Fauzia was the eldest of three siblings, her parents having passed away a few years prior. She lived with her aunt, who, despite her own struggles, provided a loving home for Fauzia and her siblings. Despite the hardships she faced, Fauzia excelled academically, consistently ranking at the top of her class. But her ambitions extended beyond her own success; she was passionate about ensuring that all girls in her community had the opportunity to complete their education.

Her aunt, a respected figure in the Namelok Ladies group, was instrumental in Fauzia’s life. The group, known for making soap and washable menstrual pads, not only provided income for the family but also instilled a sense of community and support.

However, just as Fauzia was preparing for her exams to qualify for high school, tragedy struck in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures left many young people idle, including Fauzia, who found temporary employment in a farming business that had entered her community. What seemed like a relief quickly turned into a nightmare when Fauzia found herself in a vulnerable situation.

Courageously, Fauzia fled back to her aunt, who, upon learning of the ordeal, took swift action. Fauzia received medical care and support, revealing that she was pregnant. Despite the challenges she faced, Fauzia remained undeterred in her pursuit of education. When school resumed, she returned, determined to sit for her exams.

Even amidst the trials of pregnancy and motherhood, Fauzia persevered, performing admirably in her studies. With the support of Foothold, a committed sponsor covering her school fees, Fauzia continued her education. It’s through the generosity of sponsors like these that girls like Fauzia can defy the odds and realize their dreams.

Today, Fauzia is on the brink of a significant milestone. In December of 2024, she will graduate from high school, a testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to her education. Her journey serves as a reminder of the transformative power of education and the importance of supporting young women like Fauzia in their pursuit of a brighter future.

For just $45 a month, you can join us in empowering girls like Fauzia to overcome adversity and achieve their dreams. Together, we can make the impossible possible and ensure that every girl has the opportunity to shine. Let’s stand with Fauzia and girls like her as they write the next chapter of their lives, filled with hope, opportunity, and endless possibilities.

Agnes has suffered from Marfan Syndrome since birth. While Marfan Syndrome can affect many organs of the body, Agnes is fortunate that it only appears to have affected her eyes.

Agnes’s school principal took a special interest in her years ago and went above and beyond her own resources to help Agnes. This included allowing her to have more time to take exams as well as reading questions to her, but there were several bigger challenges looming.

The principal reached out to Foothold early in 2022 observing that Agnes’s vision had significantly deteriorated and her final exams were approaching in early December 2022. Her principal had petitioned the Ministry of Education for Agnes to receive specialized accommodations of a large-print test and additional time, but those requests were ignored in spite of her repeated letters, calls and documentation.

The 8th-grade exam is the highest stakes test that Kenyan students take: it determines if they even qualify for high school and which schools they are permitted to attend since Kenyan high schools are designated and ranked by student test scores.

In spite of her condition, Agnes has consistently performed at the top of her class every year. With her family’s lack of resources, Agnes qualifying for a high-ranking high school could be an incredible opportunity for her and her family.

Another challenge facing Agnes is the fact that the very accommodations that helped her in primary school would not likely to be available to her as she entered high school. Students like her with disabilities often drop out of school. While there are several schools for the blind in Kenya, they can be expensive and far away from her family.

A group of educators from Chillicothe, Ohio gave $500 to our high school tuition scholarship. I reached out to them to see if they would be interested in diverting some of the funds to help Agnes get appropriate glasses since not all of her school fees would be due at once. We estimated her glasses would cost approximately $100.

In October 2022, Agnes was taken to the Lions International Hospital in Mombasa where she saw several specialists who concluded that glasses would not help her. She needed surgery which would cost $500, thus using up her entire tuition scholarship for the year. We decided to go ahead and allocate the funds to her surgery.

Her surgery was unfortunately pushed back due to scheduling and the discovery that she needed surgery in both eyes. We were also concerned that scheduling the surgery too close to her exams could be risky, so she took her exams without support, and so far reports are that she performed well, but the results are still being confirmed.

On December 15, 2022, Agnes arrived at Lions Hospital for surgery. The doctors decided it was best to do surgery on just one eye and for her to return in a few weeks to evaluate her progress and plan for the second eye.

She reported right away that her vision was dramatically improved. (See video below)

As she awaited the final results, we were faced with raising funds again for her school tuition. Brad sent out an email on Christmas Eve about her story. We had a donor give $500 the same day! We are excited to see what this incredible young woman can accomplish, but she’s not completely out of the woods.

She will return to the specialists in the beginning of the year 2023 to evaluate her progress and potentially prepare for a second surgery, but for now, the future looks so much brighter!

Below is a bio that Agnes wrote for us:

I come from Njoro Masai and my name is Agnes. I have a younger brother and the two of us live with our old grandmother. I have a condition known as ‘marfan syndrome’ which I have lived with since my childhood. With the help from Foothold International, I have been able to go to Lions Club hospital and will be undergoing surgery to help me see again. I have also done my final exam and I’m waiting to join high school next year but that will be possible if I get school fees which will enable me continue with my studies so as to achieve my dream of becoming an Optician. I aspire to help both the young and the old who have eye problems.

To help us empower more young women and families like Agnes, click the DONATE link below.