Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Close to Mount Elgon, there’s a little village where Shanel, a 16-year-old boy, lives with his mother.
Until recently, Shanel’s mother was an informal vegetable vender, but she felt sick and now she’s unable to attend her business and take care of Shanel. Since her husband abandoned the family back in 2012, she was the sole breadwinner of the family. Now, Shanel must take the reins of the family: “We have tried asking our mother where our father went to, but she cannot tell. I don’t know whether my parents had a fight or not. I heard some people in our village saying my father went to Uganda and that he is a drunkard,” said an emotional Shanel.
When Shanel was a little boy, his elder brother, a police officer, used to help his mother and siblings and pay for their school fees until he got married. On the other hand, Shanel’s little brother was the first in the house to drop school, forced by the lack of money.
Although public schools in Kenya are free of charge, the lack of funding in many schools means a shortage of qualified teachers and limited resources, particularly in rural or impoverished areas so families must pay school fees. In Shanel’s situation, school fees arrears skyrocketed to almost Ksh 50,000 (400 euros), a figure he couldn’t pay.
“I was sent home for school fees when I went to school today. I didn’t go home because I know this will stress my sick mother,” said Shanel. “One of my teachers usually talks to the school bursary administrator to allow me staying in school, but today he was not listened. Shanel’s mother tried getting other bursaries, but she failed. The stress on the family was unbearable.
Young Shanel found himself out of school, taking care of his sick mother and neglected by his father and elder brother. He tried to take his own life.
Through Save the Children’s life skills program, Shanel was taken through private counseling sessions. He explains how he learnt how to manage his emotions: “The guidance and counselling sessions have really helped me. I’ve learnt about anger management. I have no more suicidal thoughts; I don’t let out my anger on people and my life has now changed for the better.”
Shanel got back to school, and his grades slowly improved. Shanel is hopeful that one day, he will manage to finish his education successfully, get a job and help his mother and siblings. “I would like to buy my mother land and settle her someday,” said an enthusiastic Shanel.
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