Celebrate donors for aiding poor learners
By Editorial.Team, February 16, 2023A large number of bright but needy learners admitted to various schools were at risk of missing out on the life-changing opportunity due to lack of fees. A combination of biting poverty, loss of parents, marriage break-ups, high cost of living, unemployment and partly negligence by guardians threatened to defer the dreams of the youngsters.
However, the charitable spirit of Kenyans came to their rescue, with businesspeople and other well-wishers contributing school fees to bail out the deserving cases.
Out of these acts of kindness, the yousters have an opportunity to acquire skills that will empower them to be useful members of society in future. This will put the children in a position to influence and transform the communities in which they are growing up, alleviate the pain of their families and become leaders in different spheres of life.
Chidlren — and young people — are the future of any nation, and, as such ought to be guided in the pursuit of their dreams for their own benefit and for the benefit of their communities.
The willingness of citizens of good will to step up and support charitable causes, such as putting poor children in school and giving them a hope for the future, is hardly celebrated. We want to do that now, and appreciate all the individuals, companies, charities, religious organisations and NGOs that put poor learners in school, thus, helping to secure their future.
The contribution of the non-profit sector is mostly non-quantified but its transformational ability cannot be underestimated.
The general expectation by many societies is to assign the government the responsibility of educating its citizens. But in a situation where a government is struggling with fiscal demands that far outstrip the revenue it generates, it is the duty of every Kenyan of good will to reach out to those in need and help in whatever little way they can. That is the spirit that should guide philanthropy at all levels. Donations, though criticiticised for the dependence they create, help to restore human dignity and nurture futures.
It is, however, unfortunate that charitable activities and volunteerism are perceived as the preserve of a specific cadre of citizens or community groups rather than an invitation to every citizen to help in whatever way they can.