The Sponsored Children – After SPM…

When we first started our Education Sponsorship for Children programme back in 2008, our main objective was to make sure the children of our HIV infected/affected families are not deprived of basic education at least, no matter what their parents have to go through. So the sponsorship was to help them get through schooling up to form 5 at least or form 6 at most. Since we depend on the public to support us in this cause, we figured getting these children go through school was fair enough.

From  children sponsored in 2008, now the number has increased to 33. And last year, for the first time, we had 5 of our sponsored children who sat for their SPM.

So where are these 5 children headed to after their SPM? Do they continue their studies or do they start working life at a young age, based only on their SPM?

One has gone to report to a matriculation college last week.

Two has decided to continue with form 6.

One is arranging to apply for a place at a polytechnic (she missed the earlier deadline for application via UPU but went to the polytechnic personally and was told she could still apply directly through the polytechnic website).

The last one got a place to do a skill training course for 2 years. Once he completes the course, he can use the cert to further his skill training programme at a higher level.

So… YAYYYY!! All of them are not stopping at SPM. Given the fact they come from poor families, that in itself is an achievement, especially when one of them had already mentioned earlier that he planned to start working immediately after SPM to help ease his family’s burden.

I had always reminded them about the importance of education for their future, or at least get a skill cert based on their field of interest, so that they will have something more than just SPM to support their job applications later on.

I am so glad they took the advise. Good luck kids! May the future be brighter for your families…