Monicah is a friendly, hard working and bright 15 year old. Her favourite subjects are Math, English, Kiswahili and Christian Religious Education.  When we visited Monica at her home where she lives with her grandparents and older brother, Francis in Maginna, Kenya we were so impressed at how eager Monica was to get back into school any way she could.

Monicah moved to live with her grandparents when she was 3.   Monica’s  stepfather would not allow her and her older brother to live with their Mom. Monicah’s grandparents used to work as forest workers in Kirita forest but in 1990 President Moi removed all the people from this area. The area that they live in now is reserved for a hospital so they could be asked to move with no compensation at any time.  Monicah’s grandfather works various different jobs that he picks up and Monicah’s grandmother is unable to work at this time because she has diabetes and is often too weak to work. They often do not have enough money to meet their basic needs and it is therefore very difficult for them to pay school fees.

Monicah had a difficult school year last year. Primary education became free in Kenya in 2003 but high school is still a luxury that many can’t afford. She tried to join a boarding school she was accepted to but couldn’t raise the fees of 35 000 ksh needed for first term so she had to sit out the first term. In term 2 after her grandfather found a loan, she joined term 2 in a day school which costs 5000ksh per term ($65 Canadian dollars). However, in term 3 she had various debts so she would get sent home from time to time. Monicah did well when she was able to go to school but because of her many absences Monicah has agreed to restart Form 1 with the help of Education is Power in hopes that she will not have to be kicked out of school again for lack of school fees.

Her goals after high school are to continue her education so that she can become a teacher and eventually a secretary for education.