On behalf of our beneficiaries, trustees, staff and volunteers, let me start by wishing you seasonal greeting and also wish you a happy and prosperous 2018.

This year only four of our students sat for KCPE exams, and I am happy to report that all four did well in their examination and will start secondary education in January. Fortunately, the national government announced all first-year pupils beginning day secondary schools next year will not have to pay school fees. This is good news for the girls and us since their parents wouldn’t be in a position to pay their school fees.

Just before the start of the examination, GENCAD team visited AL-Uweis Primary school to talk to the pupils and staff and wish them success in the exam. In particular, our project coordinator spoke with one pupil, Latifa.

Latifa is a 15-year-old class eight pupil who was preparing for her final primary school exams. She hails from an impoverished background, and her parents are full-time pastoralists with few goats and cattle. Latifa lives in Elwak town with her maternal aunt, Fatuma.

Latifa enrolled in the GENCAD international intervention program in 2015 after the teachers shared her vulnerable background and high academic ability.

Latifa has had a remarkable performance in all her subjects at the school since she joined our remedial classes. She has particularly done well in the three intervention subjects of Maths, English and Kiswahili. Her class teacher Mr David said, “Latifa has an admirable school work ethics, and I expect she will do well in her final exams”. It is evident in the monthly attendance record and class progress that Latifa was doing well in her studies.

“I have improved so much in my subjects, and I hope to go to a good secondary school in future.”

Latifa also shared her experience in the library set up for the school by Gencad ” I have improved my speaking and reading skills since I joined the school library committee.” She added. “I urge Gencad to continue to support more girls like me. Thanks to GENCAD I can see some light in my future.”

Latifa wishes to be a nurse. She is grateful for the support accorded to her thus far and requests further help with her studies at secondary school. Her results in the final exam are as follows, Maths 36%, English 76%, Kiswahili 48 %, 47% and social studies 65%.

The headteacher Mr Hasow showed his sincere appreciation for the GENCAD and requested for more support for his school. He was particularly happy with the support GENCAD provided to the mini-library which is attributes partly to the success his school achieved this year. The school was ranked the best in Elwak Sub-county.

Thank you most sincerely for enabling us to provide opportunities for young girls in Mandera County. Thank you.

If you are able, please consider supporting us in our end-year campaign currently running on GlobalGiving platform.