Banda Awino is 16 years old and lives with his mother and older brother in a one room house in Kibera, Kenya’s largest slum.  As Banda describes, life in Kibera is hard.   “I cannot recall the face of my father since I don’t think I ever saw him.  Mother tells us he passed away long ago.  Mother has to run her small-scale business to generate income for rent and food for us. Even so, I often miss breakfast or lunch.  I always pity her and this motivates me to study tirelessly so that I may change her situation in the future. All in all, I don’t regret our situation since no one chooses the family they are born into.”

Despite these challenges Banda excels academically and scored extremely well on his entrance exams to secondary school.  He qualified for an EPN 4-year scholarship to a “national” high school, the ivy league of secondary schools in Kenya.

Leaving home and Kibera for boarding school was scary.  As Banda recalls: “On my very first day I was shy and afraid.  But teachers in our school are really supportive. They work hard and motivate us to succeed.  And being in a national school I meet students from every part of our beautiful country.  Now in my second year I have developed more confidence and made a few good friends.  They encourage and assist me in every aspect of my life.” 

Even in a top national school, Banda stands out academically with an average grade of A-.  He plans to get an A on is final exams at the end of his senior year and qualify to study in one of the best universities in the world.

“What an achievement it will be when all this come to pass. My dream is to pursue Medicine and become a neurosurgeon. I don’t like it when I see my fellow Kenyans flying abroad for treatment when Kenya is able to produce skillful doctors and surgeons to treat her patients.”

“From the first day I received this scholarship, my life has really changed. It pays for my school fees, full school uniform, bus fare and pocket money. Secondary school has really opened my eyes to the opportunities ahead of me. What a joy this scholarship has brought in our family. It has brought light into hearts that were once filled with darkness. Now it’s my turn to re-pay what I’ve been blessed with by performing to the best of my ability.”

“I believe that through this scholarship I will do what no one expected and achieve great things.  I have a dream of introducing my own scholarship organization for bright and needy students as a remembrance of what was done for me.”

With his combination of smarts, determination and heart we’re betting that great things lie ahead for Banda and we wish him every success.