Ashley
Whether she is participating in class or leading a song, Ashley brings a certain spunkiness and excitement to everything she does. Ashley is very active; during dance class at KSG Summer Camp, Ashley was one of the best dancers is the Kindergarten class. She effortlessly remembered all of the steps. Ashley is also incredible intelligent. This makes sense, because when Ashley grows up, she wants to be a teacher. Ashley is creative, especially when it comes to drawing, which she is very talented at. She also cares deeply for her classmates and often shares snacks she brings from home with other students. Ashley is a leader of the Kindergarten class, and it is obvious what a positive impact KSG is having on her life. Who knows what will happen in the future for Ashley–maybe she will even be a teacher at KSG.
Ayuma
It is impossible to catch a glimpse of Kindergartener Ayuma without a smile on her face. She is excited about every day, every activity, and every lesson. Ayuma speaks with intelligence and grace, but also knows how to listen attentively. If you give Ayuma any space, she will be dancing around the room with pure glee. The enthusiasm and joy that Ayuma exhibits is obvious no matter the activity. Ayuma really appreciates life, and notices every little thing. She also loves to write letters to her teachers conveying how much she loves and appreciates them. In a public speaking class Ayuma took during the KSG Summer Camp, she created and performing a wonderful speech about why she loves KSG. Ayuma, her mother and her siblings were abandoned by her father when she was very young. However, Ayuma does not let this get her down; she is always looking ahead and thinking about what she can do in the future. Ayuma is an affectionate and intelligent girl who, even after much hardship, seems to find great joy from the simple things in life.
Brenda
Brenda is excelling in the Kindergarten class. This is in large part due to the excitement and love for learning she exhibits at KSG every single day. When Brenda grows up she wants to be a pilot, although if it were possible to be a “reader” for a job, Brenda would be the perfect person. She is reading at a level far beyond her peers, both in the sophistication of words that she can pronounce and in the way she can read as if she is telling a story. During the recess period after lunch, when most students go outside to run around, you can always find Brenda reading out loud to herself in a classroom. Brenda is a quiet leader, with the power to command attention while only speaking when necessary. During the recent talent show at the Kibera School for Girls, Brenda was a leader in her group, the Lions, who sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Brenda diligently wrote down all the words to the song so that she could memorize them and assist her classmates. She is a wonderful listener and wise beyond her years. At the Kibera School for Girls, Brenda is shining as a student, and her smile is always shining too.
Christine
Christine is a Kindergarten student who is always asking questions and making an effort to learn more about the world around her. She can be very serious with her schoolwork, but always knows how to make friends and teachers laugh during free time. She is full of joy. Christine loves to sing songs at the end of the day, and this is obvious from the way she enthusiastically dances to the music. Christine exhibits a strong compassion for others in the way she so obviously cares about her teachers and classmates. She will always help someone in need without having to be asked. Christine excels academically, and brings a certain energy and excitement to the classroom. During a Public Speaking class, Christine wrote and performed a wonderful speech about why she loves Kibera School for Girls. Christine comes to school with a huge smile on her face every day, always demonstrating that love.
Jane
Watching Jane at the Kibera School for Girls, you would be surprised that she is only in Kindergarten, because she is a leader of the entire school. Jane is always the first to raise her hand during class or lead the group in a song. In any quiet moment, Jane can jump into the middle of a circle and get the entire room singing. When KSG made a music video to the song “I Can” by Nas, Jane took charge of the chorus, leading the girls as she shook her hips and sang: “I know I can/ Be what I wanna be/ If I work hard on it/ I’ll be where I wanna be.” The rap to the song was even re-written tot be about the Kibera School for Girls! When filling out a sheet about what she wants to be when she grows up, Jane wrote “a pilot.” The sheet read “Jane on a plane.” When showing it to a teacher, Jane proclaimed, “Look! It rhymes!” When Jane first arrived KSG she had trouble concentrating and was not even doing her homework; Jane now excels academically. She soaks up information like a sponge, and never forgets what she learns. She could name the seven continents after one lesson. Jane may have a sassy attitude, but she exerts a warm energy at KSG and will always put a smile on your face. She may be born to be a star, but Jane never forgets about her peers. She brings sugar for her porridge for breakfast every morning, and shares it with all of the girls in her group. With so much heart, talent, passion, sassiness, and determination, she may just be leading the Kibera School for Girls right now, but who knows what Jane will lead next in life.
