Sheryl

Sheryl and her grandmother.

Six-year-old Sheryl watches children her age walk to school every morning, tears filling her eyes. She dreams of sitting in a classroom, holding a book, and raising her hand to answer a question. But for the past year, that dream has been out of reach.

In 2024, Sheryl was forced to drop out of school after her sponsor lost his job. Her mother, struggling with mental illness and addiction, is lost in the streets, and her father is nowhere to be found. With no stable home, Sheryl now lives with a Good Samaritan, working as an unpaid house help—child labor in exchange for shelter.

Her grandmother, who sells illicit brew to survive, cannot afford to take her in. Sheryl’s only refuge is a small, worn-out shack that doubles as a bar during the day—an unsafe and unstable environment for a young child.

Sheryl’s story is not unique. In Kenya, 39.5% of children live in poverty, with many unable to access education. In Mombasa, where 44% of the population lives on less than £1.50 a day, thousands of children are forced into labor, begging, or petty crime just to survive. Only 53% of children enroll in secondary school, leaving many without the skills needed to break the cycle of poverty.

A New Beginning for Sheryl

But change is possible.

KenAid Children’s Fund is working tirelessly to bring Sheryl back to school and provide her with a stable home. We support her grandmother in shifting from selling illicit brew to running a small chapati and beans food stall—a sustainable business providing enough income to care for Sheryl and her brother, Daniel, a 5th grader at Blueview School.

We are also helping to improve their living conditions by providing better roofing for her grandmother’s stall and ensuring Sheryl’s return to the classroom.

Before & After: The Power of Your Support

Your support has already changed lives.

Take the story of Daniel, Sheryl’s older brother. Before KenAid stepped in, Daniel struggled to remain in school, facing instability and the same uncertain future as his sister.

Today, he thrives in 5th grade at Blueview School, where he has a safe place to learn and grow.

With your help, we can do the same for Sheryl.

How You Can Help

With your donation, you can help

• Fund Sheryl’s school fees, uniform, and supplies.

• Help her grandmother establish a stable, legal business.

• Provide safe shelter and living conditions for Sheryl and her brother

Be the reason Sheryl goes back to school. Donate today.