Dorcas Cheplan is 12 years old and currently in Grade 6. The woman standing beside her in the photographs is her mother, and the small hut behind them is the main family home where they live. The family faces extreme poverty, and daily life is a constant challenge.
Dorcas’s father has passed away, leaving her mother to care for nine children. Dorcas’s mother experienced significant hardship from a very young age, including harmful traditional practices and early marriage, which have had a lasting impact on her life and opportunities. She is now 38 years old and has spent much of her life focused on survival and caring for her children under difficult circumstances.
After the death of her first husband, Dorcas’s mother was left responsible for five children. She later had four more children, all born close together. As a result of financial hardship, many of Dorcas’s older siblings were unable to continue their education and now live away from home, working in other households to support themselves.
Dorcas remains in school and is determined to continue her education. She is currently preparing to transition to secondary school and is expected to join St Cecilia Secondary School in January 2024. This step represents a critical opportunity for her future.
Education offers Dorcas stability, protection, and the chance to build a different life from the one her family has known. With the right support, she can remain in school, develop her potential, and grow up with greater choice and security.
Supporting Dorcas means supporting education, dignity, and hope — and helping to create long-term change for her and her family.
