As of this month, 4 more of our kik kids have completed their primary education.  The week ending November 11, 2011 four of the kids, Apoche, now 19 years old, Muriuki, now 16, Moses now 15, and Doreen 13 years old took their KCPE exams.  Doreen has been with us since we took her from the streets in 2003 along with her brother Muriuki.  Doreen had just turned 5 years old  2 days before we got her and Muriuki was just 7.

For those who do not know what education is like for much of the rest of the world outside the US, even the exercise of taking these exams would be an eye opener for most.   The children go for 4 days.  They must arrive by 7AM.  If they are a boy they must ensure that their heads are shaved, so that they can not be accused of hiding the answers to the exams in their hair.   Apoche  is a beautiful young lady, who even though she is just that, doesn't much like to dress like a girl.  And because of that she was asked to shave her head for two days before she informed those in authority that she was in fact -    a girl!   Also it should be interesting to those of you in the United States that there are policemen with AK-47's standing watch over all those taking the exam to ensure that no one cheats.      No matter what these children receive as marks on those exams, we feel it is quite something to overcome many of the obstacles to getting this far in their education, if for no other reason, the extreme conditions that they take those exams.  Upon receiving the marks in the last few days of Dec, then they will be informed if they have "qualified" to attend secondary school!    This is quite a contrast to the educational experience of Pat and I and probably most of you.    Think about it!