A Student, A Sponsor, A Story of Love & Hope: Part One
Written by James Malimo Sahado
With KDEF, my future is bright. The day I learned that I received a KDEF scholarship, I was completely elated. KDEF paid for all my school fees, and I am very grateful for that because I could not have afforded the education fees were it not for the godsent help from KDEF. Because of my sponsors and KDEF, I was lucky enough to never encounter stress and hardship associated with trying to pay for school. This allowed me to dedicate all my time, energy and efforts to reading and concentrating on my schoolwork.
I am also a beneficiary of the KDEF Mentorship Program, which has motivated and inspired me to work very hard in my studies. The program has illuminated a clear path to my chosen career. I already understand the career I aspire to, and I am able to pursue it thanks to the KDEF Mentorship Program.
Last year I was very lucky to have met my sponsor. We got to know each other better, and I can proudly and happily say that I have a wonderful, loving family abroad in the United States of America. Ellen is a wonderful and caring mother to me and my family. I always pray for her family. My parents and my siblings, who are very supportive of my education, are also very happy to have met my sponsor. They speak well of my American family.
To me, KDEF was like the answer of God to the cry of the needy. KDEF mentored me through their Mentorship Program and helped me through every step of high school. They did school shopping for me, they bought me a school uniform, shoes, and recently a smartphone that greatly helped me complete my online studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the problems caused by the pandemic, I could do my studies and revisions online using the smartphone.
I am aspiring to study for medicine and surgery at a prestigious university in America, where I can gain a lot of skills and knowledge relevant in the field. I want to become a good surgeon and then come back to serve my society better. Through education, I will achieve my goal of becoming a surgeon. I will then use the skills I gain to help my community and improve the lives of the people in it, whether it be through medical care or through other ways. After I finish school and get a job, I plan to sponsor poor kids who do not have the money for school because I know what it is like to be raised in poverty. My education has meant so much to me that I would also like to curb illiteracy and promote reading by building a public library in my hometown. Similarly, I want to build classrooms and eventually a clinic where people can get medical services at an affordable price.
Because I have received a secondary scholarship, I have a chance at a better life and a better future. Thanks to KDEF, my academic journey is progressing smoothly on a positive trajectory, and I have hopes of a bright future ahead.