A Father’s Hopes for his Daughter

Most of our sponsored students report for their first day of high school unaccompanied by their parents or guardians. They come scared, alone, and with no clue what to do. KDEF staff often have to guide them and ensure they are well settled in their new schools. A familiar face in the midst of the novelty and uncertainty always helps to calm them down.

So, it was a sigh of relief when we met Baba Catherine Letipo and a host of other parents and guardians at Bishop Cavallera Girls Secondary school earlier this year. It was a great indication that, increasingly, many fathers, mothers, aunties and uncles are getting involved in their children’s education. It is not common that parents, especially elders, in pastoralist communities are committed to their daughter’s education. But Mzee Letipo decided long ago that would not be the case with Catherine.Having married off many of his daughters when they were young, he chose to keep Catherine in school to see what this education is all about. He was determined to see her through it all. It helped that his daughter is a bright student.

Then last year, tragedy struck Mzee Letipo’s home: a deadly banditry attack happened in his village. He lost a son and all his cattle and camels. It was devastating. Knowing how expensive a high school education in Kenya is, Mzee Letipo didn’t know how he could cover his daughter’s school fees. Catherine’s teachers advised her to write her story down and apply for a scholarship through KDEF, and thanks to our partners, we are able to keep her in school.

When Catherine is all grown and on her own in the world, her dad hopes she remembers his willingness to invest in her education. And even when he is no longer able to pay for her school fees, he wants her to remember his emotional investment in her success – the time he spent with her, the ideas and lessons he shared. He wants her to remember seeing him at his strongest and his weakest and hopes he inspired confidence in her. He wants her to make use of the opportunity’s life affords her. He wants his daughter to know that he believed in her. 

We at KDEF celebrate all the wonderful fathers, father figures, and male mentors who have touched the lives of our students; be it your own kids or other’s, your relatives, children you’ve mentored, or those you’ve watched grow up. Thank you for all that you do. We appreciate your existence and the oftentimes silent but impactful role you have played in their lives.

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: He believed in me’”– Jim Valvano