Letter from Kenya

© ANPPCAN Lesley Achieng

My name is Lesley Achieng, am fourteen years old. A resident of Mundika Busia county. I live with my grandfather and his family. They kindly took me in when I was ten years old, after a sudden separation of my parents. We both lived happily in Nairobi before my father started being so brutal with my mother. He rarely left food for us though he worked and my mother was a housewife. We had to stay home without going to school because of lack of school levis [levies – fees]. When the violence was too much, my mother decided to persevere no more. Thereafter my sisters and I had to separate. Two of them stay with my mother in Butala. One stays with her father – my step-dad – in Teso.

For years I don’t see either my mum or dad or even my sisters, thus most of the times I feel lonely. In my grandfather’s home at least I could get to go to school and get my basic needs despite of the many normal family misunderstandings, for it was a fact that I am not a member of this family. My grandfather, who is my mother’s uncle, took me in and made my primary education a success through his kindness.

Having learned in Mundika Girls Primary, I got to join a Child Rights Club (CRC) whereby it has helped me to realize my rights and responsibilities making my life run smoothly. Apart from that the club helped me in making sure I’m always keeping positive moral values, I can now keep myself from peer pressure and drug abuse and I can boldly defend my rights which were denied to me by my parents and the rights of other children.

© ANPPCAN Lesley in front of her school

Moreover I got to learn about the ANPPCAN scholarship project, which motivated me to work hard for. I had in mind that my grandpa would not be in a position to cater for my high school education. Thankfully through God’s grace, I was able to get the scholarship of which I’m greatly honoured. I hereby take this chance to thank ANPPCAN and all its paterns [sic – patrons] from the very bottom of my heart. They have taken part in making and changing not only my life, but other people’s lives too.

© ANPPCAN Lesley at registration

Having gotten this golden opportunity, I do not intend to let it go but rather to work hard and meet your expectations! I promise to do my level best bearing in mind that a chance is given only once. I thank ANPPCAN for their efforts of making sure a black child gets education and as a beneficiary I thank them for bring a smile on my face.

To help more kids like Lesley, donate above (designating the money for the Kenyan Schoolhouse program), or give on Facebook at our KSH campaign