Karina and her grandmother invited me in to their small, but homely and welcoming home.
Karina tells me that she has two older brothers, one aunt, mother and grandmother staying in the house with her. The father is no longer a part of their life, the only income of the household is therefore made by her mother and aunt who sell at the closest marked.
It has been almost five years since Karina’s guidance teacher informed her and other girls about the sponsorship program by Response Network. By grade nine, Karina and a group of other vulnerable girls received sponsorship. Karina is now in her 12th and final year at St. Mary’s high school. Karina’s biggest dream would be to study medicine abroad, Sweden would be the first option as she has heard a lot about Sweden from the Academic Work visits which happen twice a year.
Her marks are excellent and she hopes she can find a sponsor for college. If there is no sponsorship helping her next year she is planning to continue staying at home while looking for a job where she can earn some money, and perhaps enough so that she can one day go to college.
Karina is very thankful for the sponsorship she is currently receiving and says “Thank you for offering the basic needs of a girl child. I promise to keep working hard so that others can benefit, I work hard to be an example to others. The sponsorship arrangement is the greatest as we have great relationships among each other and us Kubala girls get to be together as sisters”
