Mughamba's Progress to Date 2011
Since the establishment of the Mughamba Foundation, we are now supporting the secondary education for over 80 students in Kenya. At this time 9 are graduating and proceeding with their university degrees. I am especially proud of students like Dorah, who carries a B+ average at the University of Eastern Africa; Mercy, who graduated from Egerton University with a B.S. degree, second class honors in Agriculture, and is now pursuing a two-year masters program. She continues to earn high honors. Joseph, a graduate from Eldoret Aviation School and is now employed as a pilot in Kenya. Emily and Lynnet were referred to me by Fr. Richard Quinn from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in Nairobi. Father Quinn played a very significant role in supporting my coming to the U.S. to pursue my dream of becoming a priest, and when he related their stories to me and asked for my help, I felt in my heart that I could not refuse them – or him. These two girls have been earning marks of distinction from The Kenya Polytechnic University, and are so thankful for the assistance from the Mughamba Foundation. Then there is Vincent and Moses who are both working toward their Bachelor of Business Information Technology degrees at the Kenya Methodist University in Mombasa. This is just an example of the many students who are benefiting from the Mughamba Scholarship Foundation.
The Holy Rosary Church in Mwanda has now been completed and the people in my village are so happy and proud to attend Mass in their new home. It has taken longer than usual to complete the construction due to the fact that Mwanda is up in the mountain region, making it very difficult to transport supplies and materials up the hill. It can also be quite dangerous in the rainy season. We still need to either build or purchase the pews, but at this point we have run out of funds.
I have also been working with my contact in Kenya to build a school either in the heart of Mwanda or at the foothills so that more children will be able to pursue the dream of education. It would be specifically for high school/college level students with a focus on a degree in agriculture, thereby allowing them to utilize their skills within their village and becoming self-sustaining. I have only one contact in Kenya who oversees all facets of these programs, and he does this over and above his own very demanding job.
None of this could have been accomplished without the emotional and financial help of our dedicated supporters. They have been there for me and this foundation since its inception, and they continue to support the yearly fundraisers, and encourage me to keep this foundation moving forward. Please know that your friendship and support with these programs are so very important to me and to every child receiving the opportunity of achieving a future with hope and a sense of self-worth.