Primary level in 2020
Emanuel (Green Angels Academy)
Emanuel had just been promoted to class six in the above school in 2020 when learning was disrupted in March of the same year due to the global pandemic (covid19). The school organized few refresher lessons between April and August/020 in form of tuition which were attended in turns but they will only move to term two of the same class in 2021. His performance is above average and is likely to do well in academics.
Emanuel’s mother operate different businesses for survival. One of them is selling cloth/ materials among others.
Secondary school students in 2020
Nicole (Huruma Girls’ High school)
Nicole joined form one in the above school in 2020 after she scored 338 marks out of a possible 500 in 2019. She lives with her aunt who operate different small businesses for survival. Due to a similar situation as in the case of Emanuel, she will be doing her term two in Jan/021. Nicole lives with her aunt who is Emanuel’s mother
Sprewell (Chianda Boys High school)
Sprewell also joined form one in the above school in Jan/020 and will be proceeding to term two in Jan/021. Just like other students, he does not have any progress report. The only students who had third term reports are form fours who reported back to school in September/020.
Sprewell’s mother Naomi still operate her small businesses even though the business is not as vibrant as it used to be before covid. His father is in a worse situation since most of the casual jobs he used to find are not readily available anymore. He spends most of the time trying to help the wife in the family business. Family income is about kshs.20, 000 per month which they try to spread between education for their other children, food and other family needs.
June (Ngere Boys high school)
June was in form four in the above school in 2020 and is supposed to have sat for KCSE were it not for the interruptions. He is one of the form four students who resumed classes in September/2020. He will be sitting for KCSE in March/2021 in accordance with the new academic time table. His performance has been above average and we hope he will score good grades.
His mother still operate her small businesses; the main one being second hand clothes. Textile is among the businesses which were greatly affected by the pandemic due to the lockdown and stigma on cloths coming from other countries. She had to switch over to other businesses such as foodstuff which is mandatory for every household.
June’s father too had to work for fewer hours following a downsizing in the company where he has been working and this meant less income for the family. Fewer vehicles were on the roads and the few were not making long distances to warrant regular service. This significantly reduced work for him as an employee as well as the side jobs he has been undertaking. Average family income is kshs.25, 000 per month.
Mitchell (Ramunde Sec. School)
Mitchel was in form four in the above school and resumed classes in September just like June above. She will sit for KCSE in March/021. She is an average student and hope to excel in her studies.
Her mother operate different small businesses to fend for the family and this has enabled their other siblings to attend school. Mitchel’s mother was not exempt from the effects of the pandemic and is slowly struggling to get back to her feet. Like many other small entrepreneurs, she changes or diversifies businesses depending on what is in demand. The average family income is kshs.20, 000 per month.
College students:
Yvonne (Multi media University)
Yvonne joined the above college to pursue a diploma course in mass communication in September/020 after she scored a C-minus in KSCE the previous year. She had originally planned to take a course in hospitality but changed to mass communication. The course will run for three years.
Yvonne’s mother has continued to operate her small businesses mainly fruits and vegetables amidst the ongoing challenges. This has enabled her to take other children to school and provide other basic needs for the family. Average family income is kshs. 25,000 per month.
Jerry ( Kenyatta University)
Jerry joined the above university in September 2020 to pursue a bachelors’ degree course in information science after he scored a B plain in KCSE in 2019. He has been a steadfast, hardworking student and his good performance was foreseeable. His other siblings are emulating him and hence perform well at school too.
His mother still operate a general merchandise business in Nairobi. Most of her products are textile and cutlery mainly for the low income group. Her business like many other businesses was affected by the pandemic and is slowly trying to recover. Jerry’s father equally earns much less income currently compared to the previous years
Felix (JOOUST)
Felix was among the first year students taking a bachelors ‘degree course in business information technology. His second semester was cut short by the disruption in 2020 and he will resume in Jan/021. He is among the most steadfast and hardworking students who is likely to score good grades.
