GEORGETTE KAT KAWAL Congo

Sometime in the late 90’s Georgette met my younger brother Gavin when they were both were attending a function in London receiving awards for poetry. Georgette, who is from Kinshasa in the Congo, had evidently asked Gavin if he knew anyone who could sponsor her further studies in London University where she already had a degree in English Literature. So she wrote to us for sponsorship to do her Ph.D. I replied that while so many young people lacked the means for secondary or even elementary education, it was out of the question for us to sponsor students beyond their Masters. Nonetheless, we were impressed with Georgette’s poise and professionalism. At length we agreed to put her on our list and in eventually sufficient money became available, not all that was required, but enough to qualify for funding from other sources.

She obtained her PhD and sent us publications of her poetry. In 2003 she wrote from South Africa saying that she was applying for teaching jobs there. She sent us a copy of a public letter she had composed to Mr Joseph Kabila, President of the Congo, in which she made a blistering attack on his corruption, morality and abuse of human rights and accused him of prolonging the civil war in Kinshasa for his own gain. Nonetheless, the letter was delivered in a familiar, humorous way, in the faultless prose of a graduate of applied linguistics. Georgette had this denunciation published in the press and encouraged all her contacts to do likewise. She has thereby made it impossible for herself ever to return to the Congo so long as the present regime lasts. If there were more people like Georgette , Africa would be a very different place.

WILFRED MASI Kenya, 2006

Wilfred’s case was brought to our attention in 2005. On completion of his secondary education he took a course in Community Health & Development. His results were so promising that he was recommended to apply for a degree course at the Great Lakes University at Kisumu. Wilfred’s determination had been so admirable he also found work to help fund his education independently , this is something that we have always encouraged.

MALMA VICHE Cameroon, 2008

We sponsored Malama as he studied diligently through his education and after much hard work, he gained one of the highest marks in the whole country. He now has a French degree and went on to complete a teacher training programme.

BENEDICT Tanzania, 2014

Benedict is the first young person we sponsored since our founder passed away. We donated £1300 to our friend Barbara Bristow for her charity (The Amani Centre) in Tanzania. Since we have known Barbara for many years we could trust her to oversee the project professionally. Our donation, along with many others, helped support Benedict, a young man confined to a wheelchair, in his wish to go to college and study computing. As he has had, not only to cope with the course, but also with living away from home for the first time as an independent adult. The money donated also went towards the cost of a new tractor for the farm at Mikesse, where they produce food for The Amani Centre and the local market. The tractor will be invaluable to them and until now they have had to hire a tractor which was very expensive.

REXFORD ACHEAMPONG Ghana, 2008

Rexford wrote to us requesting sponsorship to continue his education. So following strong recommendation from his headmaster and others we agreed to subsidise his IMPC (Intercom Programming & Manufacturing) course. He has been a model student who reported to us regularly on his progress and graduated with a Diploma in Hardware & Networking in Engineering.

NANCY KIGADI Kenya, 2005

We helped fund Nancy’s education in Chakamanga where she attended a secondary school and then went on to Jomo Kenyatta University in Nairobi to study Information Technology. She is now a successful lecturer at a college in Western Kenya and is happily married.

MARIA AGUAO Mexico, 2005

Maria was studying Engineering at University when her father passed away and her government grant ceased (a normal occurrence in Mexico). We agreed to give Maria Jose an allowance which also helped her look after her mother. In return she assisted (via email) with the Spanish conversation classes we were holding at home in the University of Withywood, Bristol. In June 2008 she graduated with high grades and now is working as a construction engineer in Guanajuato.

LOBSANG PALDEN Tibet, 2004

Originally a refugee from Tibet, Lobsang was attending an English language centre in India run by Western volunteers where the instruction was free but he had no means for living. We sponsored him and his language skills improved and he was able to find a job in a photography studio. He documented his own personal story, describing his childhood with normadic farmers, relentless persecution by the Chinese authorities and how he escaped via the Himalayas into Nepal. Unfortunatley we lost in touch with Lobsang but hopefully his story will become available for everyone to read.

PAUL WATYKERE Uganda, 2004

We sponsored Paul so he could complete his Law Studies. Then in 2008 he accepted a job with the UN High Commission for Refugees. Since starting his job he has offered to pay $100 of his annual salary back into The Sponsorship Fund (which we declined) so he began the sponsorship of three young Sudanese children whom he identified.

FREDERICK KEBEBE Kenya, 2003

Frederick like many young Kenyans was orphaned before leaving primary school. Whilst living with his grandmother and with a lack of funds he qualified for secondary school. One of our representatives appealed to us about his cause and we raised enough money to see him through and complete secondary education. In 2008 he gained admission to train as a Community Health Worker.

JEROME AZIKE Nigeria, 2003

Jerome was originally an expert manager of a fish farm. Then in 2002 he suffered a motorbike accident which left him badly handicapped, which meant he also lost his job and had to learn how to walk again. He applied to us for help in medical expenses and training to become a computer instructor which he completed,  he has now established a new career for himself in the Delta province in Nigeria.

MARTIN NDIA NDAI Cameroon, 2002

Martin like many other young Cameroonians was a victim of the corruption in the higher echelons of state education in Cameroon. Applications for jobs, scholarships and studying abroad are passed in favour of Minister’s sons and daughters, or those that could bribe the officials. Against the odds and with his own perseverance he completed a Business & Economics degree. Our sponsorship also helped him complete a training course which has enabled him to find work as a civil servant in the capital, Yaounde.