PA-MOJA is providing full bursaries to 37 students who live near the Ol Pejeta conservancy for their 2014 school year. Each student filled in a questionnaire to help us get to know them better. To compare their answers to students at Langley Fine Arts School in Canada, click here.
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Letrock P. Desire, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Endana High School
What is your favourite subject and why?
Mathematics because I actually pass it very well than other subjects and it was very easy when you do practicing by doing some papers and tackled all questions.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be a respectful and responsible person.
To relate with my small sisters and brothers at home.
To pay attention when I am at school.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack enough teachers and books at our school.
Thieves who are at school who take your property.
Lack of text books you had been given at school.
What are you most proud of?
I was being proud to be sponsored.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The time we celebrate Christmas and join with others.
During the Sunday we communicate the words of God.
During marriage and initiation we enjoy songs.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
To be assisted to pas all goals of education.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Nothing.
What is your most treasured possession?
To be an engineering person.
What are you most afraid of?
To lack sponsor.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
To gain your knowledge.
To be respectful student.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, leopards.
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David Kariuki Gichohi, grade 10
What school do you go to?
Tigithi Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Business studies because to me it is easy to remember and it affects many career opportunities.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Being respectful to all people, being responsible of my work, and always trust in God for with him everything is possible.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Before I had gotten the sponsorship, I experienced tough challenges of being sent home because of lack of fees making me miss important subjects.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of being sponsored by Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day of my life is when I heard that Ol Pejeta Conservancy was going to pay my fees enabling me to pursue my career of being a doctor.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
A responsible man who is able to help others and also his family.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A respectful and educated woman.
What is your most treasured possession?
A big company that makes a lot of money.
What are you most afraid of?
Not being able to pursue my career.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Positive attitude is the key to success.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A wide range of wild animals, eg. lions and buffaloes.
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Stephen Karanja, grade 10.
What school do you go to?
Endana Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
English, because I always like talking English.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be honest and disciplined. To obey.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of enough books.
Quarreling with other students.
Home sickness.
What are you most proud of?
To be educated.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I joined high school.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Hardworking.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Polite.
What is your most treasured possession?
Playing football.
What are you most afraid of?
God.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
How to be right in doing activities.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Forest, ocean, waterfall, rose flower.
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Murage Joseph Karite, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Tigithi Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
English – I want to be a lawyer.
Geography – I want to know the things that happen on earth.
History – I want to know the events that took place in the past.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
My family have taught me about good behaviours.
Good discipline in school.
Do as required by the teacher or your guardian.
Always pray to God in all places.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack or enough light in our classrooms.
Lack or enough food in the evening.
Feeling cold in the dormitory.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of being a Tigithi student.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day was when the KCPE results came out and I heard that I had 317 marks, because I was expecting 250-300 marks.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Discipline.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Hardwork.
What is your most treasured possession?
Be a person who can be admired.
What are you most afraid of?
__________________
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Discipline.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The Serena Hotel in Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
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David Kariuki, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Geography. I appreciate the surrounding.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be disciplined.
Taking care of myself.
Seek my goals in education.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Favourization by teachers.
Unworkable timetable.
Inadequate teacher for various subjects.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of being a student.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The happiest day in my life is when I heard that I have done my KCSE and passed.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Respect.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Hardworking.
What is your most treasured possession?
Life.
What are you most afraid of?
I’m afraid of safari work at night when asleep.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Being social to everyone.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Hot spring.
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Wachira Kennedy Kihara, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Doldol High School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Biology, because of the passion I have of studying living organisms and I understand the subject without much struggling.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Hardworking, being morally upright, and being honest in al occasions.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of enough school educational facilities eg. books.
What are you most proud of?
My life.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I got my K.C.P.E. results. This is because I found out that the hard work that I invest in my studies is never in vain.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Honesty.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Loving.
What is your most treasured possession?
Knowledge.
What are you most afraid of?
