Newsletter – Fall 2024
Dear Donors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. On behalf of the William and Nancy Budd Scholarship Fund, I am writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and generosity. Your commitment to the Budd Scholarship has profoundly impacted our students’ lives, and I am delighted to share Ibrahim and Florence’s stories with you. These scholars have met the Budd Scholarship’s eligibility criteria, ensuring your contributions support truly deserving students. The eligibility criteria include financial need (otherwise unable to afford secondary school), academic promise (good students), and character (determined, compassionate, and optimistic).
Ibrahim and Florence’s stories below are just a sample of our scholars who have benefited from your generosity. Your support has provided financial assistance and given our students the encouragement and motivation to pursue their dreams with passion and determination.
Once again, thank you for your commitment to the Budd Scholars’ success. Your contributions have a lasting impact, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership in fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators in Kenya.
Warmest Regards,
Emily Budd Baillos
Treasurer
William and Nancy Budd Scholarship Fund
Ibrahim J.M.
Ibrahim was born on 16th May 2007 in Tana River County. He is the 1st born out of five siblings. He is 16 years old. Ibrahim was born out of wedlock and hence the boy has never been in contact with his father. Efforts to get to know his father has never bore any fruit. The boy is raised by a single mother who is 38 years old. The other siblings are still in primary school. Ibrahim his primary education in 2021. He scored 372 Marks out of the possible 500 marks and was enrolled at boys high school. Upon his arrival at the school, he was immediately sent home back home because the mother carried Kshs 10,000 for the fees as the fee required was Kshs 26,778. The family’s total income is zero.
The mother left the boy under the care of a subordinate staff working at the school (cook) as she travelled back home to source for the balance of school fees. The mother later raised the fees and the boy was taken back to class. To reduce on costs, the mother made the arrangement with the cook that has made Ibrahim stay during short holidays and during half terms to reduce on transport costs. This enables the mother to send the little money she gets to cater for fees. The boy is now able to go home once per year and this is during the December school holidays. At home Ibrahim lives with his grandmother while his mother is a casual laborer 2 hours away. Ibrahim is a strong member of the Methodist church in Kenya Singwaya synod. Regardless of the life challenges the boy has a mean grade of B plain and currently having an outstanding fee balance of Kshs 43,000.00. In many instances, Ibrahim’s mother has also shown commitment as she occasionally sends fees to the school to reduce the fee balance.
Ibrahim who is accompanied by the school cook ‘auntie’ during the interview, he aggressively tells the panelists that he does not need pocket money as he knows that his mother cannot afford, his priority is school fees. He categorically states that school food is enough for him and that’s the priority in his life. His clergy who is the CCC Chair for Tana River describes Ibrahim as God fearing and humble boy who really need financial help so that he completes his education. The area chief recommends him for assistance due to his poor family background while the school principal describing him as above average, obedient and hardworking, with lots of discipline and reproach character and also cooperating with others. The Regional Committee also recommended Ibrahim as a boy that needs to be considered for this year’s scholarship to enable him to continue with his education.
Florence N.
Florence N. was born on 10th August 2006 in Kilifi County. She is the 5th born out of seven siblings. She is 17 years old. Both parents are alive, jobless but separated 6 years ago and now the children stay with their father. The father is 49 years of age. The father used to keep dairy cows and do peasant farming in his 2-acre piece of land. Due to drought, all the cows died and the father’s source of income diminished. The land has become bare and his proceeds have collapsed due to the drought that consistently affects the county.
The first born completed her secondary school but she is yet to join college, The Second born is in form four while the others are still in primary school. Florence joined primary school in the year 2014 and completed her primary education in 2022. She scored 363 Marks out of the possible 500 marks and was called to join a girls high school.
Florence joined the school one month later after the father had raised some cash through selling his cows back at his home. In term two the girl was not able to join school with others as the father did not have enough fees. Florence went to school one month later and she had to copy notes from the others luckily she scored a mean grade of B+ and topped her class. Due to lack of school fees, Florence did not go back to school in term three as the father was looking for fees from CDF, banks and other well-wishers where this did not bore any fruit. The father made up his mind and went back to the Principal of Florence’s high school and his local church to seek help. In January this year, a resolution to transfer Florence to another high school to join form one. The principal offered a local arrangement by allowing the girl to stay in boarding school though the parent would only pay day school fees. This arrangement was for this year and by next year the father should have secured funds to pay for boarding fees. Though the girl did not attend school in the whole of term 3, she was able to top her class with B+. A total of Kshs 8,000 has been raised by the father and the local church and paid to the school. Though the father is happy as the girl is back in school, a balance of Kshs 2,880 is to be paid for term two as well as Kshs 4,120 is yet to be paid for term three. Apart from this, the father also has the other girl who is in form four and the other two siblings in primary school and also provide the basic needs of the family.
The chief confesses to know the family as they come from his village, from a very poor background and that the father has been consistently requesting for financial support from his office to enable his children pursue their education. The Director of the school also confirms that Florence as the best performing student, disciplined and hardworking while the church appeals for NCCK to absorb the girl in the NCCK Scholarship. The father has also made an official appeal to NCCK to get help. The regional committee recommended Florence to be among the beneficiaries of NCCK scholarship for the year 2023.