Meet Brigit Makena of Fortune Learners' Centre
Meet Brigit Makena of Fortune Learners' Centre
December 13, 2022
Kenya / Kayole Slum -Nairobi
by Charles Owino, Director of Fortune Learners’ Centre
My name is Charles Owino and I am the Director at Fortune Learners Centre (FLC), a nonprofit community-based organization dedicated to serving orphans and vulnerable children. Our school is located in Kayole, an informal settlement in Nairobi. I am happy to introduce you to one of the orphan children served by FLC in partnership with Global Orphan Relief.
Meet Brigit Makena, an 11-year old orphan girl who attends Fortune Learners’ Centre in Kayole –Nairobi. Makena lives with her mother who is currently running a small grocery but can’t raise enough to fully support all their needs. She has an elder brother who dropped out of school but doesn’t regularly live with them since he has drug issues and is sometimes on the streets.
Brigit lost her dad at the age of three and this circumstance made life very difficult for the family -forcing the boy to drop out of school and to the streets to beg for money, where he joined fellow street children who then introduced him to drugs. For a time, Brigit also joined his brother in begging in the streets during the day and getting home evening because she couldn’t withstand the cold nights on the streets of Kayole.
There was a government crackdown on street children in Nairobi and this forced Makena to stay at home, and because they were living in the makeshift iron sheet building adjacent to the school, she was standing outside the school gate or sometimes peeping through the window to hear the teachers teach. Wherever she was seen she would run away.
Being that the most families are closed, I didn’t know Brigit’s parents until one Saturday when I met her walking with a woman who turned out to be her mother. It was only then when I got to know more about Brigit and her situation, so I gave her a chance to join Fortune Learners’ Centre as a new student.
I accomplished this by adding her to number of pupils brought back to school after dropping out at grade three with a Global Orphan Relief Scholarship. Brigit is currently in grade Five. Brigit is one of the many pupils who has overcome her childhood challenges and has gone on to succeed in her studies in school
Brigit is currently doing well in her academics. Her hobby is playing football because she is so strong and loves the game. With the help of a Global Orphans Relief Scholarship, Brigit’s dream of becoming a nurse is now back on the right track.
“I am back in school as result of your kind help. I come to school every day because I will get a cup of porridge and also lunch. My mum is so grateful for this kind gesture, and I wholeheartedly thank the many at Global Orphan Relief for showing me much love”, shares Brigit.
The generosity of Global Orphan Relief helps many more pupils like Brigit to unlock their potential and follow their passion. Your support will change lives for the good.
When you choose to sponsor a child or provide support for GO’s Education Initiative, you aren’t simply helping that child, but you are impacting lives of many children, families and their entire community as they work towards a better future.
Today, we are supporting 322 orphan children through our Education Initiative with plans to increase this to 385 Scholarship recipients in Kenya & Zambia.
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work to date through local partners in each country that provides oversight and distribution of care.
As of October 2022, we serve 6,559 vulnerable children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Zambia. We provide this aid through our Field Partner & GO! Ambassador networks in our Home-Based Care, Education, Nutrition & Church Mobilization Initiatives.
We will be supporting 142 orphan children at Fortune Learners’ Centre with GO! Scholarships, through our Education Initative, in 2023.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Circle, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give also give electronically at 2023 Education Initiative or give on this website at the upper righthand corner under ‘Donate’ by choosing Education Initiative under the Fund designation.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief (GO!) is a Christian relief agency serving vulnerable children and is a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations to GO!, or any charitable contribution processed through Network For Good Donor Advised Fund, are tax deductible to the extent of the law. If you prefer, you may provide gifts of support by sending via mail to the address above.