Rising From Adversity: Jared Vincent's Journey of Resilience, Education, and Hope

The beauty of our scholars’ stories is that they all speak to resilience and commitment; that our backgrounds do not have to define our future. At EFAC, we want to be part of this light, making sure that the lives of well-deserving children are changed and that they can all believe in the power of their dreams. Below is Jared Vincent’s story, where he came from and where he’s going:

I am Jared Vincent. Having stayed with my maternal grandmother until I was joining class three, I finally moved in with my dad in Nairobi after my mum’s death. I was enrolled in school but had to repeat a year to improve my English and Swahili. In my village school, most classes and all casual conversation had been in the local vernacular, Dholuo. However, I caught up quickly and became among the strongest students in my class.

My dad became ill in 2015 and passed away. My primary school director became my unofficial guardian. He gave us rudimentary room and board and some hand-me-down clothes, but that was all I needed—basic sustenance and a chance to continue my education. I sat for my KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) examinations in 2017. I earned the highest score in my school’s history. With the help of my unofficial guardian, I applied for a scholarship from Education for All Children. Fortunately, EFAC found me highly deserving and awarded me a full scholarship for four years. 

As a result of my KCPE scores, I was admitted to Kanga High School, one of Kenya’s top national schools. My transition was challenging but thanks to the EFAC administration I overcame it successfully. The scholarship involved more than just school fees. EFAC complements its scholarships with personal and professional support for all its scholars throughout the year and during school breaks. This has really helped me in going about my high school.  

As I progressed through high school, I grew more and more hopeful that I could build a better future for my siblings and myself. I even dreamt of becoming a shining example of what an orphaned slum boy could accomplish. By the end of high school, I was closer to achieving my dreams. In Kenya’s national secondary school exams (KCSE), I scored 84 out of 84 possible points, being the best in my County - Migori County. As a result, I got a call from Equity Bank to Intern at their Nairobi-Kayole branch before joining college. 

At Equity Bank, I initially worked as an Account Opening Officer, and later as a teller. I was also integrated into the Equity Leaders Program (ELP) and Equity College Counselling (ECC) program where I, together with other scholars, worked on college applications. We were introduced to the common app and the whole cumbersome college application process. Through EFAC, I also managed to get into KenSAP - a college access program through which I attended a campus program for 16 weeks. We worked on college applications and leadership development programs, completed liberal arts seminars in various subjects, and participated in the rigorous Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) training.

Some more good news; through all this, I finally got admission to Brandeis University in December 2022 where I look forward to majoring in Computer Science and Biology.

I have always considered my EFAC scholarship as the best gift I have ever received. Besides the financial assistance, EFAC has given me opportunities for personal and professional development. I have made some of the best friends in my life and developed numerous skills. The mentorship programs and internship have helped me gain valuable experience. Through the programs, I learned about such matters as emotional intelligence and professional development, which helped me rise above the challenges I faced in high school and build self-confidence and leadership capabilities.

The impulse to outdo my current self always motivates me to get up. Every morning I look forward to learning at least one or two new concepts and developing new skills. One of my greatest desires is to help the community and this helps me to work harder to pay it forward. As I take up my new journey, I just want to make everyone proud. I would like to see a turnaround in the state of my family and give it a name. I want to see all my brothers being stable in every aspect: financially, emotionally, and mentally. Being a part of the larger EFAC Family, I also want to be an inspiration to those coming into the program and assure every child that their dreams are worth living for.