Toward the end of our weekly education staff meeting, a woman walked into the classroom, introduced herself and said that she wanted to tell us something. She was a little nervous about speaking to the group, but sure of what she had to say. Her feet were firmly planted, arms were tight at her sides and she held her head high.
Her daughter had received a scholarship for senior high school from GHEI about four years ago. She recently graduated, and now her mother was here to show her gratitude.
After her statement, the woman relaxed. She was proud of her daughter, and excited to be in the room with all of us. Warmth radiated from her face as she personally thanked each one of us and shook our hands.
In this woman’s eyes we were miracle workers. We were actually just the education staff and volunteer teachers finishing up a sometimes boring meeting. GHEI is proud to organize our SHS Scholarship Program, but the thanks ought to go to our donors who fund 100% of it. And the woman’s daughter should be congratulated. She worked hard, studied every day and graduated. We just put our trust in her.
As a whole, our scholarship recipients are enormously successful. The program boasts a 98% retention rate and several former scholarship recipients have continued their studies at the tertiary level. There are currently 13 students participating in the program and in total 72 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students in the Humjibre area since the program’s inception in 2005. While GHEI works to help as many students as we can, each year there are many more who unfortunately do not go on to senior high school due to a lack of available funds.
The woman’s statement illustrated the powerful effect that these scholarships and GHEI’s work can have. It’s amazing thinking about what unknown impact that extra push may have on our students, their families and the community as a whole.
The Soroano chief last week talked about how he dreamed his children could be more educated than he was. For this woman, those dreams had come true.
Her daughter had received a scholarship for senior high school from GHEI about four years ago. She recently graduated, and now her mother was here to show her gratitude.
After her statement, the woman relaxed. She was proud of her daughter, and excited to be in the room with all of us. Warmth radiated from her face as she personally thanked each one of us and shook our hands.
In this woman’s eyes we were miracle workers. We were actually just the education staff and volunteer teachers finishing up a sometimes boring meeting. GHEI is proud to organize our SHS Scholarship Program, but the thanks ought to go to our donors who fund 100% of it. And the woman’s daughter should be congratulated. She worked hard, studied every day and graduated. We just put our trust in her.
As a whole, our scholarship recipients are enormously successful. The program boasts a 98% retention rate and several former scholarship recipients have continued their studies at the tertiary level. There are currently 13 students participating in the program and in total 72 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students in the Humjibre area since the program’s inception in 2005. While GHEI works to help as many students as we can, each year there are many more who unfortunately do not go on to senior high school due to a lack of available funds.
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| Mother (front right) with the full GHEI Education Staff |
The woman’s statement illustrated the powerful effect that these scholarships and GHEI’s work can have. It’s amazing thinking about what unknown impact that extra push may have on our students, their families and the community as a whole.
The Soroano chief last week talked about how he dreamed his children could be more educated than he was. For this woman, those dreams had come true.
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