Jane Awour Onyango

Jane is 20 and in Form 2 (equivalent to Grade 10). She enjoys art and music, plays volleyball, writes poetry and loves the Lord.

Her father and mother are elderly and live on the family farm where they barely make enough of a living to feed their 6 dependants. As far as I can find out, Jane is the first person in her family to go through high school. She has an older brother who is in Class (grade) 8. She was brought to Kisumu by a free lance consultant and his family, who saw that she seemed quite bright. Though they provide a home for Jane, they are unable to meet her school fee needs, as well as those of their own children.

Jane appears to be very reserved in the classroom and it has been my delight this term to discover an entirely different side to her since she has been a part of the drama club. I had one role for a "cockroach" in a play and all the students were too self consious to get the funny walk and characteristics of the insect. All, that is, except Jane, who probably surprised many of her classmates as much as she surprised me when she broke out of her shy, studious shell and started scampering across the floor.

I hope to find many more surprises in this girl as she continues to learn and grow this year. I pray she will be sponsored so she can stay at our school.

Oliver Jack Okeyo

Oliver is 19 and in Form 4, the last year of high school. He is very studious and wants to go into business, his favorite subjects are math, history, English and business. He is also involved in the drama club and loves to play soccer. His single Mom works as a hairdresser and has two other children besides Oliver to care for.

Oliver is very tender and carries a servants heart. He often volunteers to help wash dishes in the cafeteria or any other task that needs to be done. During the holidays he helped work on the new high school building, and proved himself to be quite adept with a hammer.

Last year Oliver asked me to go with him to the hospital to pray for his best friend, a girl about his age. She had sickle cell anemia, and Oliver had been caring for her while her mother worked to try and get money to pay her hospital bill. I was amazed to discover that Oliver had been going to the hospital after school to be with her, would spend the night by her side, then show up the next day with the same big smile he gives to all his classmates and teachers.

Oliver gives himself to others every day. To his classmates, to the primary kid who needs a "big brother", to his mom - as he helps her raise his little brother. I hope one of you will be able to invest into the life of this remarkable young man.