Death.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Acquiring knowledge not only concerning studies but also of how to deal with life in general.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The lion because it’s outward looking and also its beautiful mind possession because of its great focus and the determination it has eg. prey that it has spotted it goes and must get it.
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David Njuguna Kinyua, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Biology and Chemistry, because I want to be a doctor in the future.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Respect, humbleness, appreciating the way I live, and being focused in my life.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Insult, for I do not like joining other groups formed by my fellows.
What are you most proud of?
Acquiring education to make my life bright.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I was given full bursary by Ol Pejeta since I had lost hope in education process, but they regained my hope.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
To be respected of my education.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
_______________
What is your most treasured possession?
_______________
What are you most afraid of?
Failing an exam.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
How to relate with others and most likely the beneficial of my life.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Being here today at Serena Hotel. I have seen a lot of beasts as we were traveling and also the beautiful environment.
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Joseph Kiragu, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
Thome Boys’ Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Math because it involves communicating with numbers and also the simplest subject I have ever met before.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
How to behave and present myself in front of people. Religious lessons that is being obedient, respectful, and know where I come from, where I am and where I am going.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Sometimes I lower my grades and I take it as a challenge personally.
Due to lack of personal things such as books, I am sent home to get them and miss lessons as a result.
What are you most proud of?
Am proud that I have a chance to be in secondary school.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
When I got my K.C.P.E. results and found that I had done well and had a chance to be rewarded the Ol Pejeta bursary to cover my further studies.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
He is intelligent.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
She works to her best.
What is your most treasured possession?
My education.
What are you most afraid of?
Failure.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Discipline.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
My sister. I admire her beauty, intelligence, and the mentorship she gives adds flavour to her beauty. The way she presents herself in front of people.
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Kanyaman E. Leaduma, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Endana Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
History because I usually perform it more than other subjects.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Being respectful – respecting old and young people.
Being obedient to elders.
How to relate with others.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of enough books and electric blackout at night.
What are you most proud of?
Being one of the officials in the Conservancy.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I heard hat I got a sponsor to cover my school fees. I was happy and happier.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Being obedient and disciplined.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Being beautiful.
What is your most treasured possession?
When I am in class leading.
What are you most afraid of?
God.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Being disciplined and respectful.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The Sweetwaters tented camp. The way wild animals are cared for and very conclusive environment.
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Elizabeth Leminyarit, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Our Lady of Visitation Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Geography because I usually love my teacher when he teach me.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
They taught me by telling me to work hard so that later I come to help her.
They also told me to obey teachers in school.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
I am regular challenges with this sponsor that I usually pray God so that they continue helping other people because God will bless them and give them more. I used to have stress at home because all my friends were at school but put on praying.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud because I was not go to school but now I join form one so I told my sponsor may God bless work of his hand.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day of my life is the day I heard that I have been sponsored by Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Now I have faith that I will make it and I will later be somewhere that is the day I will never forget.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
______________________
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
I most like women because it take care the environment at home.
What is your most treasured possession?
My treasured possession is number 96-118.
What are you most afraid of?
I afraid when I get back again or I fail.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
I learn many thing in school that I must have future that I will make it.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
I seen beautiful buildings and also wild animals at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
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Elizabeth Wanjiru Macharia, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Tigithi Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is Business Studies because it helps one to learn how to build up his/her life by engaging in different activities involving trade in order to earn a living.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Never consider my background as a factor in achieving my ambition.
Appreciate my background because it acts as a teaching about life.
I should not compare myself with others. Be unique.
Be an ambassador and a high scorer of my family.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Inadequate pocket money and sometimes shopping as my parents concentrate on my brother and sister who are also in high school.
Weak study habits and inability to balance my academic graph.
Persistent fevers.
What are you most proud of?
The fact that I have the ability to understand myself and what I am in for.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
A three-day school trip to Lake Naivasha, Lake Bogoria and the Menengai Crater.
A visit to the fourteen falls thing on 29th September 2013.
