Metrine's Heartbeat of Hope

I first met Metrine Mayende September 4 but I had known of her since she became one of our first sponsored students in 2005. No longer wearing the dark blue and white uniform of St. Patrick Bukhakunga SS, she looked so professional and beautiful in a traditional red and yellow patterned dress. She graduated in 2007 and was now waiting to begin the School of Clinical Nursing in Kisumu. In the meantime she was volunteering as a teacher. I was delighted to meet her, a student who four years ago never thought she would attend secondary school. And here she was teaching others in her alma mater. Wow!

St. Patrick Bukhakunga SS was founded as a "Harambee" school in 1976 and became a government school in 1989. It was originally sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega. It has 401 students (224M/177F).

Mission: "To produce all round individuals tailored to fit in the ever changing world"
Vision: "To rise above the horizon of knowledge"
Motto: "Keen to Succeed"


Principal Namukhaywa Musi and Deputy Principal Rebbah Barasa were proud of their school. Bukhakunga SS still lacks electricity and therefore light, water pumps, and other necessities like a fridge and office equipment. There are no computers on site. There is hope for a hydro connection sometime in 2009; however, the community has to come up with some 85,000 KSh ($1,300 Cdn) to pay for the lines and the connection.

We were introduced to our four students, a shy group who offered us garlands on this special occasion. On behalf of the school Metrine presented a special gift. It was a beautifully carved stone sculpture of five people joining hands in a circle. This was to symbolize the five continents working together as one.

Jacklynne Makokha (F4) has a respectable C+ grade and hopes to be a Doctor

Morgan Maloba (F3) stands first out of 68 in his class and hopes to be a Surgeon

Aziza Wafula (F2) stands first in his class of 115 and wants to be a Medical Clinic Officer
Aziza's mother had walked 6 km to Bukhakunga to meet me and to give her personal thanks for what CES had done for her son. I was deeply touched by her presence.

Mercline Chen'gola (F1) stands 20/136 in her class and hopes to be a Teacher.

Here was a school where parents used to sell an animal to pay the tuition for their child. Even with the tuition fee removed, there remain many costs to ensure a student's success. I left Bukhakunga SS with the impression that through perseverence they would succeed. As I left its beautiful gates I noticed two cows grazing in the football pitch. At least they were spared for another day to pay for something else other than school tuition fees.

As for Metrine, CES Canada wishes her every success. She will do well for she has a strong heart. She has achieved much against such incredible odds...bravo Metrine!

Our next stop would be Namirama Girls SS.


The Kakamega Journey continues in the next Blog entry "Heartbeat of Hope"