Joyce
From the moment you meet her, Joyce has a kind and welcoming spirit. She is excited for everything at the Kibera School for Girls, whether it is singing a song or learning about voting. Joyce is always attentive and well mannered. She couples her seemingly serious energy with a young child’s excitement. When Joyce first learned how to twirl, she wanted to practice it over and over. She would run up to the volunteer who taught her how to twirl, grab her hand, and indicate that she wanted to twirl with a huge smile on her face. Joyce got such a joy from something so simple, showing how much she appreciates the simple things in life. Joyce even wrote and performed a speech in class about why she loves dancing. If a camera comes out, Joyce is always ready with a pose and a smile. Joyce understands that although she may be growing up poor, she has been given a wonderful opportunity at the Kibera School for Girls. She is determined to go far in her life and will work hard to do so–but Joyce always remembers to have fun.
Juliet
Juliet may only be in Kindergarten, but she is wise beyond her years. No matter what the class is learning, Juliet is a wonderful participant and a very quick thinker. In her reading group, Juliet loves to read out loud, and is very skilled at both pronunciation and comprehension. Juliet loves to learn. She is always one of the first to raise her hand to answer a question. Juliet is also very affectionate. From the moment she meets you, she will hold your hand with a big smile across her face. Juliet has a certain energy about her: the ability to get excited over anything. During the Summer Camp Kick-Off at KSG, it was announced that the girls would be getting new uniforms for camp, complete with brand new pink sneakers. The room roared with excitement, but Juliet was particularly cheerful. She threw her arms into the air so spontaneously, that by accident she hit the eye of one summer volunteer. Juliet apologized profusely, though she did not need to; it was obvious that the accident was only the result of the pure joy and excitement that Juliet carries. At the Kibera School for Girls, Juliet is surrounded by wonderful friends to play with and teachers to love her. Juliet grows as a student and person every single day, and will surely do great things in the future.
Lillian
Lillian is a very special and unique girl at KSG. She is quiet, but in a very poised and composed way. She may seem very serious, but you can always catch Lillian smiling while singing a song or laughing with her friends. Even given her shyness, Lillian can have surprising confidence when it comes to dancing or singing. In a dance class during summer camp at KSG, Lillian was a wonderful and care-free dancer. She effortlessly remembered all of the steps. Lillian is great at reading and coloring, and she was always an active participant in class. She has a very tall and regal beauty to her; beauty that obviously comes from inside as well as out. Lillian has four siblings, and is loving towards all of the girls at KSG. Lillian is wise beyond her years; it’s easy to forget that she is only in Kindergarten.
Lydia
Lydia wants to be a teacher when she grows up, and you can tell that from everything that she does. She’s very much a leader with her own class and with the younger girls. Every time the girls play a call and response game, Lydia is first to raise her hand to lead it. Her loud voice carries above the rest of them like a cartoon character. She can be very shy from time to time, and whenever she makes a little mistake, she grins and puts her head down to her chest. However, she loves to read out loud. At lunch, she usually finishes quickly and then reads a story to the other girls, finishing off by writing questions on the board for them to answer. She’d rather be reading or writing than coloring. One day at school, she opted out of coloring and instead decided to write down a list of words that were hanging on the wall, proudly showing off her work to the teacher once she hit 50 words. In her reading group, Lydia sometimes gets upset when it was time to do an activity instead of just reading. She is the first to raise her hand to answer any question about the book, even when she’s not quite sure of the answer yet. But when called upon, Lydia will take the time to think about it, and then loudly proclaim her answer- she is a determined one. When asked the difference between fiction and non-fiction, Lydia will always announce in her adorable voice, “fiction- because a dog cannot talk!” Lydia, herself, may be a teacher’s pet, meant in the nicest way possible. Lydia has amazing potential and KSG is benefiting her so much by encouraging her to fulfill it.
