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NAME: Jeremiah Wambugu
Age: 18
Graduated in Nov, 2018
School: Tigithi Secondary – Boarder
PA-MOJA Scholarship started: Form 1 (Grade 9)
Jeremiah lives with his father, Bernard Macharia, and mother, Esther Nyawira, in a small village called Mwituria in Laikipia East. He is the second born of three children. His first born sister, Miriam Njoki, is 20 years old and is currently working as a tailor in Nyeri County. She didn’t attain high enough grades to join university so her parents enrolled her in a vocational course. (Tailoring is a poorly paid job in Kenya; the maximum pay is $150.00/month and many earn as low as $50.00/month). Jeremiah’s younger brother, David Gatwiri, is in grade 7 at Munyaka Primary School.
Jeremiah’s parents do not own a plot of land and make a living as farm laborers in the local community. The little they earn is only enough for their basic needs; therefore, they can’t afford to pay Jeremiah’s school fees.
Jeremiah’s favourite subjects are Physics and History. His favourite teachers are his Swahili teacher, Mr. Chimasi, and his English teacher, Madam Esther. Jeremiah says they teach very well and spend extra time with their students. Jeremiah’s dream is to study civil engineering in university.
One of the major challenges Jeremiah faces is a lack of electricity in his home. In high school, students are expected to study for their exams during school breaks. The lack of lighting in his tiny house and a good study space makes it difficult to go over his notes.
During school breaks he assists with house chores. In order to earn a few pennies, he also tends to the neighbour’s livestock and goes to the river to haul water. Whatever little he earns, he uses to buy his personal effects, including clothes, shoes and school supplies. During droughts his earnings help support the family.
When he has a little spare time Jeremiah’s passion is reading novels. Currently he is reading Kidagaa Kimemwozea, a Swahili novel by Ken Walimbora, and Betrayal in the City by Francis Imbuga. When in school he loves playing soccer and badminton.
If given a chance to change his community, he would renovate the roads which are currently impassable, establish youth empowerment programs and encourage young people to be job creators because the rate of unemployment is high. This has led to a high rate of crime among young people.
Jeremiah is a very hard working young man. On the day of this interview, he rode his bike through the rough mountain roads for two hours each way to get to the venue.
Jeremiah has a message for his PA-MOJA donors: “You have helped me so much and I promise to work hard so that I can do well in my exams and achieve my dream of going to university. I could never have continued to go to high school without this scholarship. I hope to be able to help another student one day in the same way I have been supported. Asante Sana. Bless you.”[/two_third]
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New frontiers and what I do after school
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