From Early Mornings to a Love of Learning
Born on 17 May 2018, Innocent is eight years old and in Grade Two. He is the first-born of three children, with younger siblings Alpha and Loveness. His parents, Gloria Elineema Mbise and her husband, are both farmers. Through UBORA Foundation’s sponsorship programme, Innocent is able to learn, grow and dream at school.
Innocent loves learning and loves school. He stands out for being able to read in both Kiswahili and English from an early age, and he has grown well spiritually and physically. At church, he steps forward and shares what he learns at school with others, without fear. At home, he knows how to look after his younger sister and takes on his share of the family’s daily work.
A School Day Full of Small Joys
Innocent’s favourite subject is Mathematics because he wants to go to a STEM school one day. His favourite day of the week is Friday, when it is sport day and he can play football. His best friend is Ethan Andrew, who helps him with his reading, and his favourite teacher is Teacher Eva, because she teaches the class how to read.
He also loves the Christmas party, with its new clothes, good food and rice. When he is given cake, chapati or rice, his happiness is easy to see.
A Dream of Building Homes
Innocent dreams of becoming a house engineer. When he succeeds, he says, he will buy sofas for his mother – a simple, loving dream that shows the caring heart he is growing into.
A Day in Innocent’s Life
Innocent wakes up early, gets dressed and has breakfast – tea with pilau and ugali – before setting off for school on foot. After school, he washes the dishes and helps to herd the family’s two cows. He does his homework in the evening, in the bedroom, because the little one at home tends to scribble in his notebooks if he works anywhere else.
Determined, Even When Life Is Difficult
Getting to school is not always easy. Innocent walks to school every morning, and once heavy rain kept him from coming. When he is unwell, his routine is disrupted. Even so, his love for learning keeps bringing him back.
A Family That Works Together
Everyone at home plays a part. His mother washes clothes, cooks, cleans and prays for the children. His father brings home rice and soda, sometimes cooks, and prays for them too. Alpha plays with the little one and helps to feed the child, and Innocent dearly loves his sister Loveness.
A Parent’s Hope
Gloria is thankful and happy that her son studies at UBORA, and she hopes her other children will one day study there too. She and her husband pray that Innocent will grow up and fulfil his dreams, and they would be glad to see all their children complete their studies.
