When Laurent’s father passed away, Maasai tradition left his family with nothing. Determined to study, he and his sister secretly sold their only chicken to buy school supplies. Starting school at age 8, he quickly rose to the top of his class.
In 2020, Laurent joined Kijana Kwanza with sponsorship to begin secondary school. For the first time, he had food, safety, and mentorship. His English flourished, and he gained confidence speaking at school events and welcoming international visitors. Elected Head Boy, he supported younger students and discovered his gift for leadership.
One of the toughest moments of Laurent’s life came when his best friend and roommate at Kijana Kwanza, Raymond, died in a tragic car accident. Inspired by Raymond’s love of mathematics, Laurent resolved to pursue the subject in his memory.
Today, he is studying A Levels in Maths, Chemistry, and Physics, with dreams of becoming an engineer.
“If it weren’t for Kijana Kwanza,” Laurent says, “I might still be looking after cows. But now I have skills, confidence, and a future.”