His mother runs a food business selling both cooked food and a grocery and sometimes second hand clothes depending on seasons. They constantly diversify products in the business in order to attract and maintain customers; a business they all run as a family. The business gives them an average income of kshs.30, 000 per month.
- Kate (Moi University college)
Kate continued her diploma course in business management in the above University but just like the rest of the schools and colleges, they were interrupted by the pandemic in March 2020. She however resumed studies in September to December/020.
Kate’s mother still operate small businesses among them vegetables and fruits, charcoal, paraffin, dry fish and second hand clothes. These are businesses she operate during different seasons depending on the demand for the commodities. All the businesses are however struggling during these difficult times but she remains hopeful that things will improve. Income from business activities is currently kshs.20, 000 per month.
- Kelly (Nairobi University):
Kelly continued his diploma course in business management course in 2020 until March when learning was called off. He was among those who resumed learning in September and will completing in 2022.
His mother operate a wide range of businesses based on what is in demand at different times. The businesses include vegetables second hand clothes, and general merchandize. The father is not in any form of employment and does odd jobs which come his way. Just like many other job seekers, things have not been easy for Kelly’s father as job opportunities continue to diminish.
- Brian a (Moi University)
Brian was in his second year taking a bachelors’ degree in renewable energy technology management in 2020. Due to the disruption, he will rewind the same second year second semester in Jan/021. He is remarkably steadfast in his studies and likely to excel.
Brian’s mother runs a grocery shop for the family upkeep. Her average income from the businesses is kshs.20, 000 per month. The reduction in income is as a result of covid’s effect on the economy. His father is a casual laborer and has been doing odd jobs in the city but this has also reduced. Whenever the jobs are not available for him, they all work in the business.
- Felix (Rift valley technical college)
Felix was in the second year, second semester of his diploma course in business information technology. He will be rewinding the same semester in Jan/2021 for the same reasons as other students. His performance is encouraging and he is positive of getting good grades at the end of his course.
Felix’s mother sells vegetables and fruits among other businesses for their daily livelihood. Sometimes she sells second hand merchandise such as cloths and ladies’ handbags and shoes though all businesses are currently struggling. She earns an average of kshs.25, 000 per month. His father is a casual laborer who has equally been affected by the global situation and most of the time has nothing to bring home.
- Brian b (JKUAT)
Brian was in the second year, second semester of his bachelors’ degree course in architecture and building sciences-real estate. He will pick up from where he left when learning was disrupted come Jan/021. He is quite forecast and has the potential to score good grades at the end of his study. A second born in a family of three, he has inspired his brother and sister who are equally progressing well in school.
His mother sells second hand clothes and also incorporates new cloths which she buys from wholesale traders in Nairobi. The business was greatly affected just like many others and has been operating minimally. Brian’s father does not have a regular employment but helps the wife in the business. Average income from these businesses is kshs.25, 000 per month.
- Brian c (Ramogi Technical college)
Brian was in his third and final year taking a diploma course in business management. He is among the final year students who were recalled to resume classes in Sep. /020 and hence completed his class work. He is currently on internship and hopes to find a job in spite of the challenging times. Besides getting a job, he is weighing options of starting some income generating activity. Meanwhile, he still lives with the aunt and is anxiously looking forward to move out once he finds work.
Martin (Mombasa Polytechnic)
Martin is another student who was in his third year taking a diploma course in hospitality. He also resumed studies in Sep./020 and completed classwork in December same year. He then started internship in Jan/021 and will finish by end of March/021. As stated in earlier reports, Martin is an orphan who has grown up in the hands of an old peasant grandmother and an aunt who is basically a hawker. This explains why he could have not gone this far in his studies were it not for the support from the project. He is now at a level playing field with any other college graduates; and is hoping to find a job soon.
He still live with his aunt who owns and operate a textile business though sometimes she sells fruits especially during high seasons. Her average monthly income has drastically reduced in the last one year due to the common problem faced by all businesses. Average income per month from the business is kshs.20, 000.