Every parent’s prayer is to see their children grow in health, study, and succeed in education in confidence that knowledge is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
It reflects a love and a desire for the best possible future for their children, built on values of well-being, education, and achievement.
They often see education as the key to unlocking future opportunities and helping their children become independent and capable adults. Parents often go to great lengths to provide the resources, guidance, and love needed to help their children achieve these dreams.
Amina Hassan is an example of this parenthood, having to strive hard to see her daughter, Yasmin, through school while at the same time taking care of her ill husband and other children.
Yasmin Dubat Farah, an 18-year-old from Garissa County, is one of the top-performing students in the recently announced 2024 KCSE results in the Northeastern region.
Yasmin, with her background in mind and the need to change her situation at home, says she has been studying hard over the years, having scored 346 marks in her KCPE and later an impressive A- grade, missing an outright A by only a few points.
The firstborn in a family of four children narrates her academic journey as one of resilience and determination, recounting the financial hardships her family has faced to make sure she receives an education.
“First and foremost, I thank Allah for this success. Secondly, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my family and teachers, who have been my pillars of support throughout this journey. Without their belief in me, I couldn’t have achieved this milestone,” Yasmin says.
“Both my parents struggle to make ends meet. While high school was a great experience, it came with significant challenges. I could only stay in class because of the understanding and kindness of my teachers. My mother worked tirelessly late into the night to gather enough money for my school fees,” she added.
Despite the odds, Yasmin’s ambition remains strong. She now dreams of pursuing a Bachelor of Surgery degree at the University of Nairobi and is calling upon well-wishers to support her in realising this goal.
Her mother, Amina, while describing her as disciplined and hard-working, says the journey so far has not been easy, and they have been forced to seek help from relatives and friends to see her daughter through school.
“I thank God for my daughter’s success. She is disciplined and hardworking. I remember when they broke for holidays, she used to help me with housework while simultaneously reading and helping her younger siblings with their revisions,” Amina says.
“Unfortunately, her father has been sick throughout, and I was the only one tasked with seeking help from family and friends. That is how I managed to send her to school. Yasmin always promised me that she would one day make me proud, and indeed, I am a proud mother today.” She added.
By Erick Kyalo
