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Charity Kaumi Mururu
Age:18 Years
Form: 3 (Grade 11 (in 2020)
Scholarship Started: 2018
Sponsored by: ASIA North Poplar Elementary School, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Charity has not had the chance to experience a mother’s love. In her community, it is very unusual for a girl to be raised by her dad alone but as we shall see soon enough, little about her is ordinary. But this has not taken away her joy. She always has this bright and inviting smile on her face. Charity lives with her father and elder brother in a small village called Mwakinya in Tigithi Ward. The family has lived there since 2010 when they moved from Meru County.
When Charity was 3 years old, her mother separated with her father and left with Charity’s two younger sisters. She has never set her foot again in their home. Charity and her elder brother were left under the care of their father.
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Her father didn’t bother to marry a second wife. According to Charity, her father felt his two children will be mistreated in the hands of a stepmother thus decided not to remarry. He would clean their clothes, cook for them, wash them, take them to school and assist them with homework which led to a very strong bond between Charity and her father.
Due to the absence of her mother, this saw Charity taking up the role of a mother at a very young age. At the age of 7, she knew how to cook, wash clothes for the family and carry out other house chores.
Life was and is still full of challenges. They lack food and sometimes they sleep with empty stomachs. Her father is not doing so well health wise and therefore can’t do casual work. The family, therefore, depends on well-wishers for food. During the wheat season, Charity and her brother visit the neighbouring wheat farms, collect some wheat which her dad sells out. At times they go for casual work in the surrounding farms.
Charity confirms, taking up the roles of a mother at such an early age has made her be a responsible person and good decision maker.
Charity’s brother is in form 2 at Tharua Secondary School. He is supported by well-wishers and sometimes by the government bursaries.
Charity would like to be an accountant in future since Mathematics is her favourite subject.
During school breaks, she does casual work and house chores and during her free time, she loves playing ball games.
Water, electricity and road network are the greatest challenges in her community and if she gets a chance to bring change, the three will be on her priority list
Charity is a Meru and one tradition that she detests is female genital mutilation (FGM). If given a chance, she would launch an anti-FGM campaign in her community. She feels FGM takes away the dignity of a woman.
Her greatest wish in life is to meet her mum and sisters one day.
Charity would like to thank her donors and she promises to work hard in her studies. With her attractive smile, she is quick to note that; were it for the scholarship, she would be at home doing casual work and with time look for a job as a house help.
Story and Images
Grace Kibatha
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[one_third_last] Christmas Greetings,
Charity talks about her life after the scholarship
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