Francis Odongo O.
Francis Francis, George, Aunt Mary w/3 of 6 children
St. Al’s Graduation Class of 2008
Almost Too Good To Be True!
Both of Francis Odongo O.’s parents died in 1996. He admits, “They probably died of AIDS.” For the next five years Francis, his twin sister and two younger sisters lived with their grandparents in Western Kenya. “My grandparents really love me and they give me courage.” Yet he shares his worries about his responsibilities to his family, “From the family that I come from . . . I’m the hope. They are really counting on me to support them when I finally get a good job. Sometimes I feel the pressures. I’m afraid I’ll become old early!”
After finishing primary school Francis was out of school for 4 years due to lack of school fees. Francis says, “I had lost hope for a better future and my life had no direction. I assumed that I would just have to work to survive like all the others.” He worked various jobs including repairing bicycles and shop-keeping. In 2003 he moved to Nairobi to live with his Aunt Mary in Kibera. He continued to work, this time as an apprentice car mechanic. He looks back now and guesses that without St Al’s “I probably would have continued the lineage of hopelessness in my family.
His aunt Mary is an amazing woman. She has 4 little children at home and 2 more attending school out of town. Though “business is up and down”, Francis calls her an “entrepreneur” vegetable wholesaler in Kibera. She hobbles around on crutches because she had her left leg amputated in 2003. A neighbor’s water tank collapsed and crushed her leg. Francis hugs her adoringly saying, “My aunt is very kind to us. In fact, she’s a saint.” Besides her 6 own kids, Aunt Mary has taken in four other “cousins” to live with them! She has welcomed Francis, his 8th grade sister, and two of his cousins, George and Joseph, who also study at St Al’s. They all cook and eat together but have rented two different rooms to sleep in.
His aunt Mary noticed Francis reading books and wishing out loud for the money for an education. It must have been heartbreaking for her to see his dreams snuffed out so prematurely. She realized that Francis had much more potential than a manual laborer so she encouraged him to investigate this new school in Kibera called St Aloysius Gonzaga. When Francis and his aunt first saw the shabby school tucked in the slum Francis’ first thought was, “How can this school in the slum help me to achieve my goals?”
Francis also doubted that the school would consider accepting him since he was already 20 years old and it had been 4 years since he last studied. But he was impressed with the kind welcome and encouragement that he received from Principal Kiambi Dionisio. Francis told him that “If there’s a chance for me then I’m ready to go!” To which Kiambi replied, “Then come to school tomorrow and be ready to learn!”
And Francis came to learn! He excelled from the very beginning. Besides his excellent academic performance, his natural leadership skills were developed for all to admire. He appreciates how the students gained self confidence “because of the chance to express themselves in class.” In his second year Francis became “head boy” of the entire school and maintained that responsibility for the next 3 years. Francis says, “This chance to have this leadership position really strengthened me. As head boy I tried, and sometimes succeeded, to convince my fellow students on the importance of general discipline and unity in school and never to forget to appreciate the efforts of our benefactors by working hard to achieve the best we can.” One of his favorite teachers, Mr. Denis Okwany says, “He is a natural leader. He does it with humility and poise. He’s really an amazing young man.”
His authentic gratitude is clear as Francis speaks so eloquently about the teachers at St Aloysius. He mentions the many role models who encouraged him and counseled him. He recollects how the Deputy Principal, Ms Beatrice Maina, was attentive to him when he was feeling low. “In fact, she was like a mother to me.”
In last year’s National Exams Francis was the school’s top performer. He scored so well that he will qualify for a coveted seat at a Kenyan University. The entire school community is extremely proud of Francis. He hopes to pursue Chemical Engineering saying, “it has been my interest since Form 2”. “But,” he says, “I’m trying to prayerfully discern God’s desires for me and what I really want to study.”
Francis attributes his self awareness and confidence to his morning prayer time and spiritual reading. “I like to read spiritual books to gain inspiration.” He speaks of how his experiences at St Al’s have changed him spiritually. Since graduation Francis is in the schools’ “Bridge The Gap” program. He is working full time as a catechist visiting various public schools to teach religion. He very much enjoys speaking about his faith. He has openly discussed the possibility of becoming a priest. However, the reality is that, “there is pressure on me to support my extended family in which I’m the current hope. After God that is!” Francis says, “I would also like to support another child someday to pursue his dreams of study.”
Francis is tall and slender and has a bright smile. Anyone who meets him can quickly sense that there is something special and holy about this outstanding young man. His friends consider him “humble; yet aggressive in certain important matters!” He’s got a great sense of humor, varied interests and is athletically talented as well. His classmates respect him and enjoy being around him. In fact, he is usually seen laughing in the middle of his large group of his many friends.
He says that he likes being around positive people who “desire an all around change in our country.” He has great passion to be a part of the group of young people who will someday change the status quo in places like Kibera. “To say, ‘enough is enough!’. I believe that being united together as we become educated and enlightened will teach us the love we need in order to serve the world.”
“Our experience at St Al’s is almost too good to be true! The benefactors came to our rescue and revived our lifeless hopes.” All of us were once hopeless children and now we have been given a chance at bright futures where we can make a difference! I would sincerely like to render my great appreciation for our benefactors, together with Fr. Terry Charlton and the CLC members who had this dream of bringing this hope to 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/
