by Annet Bakker-Brouwer
As a volunteer from the Netherlands, I have been living for seven months in Matoso, Kenya. My husband, Boudewijn Bakker, is Medical Director of Lalmba Kenya. I contribute to Lalmba in multiple roles and I am here to serve the LUO-people of this district who have such a hard life. As a psychologist, I am always anxious to know what the results are of supporting so many children during the 30+ years that Lalmba has been involved in Kenya. What has happened to these kids? What kind of jobs do they have? How were Lalmba services able to help them when they were in a very vulnerable situation, at such a young age?
During a recent visit to the Matoso Academy Complex, I met a teacher who was helped by Lalmba's RCAR program. His name is Erick. With the money you as donors gave, he was able to attend school. I am very moved by his story; you can read it below:
Erick, a very intelligent man of 25, starts by thanking Lalmba donors for getting the opportunity to go to school.
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| Erick stands close to his father's knee for a rare family portait. |
When he was 3 years old, the youngest of 8 children, his father died. There was no money in the family for school after the 5th grade. He really wanted to attend school, so he started to earn money at the beach of Lake Victoria in Matoso by pulling nets and collecting the fish the fishermen had caught that night. It was not enough…. as a 10 year old he went to the office of Lalmba in Matoso and asked for help. The leaders of RCAR visited his home and school to assess his needs and to see his examination results. The need was obvious, and because he was one of the best students in his class, Lalmba took him into their program by paying his school fees, books and uniforms. After receiving high grades on his exams in primary school, he was motivated to continue his education. Both his grades and his drive to continue his studies qualified him for a Lalmba scholarship to attend secondary school (high school.)
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| Erick's graduation photo from the University of Nairobi |
After completing high school, again near the top of his class, Erick's academic dreams continued -- he wanted to attend college in Nairobi. (The RCAR program supports students only up to secondary school.) He started to earn some money, and his family also helped him by selling some of the family cows. Eventually they saved enough so he could start his first year of college! But, it was still not enough to continue. So, he organised a fundraising party, inviting more than 200 people. This is common in Kenya when you have money problems; it's the third world version of Kickstarter. The visitors paid for a nice evening with music, drinks and some food. From this, he received enough money to pay for second year of college. And then he did it again for the third year. For his last year of college and for his exams he took a student loan from the university, which he still needs to repay.
In July 2013, 25 years old, Erick graduated with high marks with a teaching degree in Mathematics, Science, English end Social Studies. And . . . now he's back in Matoso working as a teacher at the Matoso Academy Complex, a private Primary School in Matoso.
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| Erick, giving a math lesson to 6th graders |
Erick is very happy to be a teacher and to be able to live and work in the community of his family. He would like to thank the donors of Lalmba for the opportunity to attend Primary and Secondary school. Now, it's his turn to take care of his extended family. His salary is low - teachers the world over are underpaid, especially in Kenya. He also needs to repay his student loan. But once his debts are paid, and only then, he believes, will he be able to marry and raise a family. These are the burdens of modern man in Kenya, and in spite of them, he remains happy and grateful for all the support he has received. Now, in his own way, it's his turn to support Lalmba---by teaching RCAR orphans just like him how to succeed in spite of many obstacles. "Thank you to my friends who support Lalmba!"
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| Erick with his 6th grade class. |
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| Erick (second from left) with his colleagues at the Matoso Academy Primary School |
