Family Background
Originally from South Sudan, Jack’s family fled the civil war and settled in Ethiopia eight years ago.
Initially they were able to live with Jack’s uncle, but family issues drove them apart. Around three years ago, the mother took Jack and his siblings and moved to a small settlement just outside Gambella.
Jack’s older sisters (16 and 17) are now both married and have children. Jack’s four younger brothers live with him and his mother.
He does not know where his father is or if he is even alive.
Living situation
Jack and his family now live in a mud hut, two long hours’ walk away from the town centre of Gambella where his school is located. They have two mats on the floor that they share between the six family members. There is no electricity in the area at all and the nearest well for water is around 30 minutes’ walk away. They fetch water with canisters twice per week. There is no toilet, so they have to go to the surrounding bush.
The only food they get is a maze porridge which the mother cooks for them every day for dinner. They cannot afford breakfast or lunch.
Jack’s clothes are clearly getting too small, but he says that his mother cannot afford to buy him anything. He does small jobs after school to be able to afford pens and exercise books for his schoolwork. The mother has no work or income at all.
Education and Ambition
We selected Jack out of 60 applicants this year. Despite having to walk for hours to school each day, and the fact that he is hungry most of the time, he remains upbeat and keen to continue his education. None of his family members in the past were able to read or write and he thinks that already now he has come very far compared to them. He hopes that by going to school, he can convince one of his younger brothers to go to school too.
Currently in grade 7, with a score of 87.5% he ranks second in a class of 98 (!!) students. He shares a tiny bench with two other students, his best friends. His dream is to become an engineer and “build things”.
Our Plan for Jack
Jack will join the EEF programme in summer 2020. In order for him to be able to fulfil his potential, we must find him a place to live nearer to the school (to be shared with one or two other eef students). This place will have small desk space and electricity so that they can study together, as well as mattresses to sleep on and some other basic items.
We will also provide him with
- three meals per day: An egg, banana and bread (for breakfast), a traditional vegetable dish and occasionally meat (lunch) as well as their custom maze stew (dinner) which they will cook themselves.
- Some new clothes each year
- Study materials throughout his time at school.
Our support will be for grades 8 – 12.
After grade 8 (last year of primary school) there will be a review, based on his grades, to see if he will go to high school in Gambella, or if he will join our programme in Addis Ababa.
After grade 12 (last year of high school) he will go to university (our programme track record for university entrance is 100%) and we will continue to support him with a monthly allowance.
Sponsorship for Jack is only £400 per year. Please support him if you can!
I WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR JACK !!
During your sponsorship we will send you
- His two report cards per year (March and July)
- Two short letters written by him each year (March and July)
- 1-2 short reports on his progress each year (March and July)
- 2-3 general EEF newsletters each year
- Lots of regular updates about our overall programme on our website and on Facebook.