I am James Mwaniki Macharia, a first-year student at the Multimedia University of Kenya studying for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology.
Life was hard when I was growing up in Babadogo, Nairobi, in a densely populated, poorly constructed neighborhood. After my father’s death when I was in Form Two at Njumbi High School, our sole breadwinner became my mother, who worked as a tailor at Gikomba market. My brother left technical school to work and I feared that I would do the same.
But then the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) came into play, sponsoring my high school fees from Form Two to Form Four. This enabled me to focus, acing the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and gaining a university admission.
NCCK support instilled confidence in me, showing that God is a provider. I know I am becoming a computer technology master dreaming of innovating and addressing real problems in the world. I’m extremely grateful and pray that NCCK continues to support me even beyond high school. The new sponsorship arrangement now costs nearly 100,000 shillings annually, which my mother cannot pay.
Their belief in me gives my dream of becoming a tech expert and inspiring others meaning. With their continued support, I can utilize technology to transform lives, showing that faith and opportunity can overcome any challenge.
