Ndambuki's next goal? College graduate

I am Wilson Ndambuki, the second of three sons. I grew up in Mombasa County, Kenya in East Africa. When I was three years old my life turned upside down. My parents broke up. My father left us, and my mother struggled to feed and educate us three kids. Out of necessity, she sent us to live with our grandparents in a rural village called Makambani. 

Life was hard. My grandparents depended on farming for food and income, but the harvest didn’t meet all the family needs. I started attending a school that was far from my grandparents' place. Walking long hours barefooted in the hot sun became my routine. 

I remember one time when I was forced to stay out of school for a whole week due to a fifty shilling exam fee. That’s about 50¢ in the United States. Since I missed the exam during my absence, I had to repeat the same grade the following year. Circumstances went from bad to worse, and my mother came to take us back to Mombasa when I was seven years old.

Life in Mombasa introduced me to what it really means to be from a single parent family. My mother was our everything. We lived together, three boys and our mother, in one rented room. My big brother and I started to attend school at Likoni Primary. Even though my brother scored good marks, he was forced to stay a whole term out of school before joining secondary school due to lack of school fees. I became anxious knowing that his present struggles would be my future. 

Wilson sharing his vision of sustainability for the Royal Kids School library.

I dedicated myself even more to my studies, reading and studying extra hard. Luckily, I passed my primary examinations, receiving the highest mark of any of my family members. This news caught my uncle's attention. He was working at Mikindani Royal Comprehensive School, and he recommended me for a sponsorship, which enabled me to attend secondary school.

During high school is when I met up with God, who worked wonders in my life. Once a non-believer, He rose me up as the christian union’s chairperson. Once a library assistant, He gave me the opportunity to become a library leader. Once a passive student, He enabled me to become the school president. He didn't stop working wonders in my life. He helped me excel in my secondary examinations and become the top student in the 2021 academic year. He opened the door for me to attend a university. I know God will never stop doing wonders, for as my God lives, I believe that my tomorrow shall be greater than today.

Assisting a team from e3kids international to deliver food packages to families.

I plan to attend Kibabii University in Kisumu, which is far away from my family and home. I was placed in a Bachelor’s of Commerce program, but I am hoping to switch to computer science, which is my passion. Though my family is very proud of my accomplishments, they are discouraging me from pursuing higher education due to a lack of funds. I have faith that God will provide for my needs, and I am grateful that e3kids international accepted me as a sponsored student for my university studies.

When I arrive at school, I plan to join one of the Christian Union groups to be able to fellowship, grow my faith and serve others. I believe that my leadership experience will help me mentor and motivate other young people, who may be in similar circumstances to me. The Lord has a plan and purpose for my life, and I look forward to seeing His will worked out in my life as I step into this next chapter.