The bursary students’ mentorship day on 24th April 2014.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
They have sweet words but we should be careful about them, that is, most women can do away without them.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
They are simple but qualified that men cannot do away without them.
What is your most treasured possession?
A pen, as it reminds me that every activity has a teaching that needs to be noted.
What are you most afraid of?
How I will get a real characterized person who will understand my ways.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
We are all different to serve different purposes and for different reasons.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A small ant pulling along a big dead worm. This shows that though I am low in the present, the struggle will bear me great achievements for satisfaction.
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Fredrick Maina, grade 12
What school do you go to?
Tigithi Secondary School
What is your favourite subject and why?
Biology because it relates with construction of animals and interactions.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
I should always be determined in any activity.
Have positive attitude toward them.
Be obedient to the seniors.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Poor climate that is too hot during the day.
Eye problems due to fluorescent lamp.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of getting chance to go to school.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day is when I realised myself and I found that I have the potential.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Strength and muscular body.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Talking ability as it may help one in one way or another, for example in interview.
What is your most treasured possession?
That I will one day possess a name like “doctor” or “professor”.
What are you most afraid of?
Failing as a result of wasting time.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
It is better to be determined and take caution then showing your friends.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Beautiful things I have never seen but would like to see like the capital city of a well developed country like Canada and Germany.
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Njeri Patrick Maina, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Sirima Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Chemistry, because I understand most of its concepts.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Obeying everyone whether young or old provided he/she is telling you the right thing.
Hard work pays.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Sometimes monolisation (meaning: bullying, especially for first year students)
Sleeping in class
Stealing
What are you most proud of?
My talent.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
It is when I went to secondary school.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Happiness, peace.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Peace, happiness.
What is your most treasured possession?
Education.
What are you most afraid of?
Dog, lion, leopard, chimpanzee.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Good manners. Proper dressing.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A Land Cruiser, because of its strong engine and speed.
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Wambugu Gabriel Maina, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Math because it’s playing with numbers.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
How to get a good friend and how to improve the grade.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Different people and different environment.
What are you most proud of?
Visiting new places.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
Visiting the Conservancy.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Discipline.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Discipline.
What is your most treasured possession?
__________
What are you most afraid of?
Bad friends.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
How to get friends from different places.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A good environment in this area.
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Semeiyan James Mema, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Nanyuki High School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
History and government, because it’s related to my career that is law study and also I like to study and do research on past things.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be obedient, responsible, Godly, and social.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of some basic commodities, which are required to be bought such as books and pens.
The other problem is also climate. Our school being on the high altitude around Mount Kenya slopes it is very cold.
What are you most proud of?
My parents who have been my mentors.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
This particular day was when I was told that I was fully sponsored by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy through the PA-MOJA and therefore I joined my high school study.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Hard work and determination.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Loving and their responsible nature.
What is your most treasured possession?
Although very old it’s my bicycle which I use to help my mum fetch water during my holiday.
What are you most afraid of?
To disappoint or disrespect my parent.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Being hardworking and also positive attitude toward my surrounding.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is a rhino. Though endangered species and rare to see it is a curious and questioning animal. For instance what is the value of it being poached?
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Serah Gathigia Muchiri, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
Loise Nanyuki Girls’.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Kiswahili. I like speaking in Kiswahili and it is so simple.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Being responsible and having respect to others.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Not having enough revision materials.
Not having enough support from my classmates.
What are you most proud of?
My sponsor.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I got my sponsorship.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Ability to know what is good and bad.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Care and love for her children.
What is your most treasured possession?
Being a doctor.
What are you most afraid of?
Failure.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Being responsible of what I do.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The importance of education.
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John Muthee, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Endana Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Math because it is just playing with numbers.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be honest, faithful, and handsome.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
No books.
What are you most proud of?
To be an accountant.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
Sunday.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
To be assisted to pass my goal of education.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Nothing.
What is your most treasured possession?
To be an accountant.
What are you most afraid of?
