As a child, Ishmael was responsible for feeding his family.
Instead of learning alongside his peers, he spent his days looking for odd jobs to source food for his mother, brother, and other family members.
At night, he’d come home to a house with three walls and a leaky roof. He would lay a mat on the ground to sleep and, if it was raining, prepare for a long, sleepless night.
The next day, he would start all over again.
For many children, this is where their story—and dreams—end. They struggle to scrape by, stuck in a system with no escape.
When Ishmael learned about Oasis for Orphans, his trajectory in life radically changed.
Ishmael arrived at Oasis when he was 11 and quickly adjusted to his new environment. Before coming to Oasis, he couldn’t speak English or Swahili and now comfortably converses in both. He made friends and excelled under the mentorship of Mary, our Director of Education.
When he visits his family, they are shocked by how far he has come. He doesn’t know what his future holds, but he continues to study because, as he says, “God has better plans for me.”
Ishmael is a leader on our campus and a positive influence on all of the younger students who look up to him. We are so proud of the man he has become and look forward to what he will accomplish throughout his life!
P.S. Access to education opened the doors to Ishmael’s future.
But there are still so many students just like him who are currently on the streets with no hope. Would you make a gift today to fund scholarships for students like Ishmael?
Without an education, they will remain stuck in unimaginable poverty. With a scholarship to Oasis, they can access the holistic care and quality education they need to pursue a brighter future.
