The Kenyan government provides teachers for the public schools but children are charged monthly fees to cover all of the other costs of their education. Each public school also has its own uniform that the students are required to wear. For grades 1-8 students attend their local public school. When students reach grades 9-12, many attend boarding school as most Kenyans view this as the best form of high school education despite its higher cost. With the continually increasing number of children at Shangilia it is an ongoing struggle to pay the school fees and purchase the uniforms and supplies required by each child.
Shangilia children graduating from high school face special challenges because they don’t have family to live with or to help pay fees while they attend university or train for a career. There are also certain gaps in their life skills from growing up in a children’s home rather than a family setting. While all of the Shangilia children are considered to be family and can stay on and help the staff after completing grade 12, the best scenario is for them to start down the path to independence. Currently Kefa & Francis try to find donors to pay for the university or career education of their high school graduates on a case-by-case basis. However, Shangilia’s leaders are working to develop a program that will help all their graduates pursue education for a career while learning the skills needed to live independently and manage their own finances.
