Name: Purity Karwithia Muriithi
Age: 19 years
School: Gatero Girls Secondary School
Form: 3 (Grade 11 – in 2020)
Purity Karwitha
Gatero Girls’ Secondary school
Purity back to school after COVID-19 shutdowns
“Every morning at 5.30 am Purity and her mum would wake up to milk their two cows. Purity’s mother sells the milk at a local milk collection point in Mirera,to help get some earnings to support her family. Purity, now a form three student, would then sit down to do some studies after helping her mother prepare breakfast for the family.
The government announced the closure of schools in April of 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Purity along with all other students countrywide were out of school for the rest of the year. Her mother says she was of great help around the house during that period but that she also made time to study every day. Using the books she had carried from school when schools’ closure was announced, Purity was able to keep studying while at home.
Being the last born in her family of six children, Purity is the only child of her parents still leaving at home as her older siblings have moved out. She therefore helps her mother with house chores as well as caring for her ailing father, whenever she’s home from school. Purity who has now reported back to school, is well and excited for the new term. Her mother says Purity is a hard worker and looks forward to her daughter performing well so that she can go to college and get a good job”
Purity Origin Story
At 18 purity has been forced to grow up pretty fast. She has spent alot of free time taking care of her ailing dad and although she loves doing it, she has missed out on a lot of her childhood. .
Purity is the last born in a family of three. Her other two siblings had to drop out of school and do casual labour due to lack of school fees. Were it not for this scholarship Purity knew she will follow the same path.
Her father was diagnosed with multiple conditions, stroke, asthma and diabetes four years ago. He is currently bedridden. He was the family breadwinner a role that her mother had to take up. Life took a twist since then because recently, for a whole year Purity had to take care of her father while her siblings and mother would go out for casual work as they tried to make ends meet. Her father’s ailments caused them a lot of emotional distress and financial constraints. At times they would go without meals because everything that was earned went to her father’s medication.
Looking at the situation at home Purity gave up on joining secondary school. Her performance started dropping and it became a concern with her teachers considering she was one of the best performers. Her headteacher, whom she considers her hero encouraged and challenged her to continue working hard.
Purity decided to put more effort into her studies without knowing what tomorrow held for her. When she sat for her grade 8 exam she emerged the best student. Her headteacher with other community members organized for fundraising to raise her school fees. They managed to raise her first-year school fees and she clung on the hope that with time she will get a sponsor which she finally did.
With tears rolling down her eyes she says “were it not for this scholarship, I would either be working as a house help or casual labourer or worse still get married at my tender age. The challenges at home would have left me with no other options.”
Community
She comes from Mirera community. If given a chance she would ensure she sinks boreholes because water is a major problem in her community. She hopes government or private agencies will put this into consideration.
Achievements
Purity has always loved Gatero Girls High school since she was in primary school. It was actually her first school of choice. This is because of its high level of discipline and good performance.
She has consistently been a good performer but when in grade 9 she was struggling with Mathematics, because the transition to high school was very difficult. When she joined grade 10 she decided to work on having a more positive attitude and this has seen her improving greatly in the subject.
Aspirations
In future, she would like to be a doctor. One because she performs well in sciences, she doesn’t like people suffering and not being able to help.
Thank you message to the donor
“I don’t even have enough words to thank my sponsors. Only me and family can understand the burden they have off lifted from my mother’s shoulders. I foresee a bright future and an empowered woman. I can’t wait to impact other girls’ lives in the future. I promise to work hard in my studies and make you proud of me.”
