Impact Stories: Peter Maina
AdminI walked slowly through the path leading to Kikuyu town. The overhead afternoon sun scorching my small head. On my right was my dad and on my left was my mum. Both of my parents seemed to be in deep thoughts. Each one of us was silent. I could guess what they were thinking. No. not guessing. I could actually tell the despair on their faces. It was easy to tell they had decided to try one more time. Just one more time.
I knew and had seen the whole situation surrounding my family. I was born as the seventh born in a family of nine siblings. Five of my brothers never got the privilege to join high school. My parents never lost hope though. All they wanted was to get us educated. My dad kept encouraging me that if I passed my exams I would get a chance to join one of the best schools for my high school education. He saw greatness in me which helped me create a vision of my own.
I sat for my KCPE exams in 2017 and manged to score 389 marks. This was not a minimal achievement for me and my family. I was joyful. I could not help but imagine myself in a national school just as my dad had. After all I had passed.
To my father, this good news triggered mixed feelings of joy and sadness. Joy because this was the best recorded performance in my family. Sadness because he knew quite well that he didn’t have enough finances to enroll me into my dream school. Therefore, he dreaded the idea of me not joining high school like my elder brothers.
Days later, we were out there with him seeking scholarship opportunities from charitable organizations, banks and other foundation with no success. My hope to get the chance to join high school was dimming day by day. Would I end up just like all my brothers?
It was on Friday mid-morning that I received a call from Affecto Foundation, “We will help you in paying your four years school fees,” a voice from Affecto Foundation’s C.E.O, Mr. Ndungu Nyoro, said. Four days later, I made my way to school through their help. I felt a ray of hope reassuring me of better days ahead. “At least I had a chance to change my future and that of my family” I told myself. I was now an Affecto star ready to shine.
The period of being an Affecto Star has been a growth period for me. I had never prospected that I would receive more than financial help. But here came a chance to grow together at Affecto Foundation in all possible ways. During the school holidays, I was privileged to attend mentorship workshops. This went a long way in transforming me into bold, decisive and opportunistic person I am today. My confidence and perception haS improved greatly. The different high-profile guests whom I met from different sectors have acted as proof that it is possible to rise to greatness.
I have visited places I couldn’t imagine at such an age given my limited resource state at an individual level. In 2018, I visited Strathmore University. This sparked a strong desire to join university for higher education someday. I resolved that I would make every effort to ensure that I see myself sitting in those big lecture rooms one day.
In the same year, I visited statehouse for a week!! Can you believe it? The experience we had there was one to remember, exquisite! I had a chance to tour various departments and learn how they work and envision myself on the other side of the work stations.
There is a time that one tends to view the world with the same aspect as their level of exposure. For sure I began seeing life full of opportunities and positively after the visits.
When I was in form four, my dad got sick. The situation could have troubled me big time were it not for the consistent support from Affecto foundation. Many are the times I would leave home for school deep in thought about the ordeal. Mr. Nyoro was aware, every time I would receive a call from him, he would also invite me for a ride with him in his car. We would have conversation that gave me hope and courage to face my situation. I developed strength from this that drove me through the terms.
It was only a week to my KCSE examinations when I received the news of my dad’s demise. I went home after the news. Feeling lost in the whole situation, I didn’t know how to face it. I received a call from Mr. Nyoro the following day, we engaged in a long conversation and later on he promised to visit me at home. His presence reminded me that I had made a promise to myself, to my dad and also to him. This gave me strength during a hard time in my life.
I went back to school. I managed to score A- (minus) of 80 points. This was another milestone in my journey.
Every achievement in Affecto foundation is rewarded and celebrated. I was given a chance to volunteer at Affecto office after completing high school. This came to me as a chance to learn and also serve the society just as Affecto served me. I learnt various skills such as personal planning, budgeting, event organizing and personal branding. For sure it was a worth preparation before I joined university.
I am currently a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology. A Quantity Surveyor in the making.
I am pleased with this growth and achievements in my journey with Affecto Foundation. I believe am a pioneer of change in my family and also the society. I have the zeal in within me to learn and achieve more. I have a dream of visiting other countries to interact with other young ladies and gentlemen and learn from each other. More than this, I want to mentor others just as I was mentored. I want to see others grow and achieve their dreams.