Lions.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
To gain knowledge, to be honest, to be a good posture, and to get sponsor.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Lion, rhino, and buffalo.
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Catherine Muthoni, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
Wandumbi Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is biology because in it I learn how my body is and after doing so I am able to help the community.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Being disciplined, responsible to the rest of the people, and being respectful to people.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Being challenged in school.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of playing volleyball.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day of my life is when I did my K.C.P.E. exam and so my parents could not get enough money to join secondary school, but I thank God because after so I got sponsored by PA-MOJA.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
A man who takes care of the family and is educated.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A woman who is educated.
What is your most treasured possession?
My possession is to be a doctor.
What are you most afraid of?
I am afraid of join a secondary school and at least failing the exam.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
The most important thing is that I’m able to perform my exam.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The most beautiful thing I have seen is a giraffe because is a tall animal and has interesting colours.
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Teresiah Wanja Muthoni, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Materi Girls’ Centre.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Agriculture. It is all about farming, which is practical.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Team work, patience, love, ambition.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
At the moment there is no challenge because I have the school fees.
What are you most proud of?
My late mother who did everything to her level best to see I went to school.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
When I got the scholarship because I knew it would never be the same as before – going home for school fees.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Gentleman.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Aggressive.
What is your most treasured possession?
My life.
What are you most afraid of?
Death before I achieve my goal.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
How to conduct myself in front of my friends, family, and elders.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Get scholarship from Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Being elected as Head Girl.
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Patrick Kiiru Mwangi, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Thome Boys’ Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Agriculture because I like the practical activities it involves and learn more about agricultural machinery.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be responsible in my doings. To respect each and every person. To obey my parents, teachers, and elders. To work very hard in life to avoid hard work later in life.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Health problems having stomach ulcers. The food in school brings a lot of problems in my learning as I can’t afford a special diet. This brings me down sometimes in achieving poor grades. Sometimes I have to go home to get better and miss much school work.
What are you most proud of?
Being in Thome Secondary – a well performing school.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I received my K.C.P.E. results. I knew I could get a sponsor and continue with my learning despite the low background I was from. Eagerly waiting for the day of K.C.S.E. results announcement.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Being responsible as a role model.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Beautiful and honest.
What is your most treasured possession?
My small simple phone.
What are you most afraid of?
Failing in exams.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Working hard to avoid hard work late in my life.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The wildlife which I am never bored when watching.
Playing football with friends and dancing.
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Priscilla Nelly Nabolu, grade 10.
What school do you go to?
P.C.E.A. Nanyuki Girls’ Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is C.R.E. because it is easy to study even in your daily life, at home and at school, and everybody can teach you.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
How to deal with my problems and how to overcome temptation. To believe in God and work hard in whatever I do.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Some students are not at school daily but as they come back to school they pass very well more than those at school daily and I find it a challenge because the ones at school daily is supposed to pass because she is always at school and with her teachers.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of my life in school because it is very enjoyable.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day is when I got my sponsor and I had stayed at home for long and I just felt great when I was told to come back to school.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
How he struggles to cater for his family.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The way a woman humbles herself to everyone.
What is your most treasured possession?
A comfortable life in future.
What are you most afraid of?
Death.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
How to relate with other students and teachers as well as other staffs.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The most beautiful thing that I have ever seen is a zebra. It has beautiful colours that are very fitting to it.
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Jackline Naishorua, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Business Studies – am able to learn more about the economy of our society and how to relate with the economy of Kenya.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Respect – being a respectful person I will be able to relate well with the society and achieve my dreams.
Helpful – to be a helpful person so as to be more intelligent and also to assist others.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Bad friends – sometimes friends are misleading us. Personally, I don’t relate with bad company because they are there to kill our dreams.
Attitude – sometimes I have bad attitude towards a certain subject, but now we have learned how to go about it.
What are you most proud of?
Being sponsored.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
Finish my studies and study abroad. Seeing that I am self-employed and I have achieved my dreams.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Courage.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Caring.
