Dago, Kenya Scholarship Fund helps the most needy

“I want to be a lawyer so I can help everyone know their rights.” Vincent Okech – Koderobara Secondary School

“I want to be a TV journalist.” Vivian Otina – St. Mary Gorretty Dede Girls Secondary School

“I thank people for what they have done for me and I promise to work hard and will encourage all students back in my village to also work hard.” Roy Omondi – Agoro Sare High School

This summer the seven high school students, sponsored by the Bernard and Elsie Weiss Dago, Kenya Scholarship Fund, supported by people throughout the Chicago area and around the country, were visited at their respective high schools.

In Kenya, less than 30% of the children even get a chance to go to high school because all high school costs must be paid by either the family or via a scholarship, and the vast majority of families in Kenya do not have the money to pay.

Without a high school education a child is almost certainly set to have a life of dirt poverty, living in mud huts, not sure where their next meal is coming from and clothes that are generally hand me downs from charities. The average family income in Dago, Kenya is less than $500 per year.

The fund was founded and is run by Brett Weiss of Naperville (who is a teacher at Bartlett High School) and here is the link to the web site for this fund. http://brettteach.wikispaces.com/Dago+Scholarship+Fund

The top parts of the page are pictures of each of the seven students and then just below that are links to a brief two to three minute video interview of each child that was done this summer. As you will see these students are incredibly appreciative of the opportunity they have been given and have big plans to do great things with this opportunity and then to support others who need help.

If someone would like to donate to the Dago, Kenya Scholarship fund named after Bernard and Elsie Weiss, please go to http://www.villagevolunteers.org/donate/. Future donations will allow the fund to sponsor additional children. Choose to donate on-line and on the dropdown menu choose "Weiss Scholarship Fund". You can pay via credit card or PayPal. This will go directly to the scholarship account. If someone wants to donate to the Dago Scholarship Fund by check, you can mail a check to "Village Volunteers" (5100 South Dawson Street, Suite 202, Seattle, WA 98118 USA). Write "Weiss Scholarship Fund" on the memo line. If you want to know more about this fund, please go to: http://brettteach.wikispaces.com/Dago+Scholarship+Fund All donations are tax deductible.