Testimonials
Student Testimonials
Please note: Names have been changed to preserve student privacy and dignity.
Andrew Kiage
"I Studied in the Dark"
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I used to do my homework under a small kerosene lamp. When the fuel ran out, I stopped studying.
There were days I pretended to be sick because I had been sent home for unpaid fees. Walking back home while other students remained in class felt heavier than carrying my school bag.
My mother tried. She always tried. But trying was not enough.
When Elimisha Watoto Foundation sponsored my education, it was the first time someone outside my family invested in my future.
They paid my fees on time. I received textbooks. I was assigned a mentor who called just to ask, “How are you coping?” That question changed something in me.
Today, I revise at night with electricity. I sit in the front row. Last term, I ranked among the top five students in my class.
I no longer study in the dark in my room or in my mind.
One day, I want to become an engineer and bring light to homes like mine.
Angel Mwangi
"My Uniform Was My Secret"
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I owned one uniform.
When it tore at the shoulder, I stitched it myself and hoped no one would notice. I avoided raising my hand in class because I didn’t want anyone to see the patches.
I felt small. Invisible.
When I was selected into the Elimisha program, I received a new uniform, books, and full school support.
But what surprised me most was not the uniform. It was the mentorship sessions. Someone listened to my goals. Someone told me I mattered.
The day I wore my new uniform, I walked differently. I participated. I spoke up.
Last term, I was chosen to represent my school in a science competition.
The uniform covered my shoulders. The support rebuilt my confidence.
I now know I am capable of more than I imagined.
Gildeon Kiplingat
"I Almost Gave Up After My Father Passed"
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When my father passed away, everything changed overnight.
School became uncertain. Fees were overdue. My mother had to choose between feeding us and paying for my exams.
I remember overhearing a conversation about me dropping out. I stayed quiet, but inside I was breaking.
Elimisha stepped in at the moment we had no plan.
They cleared my arrears. They followed up with my teachers.
They checked on my emotional wellbeing.
For the first time since my father died, I felt stable.
Today, I am completing secondary school. I am preparing for my national exams with confidence.
My dream is to study accounting so I can support my family and manage resources better than we ever could before.
Losing my father nearly ended my education. Support restored my direction.
Marylyne Wairimu
"I Was the First in My Family."
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No one in my family had completed secondary school.
Education always stopped halfway because of money, responsibilities, or early marriage.
I was next in line.
When financial challenges began, I assumed my story would follow the same pattern.
But Elimisha intervened before history repeated itself.
They paid my fees consistently. They monitored my progress.
They encouraged my mother to believe that my education was worth protecting.
Today, I am the first in my family to prepare for university entry.
My younger siblings now say they want to follow my path.
This is no longer just my success. It is a shift in our family’s trajectory.
Nickodemous Opoo
"I Used to Fear Speaking in Class"
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No one in my family had completed secondary school.
Education always stopped halfway because of money, responsibilities, or early marriage.
I was next in line.
When financial challenges began, I assumed my story would follow the same pattern.
But Elimisha intervened before history repeated itself.
They paid my fees consistently. They monitored my progress. They encouraged my mother to believe that my education was worth protecting.
Today, I am the first in my family preparing for university entry.
My younger siblings now say they want to follow my path.
This is no longer just my success. It is a shift in our family’s trajectory.
Kevin Otieno
"I Thought My Dream Was Too Big for My Background"
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I grew up believing certain careers were for “other people.” In my community, finishing school was already considered an achievement. University felt unrealistic.
When my father lost his job, continuing my education became uncertain. I prepared myself to step back and find casual work.
Elimisha stepped in at a critical moment.
They covered my fees, but more importantly, they reminded me that my ambition was valid. They checked in on my performance and encouraged me to aim higher, not smaller.
Today, I am applying for competitive university courses I once thought were beyond my reach.
My dream is no longer negotiable. It is a plan in motion.
Faith Wanjiku
"I Was Quiet Because I Felt Invisible"
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In school, I rarely spoke.
Not because | lacked ideas, but because I felt behind academically and socially. Financial stress at home affected my confidence.
When I joined the sponsorship program, the support went beyond fees.
There was mentorship. There were follow-ups. There were conversations about leadership and self-worth.
For the first time, I felt seen.
I now serve as a class representative. I speak during group discussions. I volunteer during school activities.
This journey has not just changed my grades.
It has changed how I see myself.
Brian Mwangi
"Dropping Out Felt Inevitable"
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By Form Two, I had already missed several weeks of school due to unpaid fees.
Each time I returned, catching up felt harder.
I had started accepting that I might not complete my studies.
Elimisha’s intervention was consistent and structured.
Fees were settled on time. Progress was monitored. My guardians were engaged in the process.
Stability replaced uncertainty.
Today, I am preparing for my final examinations with confidence.
For the first time, finishing school is not a question mark it is an expectation.
Mercy Naliaka
"My Mother Carried the Burden Alone"
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After my father passed away, my mother became the sole provider.
Education became one of many responsibilities competing for limited resources.
I watched her struggle to choose between school fees and household needs.
When Elimisha stepped in, the pressure reduced significantly.
My mother could focus on rebuilding stability at home without sacrificing my education.
Now, I am on track to complete secondary school and pursue higher education.
My mother often says the sponsorship restored her hope as much as it supported my schooling.
This was not just financial assistance.
It was relief, dignity, and reassurance.
Achieng’ Atieno
"I Almost Settled for Less"
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In my community, many girls leave school early due to financial hardship or social pressure.
I began to believe that might be my reality too.
When challenges arose at home, continuing education felt like a luxury.
Elimisha’s support disrupted that pattern.
They engaged my family, ensured my fees were paid, and reinforced the importance of long-term goals.
Today, I am completing secondary school with strong performance and clear career ambitions.
I am no longer preparing to settle.
I am preparing to lead.
QUOTES FROM Prominent LEADERS
PLO Lumumba
ADVOCATE OF THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA; PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC LAW; PAN-AFRICAN SCHOLAR & LEADERSHIP EXPERT
“Education is the most powerful weapon Africa must use to reclaim her dignity and destiny.”
Peter Tabichi
SCIENCE TEACHER; 2019 GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE LAUREATE
“Every child matters. Their background should not determine their future.”
Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha
PROFESSOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION; FORMER CHAIR, COMMISSION FOR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION (KENYA)
“Quality assurance in education is not an event; it is a continuous process of safeguarding standards and relevance.”
Nelson Mandela
FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Malcolm X
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER
“Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.”