What is your most treasured possession?
Being an accountant.
What are you most afraid of?
Not achieving my goals.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Winners are people who make good and achieve their goals in this world.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Poor people achieving their goals and being very important in the society.
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Lepapa Y. Nangunye, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Endana Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Agriculture because it is the backbone of Kenya production – 80% of Kenya depend on it.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
How to take care of livestock.
Attending any educational contest and program.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of enough teachers like physics and am doing physics.
Lack of revision materials like books.
What are you most proud of?
The PA-MOJA support my education. The program made by the PA-MOJA.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
25th December 2013 and 23rd April 2014.
This day has been very good and enjoyable to me because I met new people.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Talking secret things and coming up with a decision.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Smiling face.
What is your most treasured possession?
To be the best.
What are you most afraid of?
Bad news like an accident
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Decision making in a such conflict, and discipline.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A mountain bear. An elephant entertaining people. The Serena Hotel.
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Rose Echukule Natabo, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Loise Nanyuki Girls’ Secondary.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is mathematics because I like the teacher.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
My family teaches on Christian religious education, and also on business so as to keep myself busy at all times.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Food with a bad taste.
Time wastage.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of how the girls perform during games.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day was 23rd April 2014 because I visited the Ol Pejeta Serena being my first time.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
I like what they wear.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
On the way they eat in good manners.
What is your most treasured possession?
My possession is on women.
What are you most afraid of?
I am most afraid of bad behaviour like watching pornography.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
I have learned on discipline.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The chimpanzees in the Sweetwaters, the elephants in Ol Pejeta, and the Serena restaurant.
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Joel Ndung’u, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
Sweet Waters Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
C.R.E. because it helps me understand and expand my knowledge about God and everything He created.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Being a role model to my society. Being respectful at all times. Being a hardworking student for better success.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Peer influence. Some groups which engage in leading me to my failure.
Lack of basic needs. This leads me to be absent for most lessons as a result of looking for this basic wants.
What are you most proud of?
I’m very grateful for the support I’m receiving from my donors.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
It was on Sunday noon. I was eager to hear a voice calling me. The voice came from God creator of every creature in the world. I eventually received His call for repentance and became a true witness of Him. What a joyous day it was!
What is the quality you most like in a man?
I like a well-disciplined and focused man.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A woman who most pleases me is a well respected and decent woman who is ready to work with me.
What is your most treasured possession?
My parents.
What are you most afraid of?
Colliding with my teachers.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
I have learnt most how to conduct myself among all people.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A woman I first approached was not that tall nor not that black with a literary style and a well combed and tightened hairs.
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Simon Ngatia, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Sirima Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
English. This is because I like the novel and plays. In general, I like stories.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
That I should be determined in life. I should also have courage in everything I do.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of co-operation from don’t care students. Peer pressure from my classmates and friends.
What are you most proud of?
Being among the beneficiaries of sponsorship.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day was when I entered the gate of high school. I had really longed for it and worked extra hard to achieve it.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Happiness and self-control.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Respect.
What is your most treasured possession?
Love.
What are you most afraid of?
Satan.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Discipline and how to cope with problems facing me and the community.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Ant. According to me this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It works very hard and also they co-operate.
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Mbugua Kennedy Nyaga, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Sirima Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Biology because it makes us to know about the life of a plant and animal and how to conserve them.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be obedient in everywhere I am.
To be respectful and to work hard in school.
To appreciate everybody in any lesson.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Shortage of time.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the good management in our school.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
I think the happiest day of my life is today because I have seen different peoples, good environment and some wildlife.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
I like the way they dress decently.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The way they behave.
What is your most treasured possession?
Education.
What are you most afraid of?
Failure.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Being friendship to many students and also the interaction when studying.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The beautiful thing I have ever seen is our school building – they are made of stones and coloured with beautiful colours.
