Cecil Bonventure – I Repeated Class Eight 4 Times
Cecil Bonventure
My name is Mutonyi Cecil Bonventure. I was born in Kakamega County, Western Kenya, then abandoned when only 4 months old. I was thereafter brought up by my grandmother, whom I always knew as my parent. After Class Seven, my grandmother took me to her friend’s place and left me there to continue with studies. Shortly thereafter she died.
I really struggled to get through school, and repeated Class 8 four times due lack of fees to join secondary school. Each of these times, I would score more than 400 marks out of 500. It was in this context that a friend advised me to visit NCCK offices in Kakamega Town.
Thankfully, NCCK put me on a scholarship and I joined Kakamega High School. The scholarship enabled me to get through secondary school, and I joined Chuka University where I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Forensic Investigation in 2017. I thereafter got a job at SMEP Microfinance Bank where I am working to date.
I sincerely want to thank the NCCK for supporting me and helping me overcome a difficult period in my life. Without their assistance, I wouldn’t be where I am today. On my part, I am impacting in the society by helping needy children through paying visits with the little and much gifts and basic needs that God provides to me.
May the Lord bless NCCK.
- Published in Education and Health, Transformational Stories, Western Region
Pauline Njoroge – I have interacted with many people
My name is Pauline Njoroge. I grew up in Dandora, Nairobi, with so much shortcomings and struggles. Both my parents are casual workers and to be specific they are hawkers, so the amount they get is not that much but we appreciate for the little they get.
I am a first year in Kenyatta University pursuing Bachelor of Education Arts (Home Economics). The reason why I chose this career is out of passion of being a Home Economist teacher.
My vision is to help other students from humble background who are not able to continue with their studies due to lack of school fees. In future, I would like to work in universities and working around students.
The scholarship by NCCK has really impacted me in so many ways. First, it has made me interact with so many people from different backgrounds, learning a lot from their experiences. Secondly, it has really enabled me to finish me secondary education without being sent away from school due to school fees issues. Additionally, I have gained valuable knowledge through the retreats.
I would like the organization to help us in paying University school fees considering our financial backgrounds which make it difficult to pay the huge amount of school fees. I would really appreciate it if this is considered.
- Published in Education and Health, Nairobi Region, Transformational Stories
Engineer Samuel Ochieng – NCCK has helped many
Samwel Ochieng
My name is Engineer Samwel Ochieng, a beneficiary of NCCK scholarship since 2012 when I was in Form 2 at Nairobi School. I grew up in the village of Kadawa deep within Kisumu County. The area was and still is marginalized with most people living hand to mouth. I am from a family of 8 with my two parents and 6 children. My father is a casual laborer and my mum sells vegetables.
Since graduating in 2021 from the University of Nairobi I have tried my best to change how they live, including paying fees for my siblings. All this I can attribute to the opportunity accorded to me by NCCK.
The NCCK scholarship really transformed my life. It enabled me complete my high school studies. Through their support in paying part of my fees, I was motivated to move forward even when I thought all hope was lost in 2012 and above all the ripple effect of that scholarship has been evident in my current life because I’m able to help my family.
I wish to say that NCCK has helped countless students who would have dropped out of school due to insufficient funds and life struggles. I pray and hope that the Lord will open doors for more donor funding so that they are able to help even more students and also at different levels such as the Universities and colleges.
- Published in Education and Health, Nyanza Region, Transformational Stories
James Mwaniki – Scholarship Inspired Confidence
I am James Mwaniki Macharia, a first-year student at the Multimedia University of Kenya studying for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology.
Life was hard when I was growing up in Babadogo, Nairobi, in a densely populated, poorly constructed neighborhood. After my father’s death when I was in Form Two at Njumbi High School, our sole breadwinner became my mother, who worked as a tailor at Gikomba market. My brother left technical school to work and I feared that I would do the same.
But then the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) came into play, sponsoring my high school fees from Form Two to Form Four. This enabled me to focus, acing the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and gaining a university admission.
NCCK support instilled confidence in me, showing that God is a provider. I know I am becoming a computer technology master dreaming of innovating and addressing real problems in the world. I’m extremely grateful and pray that NCCK continues to support me even beyond high school. The new sponsorship arrangement now costs nearly 100,000 shillings annually, which my mother cannot pay.
Their belief in me gives my dream of becoming a tech expert and inspiring others meaning. With their continued support, I can utilize technology to transform lives, showing that faith and opportunity can overcome any challenge.
- Published in Education and Health, Nairobi Region, Transformational Stories
Emmaculate Mutuku – NCCK Helped Me
My name is Emmaculate Mutuku, born and raised in Kilungu, Makueni County. I have been raised by my grandparents since my parents went to Nairobi in search of employment. I’m from a family of four, and both my parents are jobless since corona period. Our firstborn brother has just gotten a job, and our third born is still in search of employment having completed her degree in education.
Throughout my life, I have developed a passion for Science and luckily enough I fell in love with chemistry back in high school. This prompted me to choose Biochemistry because it is wide and has a wide range of opportunities. And true to my passion, I am currently pursuing a Bachelor in Science (Biochemistry) degree at Kenyatta University.
