About The Children

A very determined child

So Brighton was determined, and in January 2024, when we were receiving applications, he walked into the head teacher’s office all alone and with tears in his eyes – he said “Sir please allow me to come here because I want to continue with my education and one day I would like to become a teacher.”

We asked him about his parents or if anyone would be coming to do the application for him, but he said “I have tried but my aunt is always busy, she has to go searching for casual jobs every day so that she can get something for us to eat, but most of the time we have nothing and so I decided to come alone because I want to learn’’.  He doesn’t have parents; the aunt, who is a distant relative, told him that his father died when he was very young, and his mother abandoned him at the age of three. His aunt also has five of her own children. We have no idea why he was named Brighton.

We accepted his request, how could we do anything else, and he sat the test for our entry examination and passed.

Lots of health challenges for Brighton too

Brighton has gone through many challenges, with some resulting in health problems. From time to time he complained of back pains and swelling of his left eye and his ears, amongst other issues. We called Brighton’s guardian and asked about his health. She sadly admitted, not surprisingly, that she didn’t have the money to pay for healthcare.

A couple who support our school very kindly offered to pay for Brighton’s medical investigation and treatment as well as other basic personal items which he did not have. He went to Lighthouse Eye Centre in June, then to Pandya Memorial Hospital for spinal cord and back treatment, then to Mombasa Hearing Center for ear treatment. The tests and diagnosis took 4 days and he’s now receiving the medical care he needs.

Brighton is now super happy, and he says was feeling better after a month of treatment. He’s thriving at school.

Abigael and Kunta – Providing hope for their family

Kunta is one of our brightest academic students who comes from a very tough background. Together with younger sister Abigael, another Bombolulu Secondary School student, they provide hope for the future for their impoverished mother

Their father died when they were very young and their mother had no education at all. That made it impossible for mum to find any but the most basic jobs. Their elder siblings missed out on education as they could not afford school fees, all bar one sister who was only able to complete her primary education.

Home is basic and mum struggles to feed the children

They live in a mud house on the edge a rich man’s farm where they help to look after his property. To put food on the table mum does casual work, like washing clothes or as a home help. Their siblings struggle and one of their sisters who missed out on education became a mother immediately after primary school and also finds herself with no income.

Hope through hard work – they’re applying themselves well

Both Kunta and Abigael are academically sharp and work very hard in school. Kunta’s ambition is to become an engineer. Abigael has developed a passion for mathematics and wants to become an accountant.

Goodluck – His mother just disappeared

After Goodluck’s father died, he woke up one morning all alone. His mother appears to have simply got up and left, and he has never seen or heard from his mother since. Fortunately his three aunties took him in, and he now lives with them.

Sadly they suffer from extreme poverty and are all disabled. Two of them do casual work for the local Bombolulu Workshop (a brilliant local facility for the disabled), but most of the time there is no money for food and Goodluck has to beg so he can eat.

In their home they have a traditional sisal mart (a basic form of rug or mat) and old bed sheets to sleep on. There are a few jerry cans to collect water, a basin and an old sufuria (a big cooking pot common in Kenya), and that’s about it.

Goodluck now does most of the home chores and helps his aunties with mobility. He’s a lovely lad who’s had to grow up fast as he’s learned some big life lessons at a very early age. Despite his home situation he’s determined that he’ll achieve his dream of becoming a biological engineer.

What we want for the children – why we’re here

At the heart of everything we do at Empowering Kids in Kenya, it’s obviously the future happiness of the children at Bombolulu Secondary School that matters most. We strive every day to provide a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment. Our school is not just a place for learning, it’s a beacon of hope for children who come from some of the most difficult and underprivileged backgrounds in Kenya.

The challenging backgrounds of our children

These three stories only tell part of the reality of what life is like for our students outside school. Each and every one of them comes from a background of extreme poverty with a sad story to tell. That story is repeated across much of the country.

Kenya is filled with beauty and potential, but it also faces significant challenges, especially for children living in rural areas and the deprived suburbs of the big cities. Many of the children who come to Bombolulu Secondary School face a dangerously abusive home life as well as the horrors of extreme poverty.

 

The hope we have for our children

Every child at Bombolulu Secondary School carries within them a world of untapped potential. Our mission is to help them unlock that potential through education. We want to give them the tools they need to transform their lives and their communities.

• Break the cycle of poverty: Education is the most powerful tool we can offer to help break the cycle of poverty. A quality education gives our students the chance to pursue careers that can lift them, their families and the wider community out of poverty.
• Create future leaders: We firmly believe our students are the future leaders of Kenya. With the right education, they can become doctors, teachers, engineers, and innovators who will contribute to the development of their communities and their country.
• Build strong communities: When children are educated, they are better equipped to contribute positively to their communities. Our expectation is that our students will succeed individually and help to inspire those around them, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

At Bombolulu Secondary School, we see our students as future change-makers. We are committed to nurturing their dreams and providing them with the skills they need to turn those dreams into reality.

The growing demand for our school

As word of our school’s impact spreads, the demand for places at Bombolulu Secondary School has grown exponentially. Every year, we receive far more applications than we can accommodate, a testament to the trust that parents and communities have in our mission.

• Limited capacity: Despite our best efforts to expand, we can only admit a limited number of students each year. Our current facilities can only support a certain number of children, and our resources are stretched to the limit. This means that every place at our school is highly coveted.
• High demand from across the area: Families from across the area apply to Bombolulu Secondary School because they know that their children will receive a quality education here. We receive applications not just from our local area but from more distant communities, reflecting the widespread need for schools like ours.

While we are proud of the impact we have made, the high demand for our school also highlights the urgent need for more resources and support. With additional funding, we could expand our facilities and provide more children with the education they deserve.

The selection process

Given the overwhelming demand for places at Bombolulu Secondary School, we have developed a fair and transparent selection process to ensure that we can reach the children who need us most.

• Criteria for admission: Our selection process prioritises children who come from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. We look at factors such as family income, orphan status, and the availability of other educational opportunities. We pay home visits. By doing so, we aim to provide opportunities to those who would otherwise have none.
• Community involvement: We involve local community leaders in the selection process to ensure that it is fair and that we reach the children who are most in need. These leaders help us identify families who may not be aware of our school but whose children could benefit greatly from attending.
• Ensuring diversity: We also strive to maintain a diverse student body that reflects the broader community. This means ensuring a balance of boys and girls, children from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, and children with and without disabilities.

Our selection process is designed to be as inclusive and fair as possible, but the reality is that we cannot accept every child who applies. For those we cannot accommodate, the alternatives are often bleak.

The alternatives: what if they can’t get a place in our school?

For many of the children who apply to Bombolulu Secondary School, the alternatives to attending our school are stark. Without a place here, many of these children face a future with very limited opportunities.

• Overcrowded public schools: The state schools in many areas are severely overcrowded, with some classes having as many as 100 students. It’s difficult or impossible for any child to receive the individual attention they need to succeed.
• Total lack of access to quality education: In some areas, there are no schools at all, or the schools that do exist are poorly funded and completely understaffed.
• Vulnerability to exploitation: Children who are not in school are far more vulnerable to exploitation. They may be forced into child labour, early marriage or menial employment, cutting short their childhood and their chances for a better future. Their vulnerability and poverty make them targets for the modern slave trade.

We believe that every child deserves the chance to go to school and pursue their dreams. That’s why we are committed to expand our reach and provide more children with the opportunities they need to succeed.