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James Kamau Nyaguthi, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Ruthagati High.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Agriculture has been my favourite subject because of the way I do understand it and getting it right during exams.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
Being respectful
Obeying other property
Taking care of the environment surrounding
Being hardworking on what I do
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Noise making in class while studying
Obvious punishment at school
Unwanted by others
Teachers who teach very fast which becomes hard to understand
Not understanding some subjects
What are you most proud of?
It’s all about Ol Pejeta Conservancy paying by education for me to achieve my goal.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day of my life was the time I got a sponsor from Ol Pejeta to pay for my education and I thank them for that to consider my problems.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Hardworking
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
______________
What is your most treasured possession?
Life.
What are you most afraid of?
Being chased away from school due to indiscipline.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
Learn the way to follow. Socialising with other people.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The way animals of same kind move together meaning they are in agreement.
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Winnie Nyaguthii, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
P.C.E.A. Nanyuki Girls’ Secondary.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Biology because I really want to be a doctor and I am 100% sure my dream will come true.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be disciplined, to have self-control, to put God first, and to be courageous.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
To be threatened because of my career.
To be discouraged so that I may change my attitudes.
Some of my friends in school will try to show me that there is no need to study hard.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of myself and education.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
It was on a Friday in 2013 when my teachers, parents and my fellow pupils held a party at my former school and I was sent a successes by my brother from Nakuru. I was very happy even the tears of joy rolled down my cheeks.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
How they react with their family.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
How they behave with their kids.
What is your most treasured possession?
Story book. I can’t stay without reading story books.
What are you most afraid of?
I got afraid when I fail to achieve my aim.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
I have learned how to manage time and to use opportunity properly.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
How an ant struggled to pull a big worm for food. The struggle that I encounter in my youth or a teaching of my success in life.
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Gachingiri Esther Nyaguthii, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Gatero Girls’ High School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is chemistry because I enjoy doing many experiments in the laboratory and it is also a career subject.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
I have learnt to be a good role model through the support of my family, to respect anyone and to be disciplined at school, home and everywhere that I go.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Actually, some challenges I face are:
1) Not understanding business studies.
2) Lack of enough learning materials like textbooks.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of my country and wild animals in my country.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The happiest day of my life is when I was sponsored because my mother had no money to take me to school.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
The quality I like in a man is kindness and courage.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The quality I like in a woman is responsibility and caring.
What is your most treasured possession?
Education and my career.
What are you most afraid of?
I am afraid of death and being a failure.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
The most important thing I have ever learnt is to take care of wildlife and in general the environment.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is wild animals at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
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Wilmah Moraa Nyagwansa, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
St. Augustine Sirima Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Mathematics, English and Biology because I would like be take a career in medicine.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To respect and honour our Almighty Lord.
To preserve and conserve the environment.
To respect people in the community.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Poor class attendance by teachers.
Shortage of water.
Noise making leading to unconducive environment.
What are you most proud of?
My dreams to be achieved because of PA-MOJA paying my school fees.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I got the opportunity as one of the scholarship students.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Handsome.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Beautiful.
What is your most treasured possession?
To achieve my goals.
What are you most afraid of?
To die before I achieve my goals.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
To interact with people in the society.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The opportunity I got of sponsorship.
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Esther Irungu Nyambura, grade 12.
What school do you go to?
Kangubiri Girls’ High School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Mathematics because it is the reality and person.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
I have to be responsible in future. I should help the need which I have. I have a dream for the future.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Lack of good environment.
What are you most proud of?
That God has taken me.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The happiest day in life is when I traveled with school bus to Nairobi Museum. I was happy to see the Thika super highway, which I always wanted to see.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Determination and commitment.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Humbleness and generosity.
What is your most treasured possession?
Volleyball.
What are you most afraid of?
The snake.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
It takes your attitude to achieve your goals.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The lake in Nakuru surrounded by pelicans and other birds.
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John Gachuiri Wachira, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Thome Boys’ Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is biology because it deals with living things and I want to be a doctor and also a medical researcher.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be respectful to other people, to be honest, to work hard, and to learn how to farm and milk.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
No teachers for some subjects, eg. business.