But all this would not have been possible without the scholarship by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). The scholarship has helped me get through high school studies. I have reached thus far because of God through the NCCK.
Even though I struggle to pay university fees, I aspire to bring hope especially to the young people who feel low because their dreams and visions seem to be dying due to lack of support.
- Published in Education and Health, Lower Eastern Region, Transformational Stories
David Kinyua – NCCK Rescued Me
David Kinyua
I am David Mutumiria Kinyua, from Turima, Tharaka Nithi County, where poverty was my childhood experience. I grew up in a family of six.
Being the first to complete high school and reach university, I carry the aspirations of my family. I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Engineering at the University of Nairobi, with interest in Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), and remote sensing. These drive my passion for technology.
As I was growing up, education was not possible, and I had given up. However, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) scholarship rescued me by paying my high school fees. I settled and focused on my studies, and attained a B+ in KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education). Though I am struggling to raise the university fees, I aspire to empower vulnerable youth with the skills I am learning.
NCCK has been my rock, and I’m genuinely grateful. With their faith in me, I’m determined to surmount challenges, proving that perseverance and faith can transform lives and horizons.
- Published in Education and Health, Transformational Stories, Upper Eastern Region
Simon Muchuku Njuguna – NCCK Transformed My Future
Simon Muchuku Njuguna
My name is Simon Muchuku Njuguna, a third-year student at St. Paul University, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Software Engineering.
Growing up in Kasarani, Nairobi, poverty loomed large. My mother, an ECDE teacher with a monthly income of 8,000 shillings, carried our family’s loads by herself since my father’s 7,000 shilling agricultural earnings only fueled his drunkenness.
Secondary school appeared impossible, but my mother and uncle managed to gather 60,000 shillings for me to join Weithaga Boys High School. I even used pocket money for fees. The stress was too much, and just as I was giving up, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) granted me a scholarship that sponsored my fees, granting me liberty to study.
With their support, I attained a B in KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education). Even though the university fees is weighing on my family, the urge to be a software engineer drives me to conceptualize trailblazing solutions. My dream is to change my community, inspired by NCCK’s vision.
I’m deeply thankful and yearn for their continued support for university students such as myself. With their assistance, I can be a tech pioneer, demonstrating that resilience and sponsorship can overcome adversity.
NCCK transformed my future, and I hope to inspire others from humble beginnings through my coding skills.
- Published in Education and Health, Nairobi Region, Transformational Stories
Moses Macharia – Thank you for Scholarship
Moses Macharia
I am Moses Macharia Wangari, born in the year 2004 in Uasin Gishu, Kenya.
I do not know my father, and was raised by my single mother alongside seven brothers. As a result, my mother’s part-time job was insufficient to feed us. The 2007 tribal clashes in Eldoret forced us to seek refuge in Nakuru, where we crowded into a rented room, struggling for food and school fees. My siblings quit school to engage in work, and I was frequently sent home from primary school due to unpaid fees.
A kind headteacher waived my balance, and I managed to record 374 marks (B-) in KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education), securing a place at Njabini Boys High School. However, financial challenges put off my joining until my mother managed to secure funds from the county government to cover part of the fees.
Arrears persisted, and I was not doing well academically until Form Two when I received a scholarship from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). This salvation ensured that I was not chassed from school again.
This enabled me to secure a B plain in KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education).
Today, I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics at Kenyatta University, even though expenses remain a struggle. NCCK’s intervention transformed my life, and I appreciate it. I pray they’ll help with university costs, enabling me to uplift my family and community through my expertise in nutrition and health.
- Published in Education and Health, South Rift Region, Transformational Stories
NCCK Inspires Climate Action Plan for NOREB Counties
The eight North Rift counties have developed a region-wide ecosystem oriented Climate Change Action Plan in a process coordinated by the National Council of Churches of Kenya and the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB).
The drafting of the Climate Change Action Plan was completed during a three-day forum that brought together Chief Officers and Directors responsible for environment and climate change dockets in the eight NOREB counties.
The counties that comprise NOREB are Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot. They have as a region suffered major climate change impacts that are compounded by intra and inter-county insecurity.
“Conservation and restoration of the environment in this region, coupled with mitigation of climate change impacts, will radically improve the quality of life of our people and even end the persistent resource-based conflicts,” Dr Godfrey Chesang, the Chief Executive Officer of NOREB remarked. He urged the Chief Officers and Directors, who were accompanied by NOREB and NCCK staff, to be comprehensive when recommending actions to transform the lives of the residents.
On her part, Phyllis Kamau-Kiarie, the Programmes Director of NCCK, observed that real climate change mitigation and adaptation can only be achieved through locally-led initiatives. “Every man, woman, youth and child must play their part in actively protecting and restoring the environment. It is these individual actions that will accumulate to a betterment of the lives of all households.”
Phyllis commended the North Rift Region counties for the commitment to jointly address the impact of climate change. “The county-specific climate change actions are commendable, but only an ecosystem approach will achieve the aspirations of the local wananchi“, she pointed out.
The Climate Change Action Plan development forum was supported by the Dan Church Aid (DCA) through the Uwazi na Maendeleo Mashinani project.
The Climate Change Action Plan has been shared with the County Executive Committee members of the NOREB counties in readiness for validation and implementation.
- Published in News
