A teenage girl whose photo
went viral on social media for hanging dangerously on a motorcycle while fetching
firewood in Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya, has been located by an NGO, who offered to
pay her school fees.
Faith Jepchirchir, 13, had
accompanied her grandmother, Lilian Kobilo, 75, to the forest 4km away from
their home to fetch firewood.
The granny has been raising
Jepchirchir and her two siblings since their mother deserted them.
“The family has no other
means of livelihood except to fetch firewood and no one is coming to out
assistance” The old woman had said.
Kobilo’s only source of
income is from the sale of firewood. After her story was published, ‘Soles for
African Child’, a Nairobi-based NGO intervened.
The NGO did shopping for
the family, bought 10 pairs of shoes and offered to pay Jepchirchir’s fees
until she completes secondary school.
Her head-teacher Salina
Mumol said Jepchirchir is a hardworking, kind and focused girl. However, the
problems at home affected her self-esteem.
“We all will understand how
a poor foundation can affect your progress in life. Jepchirchir is a very kind
girl loved by all, but her performance is being affected negatively by what she
is passing through. We hope this kind gesture will boost her morale and help
her forge ahead in life”
No comments:
Post a Comment