For many of the women living in Kaliyeka Township, and some of the men, education was a luxury they could never afford. The women who did attend primary school were often forced to drop out at a very young age. Perhaps they couldn’t afford the required school uniform, pen, and copybook or had to care for younger siblings, help in the fields, or tend to sick parents. Young boys might be sent to work in mud pits making bricks or selling peanuts in small plastic bags at the side of the road. Some finished primary school without ever learning to read. When you are learning outside under a tree, with 120 students to one teacher and no textbooks, it’s easy to get lost. And when secondary education is out of the question, it is easy to lose hope.
But at Ancient Path, these men and women find hope and gain the education they dreamed of. It’s not an easy road. Most are single parents and guardians with many responsibilities. While friends and family members may scoff at them, telling them to stop wasting their time, these brave students are determined. They come to Ancient Path five days a week and study hard. Many have already passed their MSCE exams and now have a high school diploma.
For these men and women, learning brings hope. They can hold their heads high and dare to dream again.