised to see Americans for the first time in my life. They were very happy and gave me a warm welcome. I just felt at home. I did the interview and a few days later, they gave me an envelope. I was so surprised when I started opening it to see what was there. Wow! I just saw a big letter written: “Welcome to Daraja”. Tears of joy ran down my cheeks and thanked God that I was among the lucky twenty-six girls to join Daraja.
I could not wait to join Daraja. My mother was so happy that I got a school that would not cost any more money for her. I really thanked Mr. and Mrs. Doherty and other volunteers for being so kind and merciful to a Kenyan girl.
