Esnas Donda M.
St. Al’s Graduation Class of 2011
My Future Would Have Been Blank
Through St. Al’s and its benefactors, I believe that God is making a difference in my life and my family’s life.” If not for the educational opportunity at St Al’s, Esnas Oonda M.’s “future would have been blank; like a poor girl in the slum without direction or hope.”
But St Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School has given her both direction and hope. “Esnas has that determination to make it. And I think she will,” declares St Al’s Science teacher Ms Jill Juma. “She is well liked and respected by her classmates and that helps her get things done.” Sister Luciana is her Religion teacher and comments that, “she is very outgoing, determined and disciplined. Esnas is one of the best in the school!”
Esnas is the fourth of five girls living with her mother in Kibera. “My daily routine is pretty hectic.” She wakes up at 4:30 am to study and prepare breakfast. She is at school until 5:30 pm after which she does chores at home. She goes to bed at 11:30 pm which means she averages 5 hours sleep a night. Their 10’ x 12’ one room home has only dirt floors and so it costs them 300KS or US$4 per month. Her mother struggles to find day labor as a domestic servant or doing laundry. Esnas herself works braiding hair on weekends sometimes earning 200KS or up to US$3 per day.
Esnas has been elected “class prefect” with special responsibilities and is often seen giving instructions to her peers from the chalkboard. Her favorite subjects are Biology, Physics and English. She enjoys reading and singing at church and in the school choir. She is an active member of the drama and poetry club. When asked if she likes to speak in public, Esnas smiles and confidently says, “Of course!”
She has dreams to make a difference in someone’s life and hopes to go on for studies in medicine to become a surgeon. She says that she would be willing to serve wherever Kenya hospitals have the greatest need.
Esnas says, “My favorite aspect of St Al’s is the commitment of the students in learning, loving and serving. St Al’s students are the most dedicated students I have ever met and I can tell that they are happy to have this opportunity of receiving this valuable education.” She also gives high marks for the teaching staff. “The quality of teaching is great and the course work is challenging. The teachers are committed and really care to ensure that the students receive a quality education.”
Esnas hopes that all of St Aloysius Gonzaga’s benefactors continue to know that “their generosity is being translated into hope for the students of Kibera.”
~ by 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/
