WILSON ODHIAMBO (the name has been changed to protect privacy):
The case:
Wilson was born in late 1992 in a village on the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. His father was a fisherman and his mother a housewife.
Wilson’s father died in January 2000 of “Malaria” probably Aids. His mother died on in March 2003. The AIDS rate around Lake Victoria is one of the highest in Kenya.
After the deaths of his parents Wilson moved to his grandmother’s house.
Wilson repeated the last grade of primary education (grade 8) several times because there was no money to go on to higher education. Watu kwa Watu trustees could find a sponsor in Denmark, Ms. Birthe, who has paid for all 4 years of Wilson’s High School.
Wilson finished High School successfully with an average Grade of a B, allowing him to apply to the University, but there was no chance to mobilize needed funds.
In January 2013 he joined The Eldoret Polytechnic, department of Civil Engineering. It is a much cheaper option than a University. It is a three and a half years program and will give Wilson a diploma in building construction. A group of friends of Watu Kwa Watu in Germany will pay for about a third of Wilson’s cost of study. Two thirds are still missing, and are being temporarily filled-in privately by the Watu Kwa Watu Trustees.
The immediate needs:
Wilson needs for his first year Ksh 120 000 (approximately a third has already been contributed by the above mentioned friends). About Ksh 85,000 (about Euro 750, or US$ 1000) are still needed for the first year. For the remaining two and a half years he needs per year about Ksh 100 000, or 870 Euro (1200 US$). One Euro buys today (February, 2013) about 115 Ksh, one US dollar buys about 85 Ksh.
KEN OKOTH ( Name has been changed to protect identity )
The case:
Ken was born in December 1991 in a village on the shores of Lake Victoria Western Kenya.
His father was a fisherman. He died 1993 age 35 after an illness (probably related to AIDS). Ken’s mother was a fishmonger. She died in 2004 age 40. Western Kenya has the highest AIDS rate in Kenya because the fishermen in order to sell their fish to the fishmongers women ask sexual favors from them .The same favors they are asked of the truck drivers who buy the fish from the women and transport it to different areas in Kenya. Churches, educational institutions and assistance programs, presently fight these practices.
After the death of his mother Ken moved to the house of his uncle Peter (name has been changed to protect identity). This uncle is the only survivor of all his uncles. Peter is handicapped. He can not use his legs and uses a wheelchair to get around. He is a village cobbler. He works with leather and mends shoes. Peter has a wife and four children. Since he could not pay for the fee to send Ken to high school Ken repeated grade 8 of primary school.
Watu Kwa Watu trustees found a sponsor in Denmark, Ms. Gunver, who has paid the 4 years of Ken’s High school education. Ken finished High school and is now staying at home. Uncle Peter reports that Ken helps his cousins with their schoolwork. Ken would like to become a teacher. If a sponsor is found, Ken could start Teaching College in August 2013.
The immediate needs:
We still do not have the exact cost information. We will post it as soon as we have it. It will be, including board and lodging, probably around US$ US 800 for the first year, and US$ 700 for each of the two subsequent years.