Mary
Mary is a bright and enthusiastic member of the kindergarten class. She and her best friend Melvin, also in kindergarten, are inseparable—you almost never see one without the other. Fittingly, the two girls look almost identical, and it’s hard to tell them apart! Mary loves books and is an excellent reader with great comprehension skills; she can summarize stories very well. She loves to read out loud to her peers. Mary is very active and is happiest when she’s running around playing games with Melvin and the other girls. She loved when her class did a lesson on origami, and played with her paper cup, balloon, and fortune teller for days, showing them off to anyone who would look. When a volunteer took a video of Mary and her classmates all saying their names, most of the girls said their name quietly and laughed. Mary, on the other hand, yelled her name at the camera and then collapsed into giggles. With the perfect combination of silly and serious, Mary has an obvious love for learning which she is able to express at KSG.
Mbithe
Mbithe is wonderful. She is quiet and obedient when compared to her rambunctious classmates, but definitely not lacking in personality. She doesn’t whine or complain, but doesn’t fade into the background either–she will flash you the cutest little smile. While very physically small, Mbithe has a great smile and a big presence. Like many of her classmates, she loves to color. She is happy reading and drawing. There’s very little that Mbithe doesn’t enjoy–she takes so much happiness from the simplest things at school. You can tell that Mbithe is very grateful for her education, and highly values every moment she spends at school. She’ll be sure to put that education to good use in the future as an aspiring banker. Mbithe’s greatest strength is, for sure, the pure heart and joy she brings to life every day. KSG is lucky to have her.
Melvin
Melvin is a bright and enthusiastic member of the kindergarten class. She and her best friend Mary, also in kindergarten, are inseparable—you almost never see one without the other. Fittingly, the two girls look almost identical, and it’s hard to tell them apart! Melvin is very sensitive and can sometimes be grumpy at school. It never lasts for long, though—if you just pay her a little bit of attention, with a hug or a smile, she’s back to her normal self. She is eager to learn, throwing herself into every new activity and lesson. Melvin especially loved when her class did a lesson on origami. She delighted in the novelty, throwing back her head and laughing after taking a sip of water from her newly-made paper cup. When Melvin grows up, she wants to be a nurse. She even creating a speech about this for a class during KSG Summer Camp! Melvin is compassionate and loving, so it makes sense that she would want to care for others. Melvin is a joy to have at the Kibera School for Girls. She’s benefiting so much from the nurturing environment, and is growing as a person and student every day. Melvn’s life has changed for the better because of KSG; who knows what she will do in the future. One thing is for sure, Melvin will continue to go through life with that huge smile across her face.
Molly
Molly is one of the quietest girls in the kindergarten class. She’s pretty much content to sit and whisper with her best friend, Ciro, while everybody else is running and laughing. When she does laugh, though, it’s an infectious giggle that could charm anyone. As the oldest girl in the kindergarten, she’s very much a leader. She never bosses around the other girls, but always leads by example. She’s taller and skinnier than most of the other girls in her grade, but don’t let that fool you! When the girls race to finish meals, Molly is always the first. Fittingly, she wants to be a baker when she grows up! Molly is a quick study. When we did a lesson on origami, she picked it up faster than any of the other girls in her class and was soon making cups and balloons out of any scrap she could find. Molly loves learning, and this fact is very obvious. She is a wonderful reader, one of the best in her class. Molly loves reading out loud in her reading group, and she reads every word effortlessly. Molly’s parents are both HIV-positive, which has obviously been very hard on Molly. There is no doubt, however, that KSG is an incredible benefit to her life, providing her with care in ways that her family cannot. Her education at the Kibera School for Girls is helping to give her a chance in life that she would not have otherwise. Molly is smart and talented- she will be sure to grow up to do wonderful things.
