Emily Akinyi M.
Out of the Darkness and Into the Light
Emily M. has experienced the pain and darkness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic more than most 18 year olds. Both of Emily’s parents died of HIV/AIDS–her mother when Emily was seven years old and her father when she was eleven. Her next oldest sister also died of HIV related childbirth complications two years ago.
Fortunately, St Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in the Kibera slum of Nairobi is offering a free education for AIDS affected orphans just like her.
After successfully finishing primary school Emily felt “stranded with nowhere to go.” After her mother died, she stayed in western Kenya with her Aunt. She joined her aunt looking for daily work but she felt that “nobody was concerned” about her future except Emily herself. She took a risk and moved to Nairobi to be with her two older sisters and become a live-in housemaid. Just as she was ready to begin her work, her oldest sister found out about St Al’s and got Emily enrolled. “Because I was so eager to learn, I praised the Lord for giving me the opportunity!” Reflecting on what her life would have been like without this school she says, “I’m sure that by this time my situation would have forced me to either be a mother and house wife or a house girl somewhere.”
But instead of being a “house girl” Emily is “head girl” at St Aloysius! In fact, she has been elected to class leadership positions each of her four years. She uses her natural leadership skills to unite and improve the school community. She has worked with the teachers to create new clubs and resolve discipline cases. It’s clear that she is very proud of her school because she has invested so much into it.
Emily describes herself as a “bookworm” because she enjoys reading. But she also likes playing football (Soccer) and netball and car ing for her many friends. Her favorite subjects are Biology, Math, History, Business Studies and Religion. She is still discerning if she wants to become a medical doctor, a lawyer or possibly a business woman. But whatever she decides, she wants to be able to help others who are poor and less fortunate.
Emily’s science teacher, Ms Jill J., describes her as, “the best role model for the other gir ls because she is intelligent and boldly takes initiative and responsibility as a natural leader.”
Other teachers mention that she “speaks the truth with confidence” and “knows what she wants in life and goes after it.”
Emily says that St Al’s is quite unique compared to other Kenyan schools in that St Al’s has “daily morning prayer, stricter rules and regulations and expects higher academic performance.” Helping St Al’s graduates to get into Colleges is a real benefit, “totally different from other schools, even sponsored schools.” She describes her fellow students as “highly dedicated, eager to learn and grateful for this opportunity.”
The school motto is “Learn, Love and Serve.” Emily says that she hopes to “serve others with what I have learned.” She mentions how she wants to “bring people together to work as a team, a community, without discrimination or tribalism.” She laments the fact that so many Kiberans don’t have equal access to schools and health centers.
“All of Kenya will benefit from our benefactors investment because the future leaders, doctors, teachers and business people are the Kiberan youth of today.” She expresses her gratitude to benefactors in this powerfully poetic way; “thank you for taking us out of the darkness and bringing us into the light. I pray that God will reward you a thousand times!”
~ by Fr. Jim Collins, SJ
To learn more about and support St. Al’s, please visit the website http://www.sagnairobi.org/ or call 1-800-922-5327 at the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus - http://www.jesuits-chi.org/
