Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Viola was raised in Nairobi’s largest slum, Kibera. Life for Viola was hard. She has 2 parents and is the oldest of five children. Her father is a part-time pastor. Through church connections Viola’s parents found her sponsorship to go to high school in Nairobi. Yes, high school requires fees in Kenya, even though they are government schools. She did well on her university entrance exams but due to having anemia, she missed out on her placement in a public university – which costs less than Daystar. By the time she was able and ready for university, the government told her there were no more placements for public university, but she could go to Daystar.

Are you familiar with the concept of “Harambee”? This is a Swahili term that has morphed in meaning over time. It is a concept of working together to achieve something bigger than a single person can achieve. If you ask for a translation you’ll get the word synergy or harmony. Current meanings in Kenya have more to do with fund-raising or helping others through finances. Often when a family has a large expense like a hospital bill to pay or trying to get their firstborn into university, they hold a fundraiser or harambee to gather the needed funds.

A fundraiser or harambee in Kibera might help with the initial fees or first term, but it is not a sustainable way to put a person through their higher education. This is Viola’s story. A bright young lady with bouts of anemia only raised enough support to get started at university. When students like Viola attend the orientation for Daystar, they look at the fee structure and are tempted to give up before they start. Viola started.

She was proficient in most all of the areas of education, she loved languages, geography, and biology, but struggled a bit with math. Never the less, she set her mind to do all that was before her. Through Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF) she met another scholarship student. She told him, I want to be just like you.” This student told her that he too was from a humble background. “You must learn to encourage yourself!” She was emboldened to trust in God’s word and tackle things that seemed challenging. So last year when she was faced with a math class and caught herself thinking, "I’ve never been good at math," she decided to turn herself around. “I’ve changed, I’m no longer shy about presenting in class, and I can decide to take a positive attitude about math.” With that she was able to face the challenges before her and came out on the Dean’s List!

Proverbs 16:3 talks about committing all you do to the Lord because he will establish your plans. “I relate to this verse because choosing Daystar and pursuing my education has been an act of committing my plans to God. It reassures me that when I place my studies and future in His hands, He guides and establishes my steps.”

Viola came to Daystar from her tiny worldview, thinking it was not the place for her. She thought, “This is the place for rich kids, this is a place where someone like me would not be accepted.” She wasn’t wealthy, or outgoing, or beautiful. But she arrived and kept being surprised by what she found! She found community and encouragement. Because Viola was able to get on a scholarship through Daystar U.S. she is thriving as she’s widens her worldview and pursues a degree in social work. She intends to use her degree to help others in the same kind of difficult circumstances that she overcame.