Movin
To put it simply, Movin has spark. On a field trip to the airport, she specifically told her teacher that she would never be a pilot because she would fall to the sky, but ran ahead, exploring, before her teacher could explain that that doesn’t really happen. That’s pretty typical of Movin. She’s always running and laughing. She’s a total goofball, too—one of her favorite things to do is, when someone call her name, say “I’m not Movin!”. And when we’re not playing that game, she’s prone to pretending to be a baby and crawling into a volunteer’s lap. Far from a baby, though, she loves to read and would often pull out a book at lunchtime. She has a younger brother, and, as an older sister, is very mature. She always shares when she brings a snack, and loves to divide up her food and give it to all the girls at the table. Continuing that generous spirit, Movin wants to be a banker when she grows up–so she can give people money to buy food and go on trips. Movin loves attention, especially from her teachers, whom she really looks up to. She can whine and laugh in the same minute, and has so much energy you have to wonder where she keeps it. Bright, vivacious, and always funny, Movin is a phenomenal addition to KSG.
Pauline Ciro
Pauline, a great student and aspiring teacher, goes by her family name, Ciro (pronounced she-ro). As one of the older girls in the kindergarten class, her peers really look up to her. They often ask her for help when reading and look to her as a leader, a role she’s happy to take. Ciro lives at Margaret’s Safe Place with 5 other students, and as one of the older girls there, she’s taken on a “big sister” role with the younger girls. During quiet moments, she’ll sometimes ask to read to the class—her favorite is a book of nursery rhymes. She is a confident reader, and it is obvious how much she enjoys reading. In her reading group, she sometimes picks out books for her teacher, exclaiming, “Teacher! Can we please read this one?” After a book is finished, Ciro is always the first to raise her hand to summarize the story, tell if it was fiction or non-fiction, or answer any other questions her teacher may have. Sometimes she even raises her hand before a question has been proposed. Ciro also loves to sing; especially a song called “The Ungali Tree”, which is based on an old fable. And though she’s usually pretty serious, Ciro has a great laugh when you get her going. She has an incredibly expressive face, scowling when she gets the wrong answer or when somebody plays a joke on her, practically screeching with laughter when she thinks something’s funny. Ciro is mature and independent. On field trips, she runs ahead of the group. She doesn’t scream or make a scene though–just scopes out her surroundings and quietly takes it all in. Ciro loves it all–singing, dancing, playing, reading, exploring–but the common thread is, she loves learning. A thoughtful, confident student, Ciro is both benefiting greatly from KSG and adding greatly to the school’s environment.
Prudence
Prudence is a remarkable young woman. She has had a very hard life, in large part due to the fact that she is HIV-positive. However, even when Prudence was very sick, she did not let that get her down. Prudence always has a smile on her face. Her energy and love for life is contagious to everyone who meets her. Prudence is incredibly smart! She is six years old, and can read words like “impressed” without pause. She is reading so far above grade level, and she LOVES to read. She also is a great singer. Though she is sometimes meek, she will stand up and sing on her own in front of a group. She is definitely stubborn, perhaps because she knows she is so smart. Once when a volunteer asked what she wanted to be when she grows up, she just said, “a rich girl.” When drawing one day, Prudence drew a house with a path up to the house. Instead of drawing the path straight, she drew it on an angle to give it depth. She used three dimensions in her picture, even though no one ever taught her how. She is a big favorite of all the teachers. Prudence was very sick last summer, and Shining Hope’s staff accompanied her to the hospital for days on end—KSG literally saved her life. Luckily she is doing much better now- she even recently moved out of Margaret’s Safe Place. Prudence is a very lucky girl, and KSG is lucky to have her.