Brought up by a single mother for the better part of her childhood, Valentine Vugutsa rarely experienced a smooth childhood. Her father passed on when she was young leaving the family in turmoil.
The father was a pillar of strength and a source of joy to the family. Valentine had developed a strong bond with her father and it was difficult to absorb the news that her father was no more.
Growing up it was always her aspiration to have a colorful life and a decent job that would enable her to raise the living standards at her home. With her attributes of being a go-getter, versatile, and a staunch believer that through hard work and prayer you can achieve a lot, she set out on a journey to transform her family situation with the education support she received from UKR.
Left with the responsibility to take care of the family, Valentine’s mother Caroline braved the harsh circumstances she was living in to ensure her two children got the necessary basic needs they required. She admits it was strenuous to put food on the table and pay primary school fees for Valentine but all in all, she is proud that she did her best.
Being the bright and hardworking student Valentine is, she managed to produce a stellar performance after sitting for her final primary school exams Kenya Certificate of Primary Education henceforth receiving a call-up to join Moi Girls Vokoli High school in Vihiga.
Her good grades attracted the attention of UKR who enrolled her in our high school education scholarship program in 2018. Valentine narrates that it was a defining moment in her life, a moment that lives in her heart forever.
“I was happy. My mother too was happy. Life changed greatly,” she recalls.
UKR supported Valentine with all the school requirements she needed to facilitate her academics including school fees, school levies, stationery, revision books, and pocket money among other school requirements throughout her four years in high school.
“The books helped me increase my knowledge, read further and stay ahead in class. I would use the pocket money i received from UKR to buy exercise books and pencils for my revision,” she narrates.
She states further that her mother played a huge role in her high school journey inspiring her to be focused and work on attaining her dreams.
“My mother would do manual jobs and topped up my pocket money which would help me while in school. She was my driving force. She wanted me to learn and go to greater heights academically,” she said.
Valentine attributes her success in high school to the support she received from UKR.
“While in grade 8, I didn’t visualize my high school life running so smoothly. The support was a motivation factor. It gave me the urge to go to school, soar higher and help my family,” she adds.
Inspired to realize her dreams and with the aid of the support she received from UKR, Valentine performed well in her final year high school exit exams KCSE scoring a C+ earning a call-up to join Kisii University in Kisii to study Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality management. She says that she has for a long time yearned to work in the hospitality sector.
Despite her determination and resilience to achieve a lot through education, Valentine’s family is not in a prime place financially to support her university education. The mother who is the breadwinner of the family does not have a stable source of livelihood and depends on farming through planting indigenous vegetables to put food on the table and also provide other basic needs for the family. The money she accumulates from the business is not enough to facilitate her daughter’s university education.
UKR has taken the uphill task of supporting Valentine’s university education. UKR has provided her with university fees, levies, a laptop, and upkeep money for her first year of university which will be helpful as she embarks on the next chapter of her education journey.
“I take this opportunity to thank the entire family of UKR for the support they granted unto me. I’m currently at Kisii university. I feel overwhelmed to be here because the campus is indeed good and life here is very much fine. Lecturers in this school are also committed and ready to help anyone who needs them. I feel so humbled to belong to the UKR family. Thank you very much for this opportunity and may God bless you abundantly,” she said upon joining the university.
Valentine adds that the support will enable her to improve her personality and transform the situation at home. It will give her a chance to shine and an opportunity to impress.
“I want to change the situation at home, build my mother a nice house and enable her to live with dignity. I want to educate my younger sister so that she may be able to reach the same level of education as me,” she stated.
“In the next five years, I will have benefited a lot. My life will transform for good. I will be able to get a job and change my home,” she added.
It is without any shred of a doubt that Valentine is poised for greatness and destined for a brighter future. She is a reflection that through education dreams can come to light.