Not having some extra revision books.
What are you most proud of?
Am proud of having a sponsor because if I didn’t I would not proceed with my studies.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
It was the day I got the message that I have got a sponsor because I had thought that I would be a shamba boy or any other poor work.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Being able to do some strange things.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Being able to do some exercise that is hard in men.
What is your most treasured possession?
My possession is being the best.
What are you most afraid of?
People who are able to make strange things.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
I have learned good morals.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
Flower plantation with the most beautiful flowers and insects.
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Esther Wambui, grade 9.
What school do you go to?
Tumu Tumu Girls’ High School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is English and Biology because it motivates me to be whom I want to be.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
My family has taught me a few important lessons that is being responsible, being social with others, being respectful, and having moral values.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Some of the regular challenges at school are:
– the diet might not be healthy
– some students tend to rule over you
– sometimes students may try to mock you
– joining bad friends that my lead you to bad behaviours
– being undisciplined
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of myself by believing in myself.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
My happiest day is when I joined Tumu Tumu since I thought I would never be in this school.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
The most quality thing I like in a man is that he is determined.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The most quality thing I like in a woman is that she never feels weak as men say so.
What is your most treasured possession?
My most treasured possession is owning my business and a happy home.
What are you most afraid of?
In life I am most afraid of snakes and men, because a man can mistreat your life and ending up useless.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
The most important thing I have learned at school it is to be responsible and determined.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is the Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Serena). I have never been into such a place.
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Francis Kariuki Wanja, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
Tigithi Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
My favourite subject is physics, because I perform well and I am hoping to do a course in engineering at the university level.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
To be tolerant whenever I face some challenges.
Not to abandon my God.
Always to focus on my future but not my past.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
Illness. This has been a great problem. This really affects my performance at school.
Lack of financial support from my parents. This makes my life in school to have some difficulties.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the scholarship.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
the day I got the information of being sponsored by the PA-MOJA.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Hardworking.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Who motivates and supports her children.
What is your most treasured possession?
___________
What are you most afraid of?
Failure.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
I have learned on how to interact with people from different communities.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
The event of the promulgation of our new constitution. It was colourful and full of cheers.
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Christopher Mwangi Wanguru, grade 11.
What school do you go to?
Thome Boys’ Secondary School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Physics and mathematics. These subjects are the foundations of the development of any nation. Also because I do well or rather I perfect in them.
What are a few important lessons your family has taught you?
i) The best day ever in my life is the day I was born and the day I realised why I was born.
ii) Nobody was born a loser, everyone was born a victorious person.
Describe some of the regular challenges you experience at school.
i) Stigmatisation from more abled students or persons in the school.
ii) Fear of failure in my exams, which brings tension during exam time.
iii) Lack of enough personal learning facilities, eg. revision books and research books.
What are you most proud of?
That I have the full potential to do what others think that I can’t and better my future day tomorrow.
Describe the happiest day of your life.
The day I was informed that I was to receive full sponsorship of my secondary education from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy (I had thought my life was eradicated but thanks to the Ol Pejeta).
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Men are always the head and ready to lead others.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
They are always ready to encourage and are sympathetic in times of others’ suffering.
What is your most treasured possession?
Becoming a mechanical engineer.
What are you most afraid of?
Failing to achieve my personal goals.
What is the most important thing you have learned at school?
That I have the ability to be whom I will be in the future.
Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
A hawk courageously running after a hare. Also a person celebrating after achieving his/her goals.
A big ‘Thank You’ to all bursary students for sharing so many interesting ideas.
It was inspiring to read your stories! I wish you good luck in your studies.
I really enjoyed reading your stories – thank you for taking the time to share them with us. I can’t wait to come to Kenya in July to see your schools in person and speak to some of you.
Good Luck to all of you! I wish you much success in the coming year!
I loved meeting you when I was in Kenya! Keep on studying hard!