Willingness is the name of the key to the gate of awakening, for even to awaken from deep sleep and face the new day, there must be the willingness to do it. Here in my hand is the opportunity, and the way is clear beyond the gate of thought and desire.
--- Daily Recollection
Theresa recently sat down with two of the girls in the program, Natasha and Memory, to record their stories.
Natasha used to go to school when she was younger, but then her father passed away and her mother started drinking. When Natasha would go by the Living Compassion property, Theresa would tell her she needed to go to school, but, Natasha said, “…by then I hated school. I was always thinking that it was a waste of time.
Eventually, it spread around the community that the Living Compassion program was opening up enrollment for more children to join. Upon hearing this, Natasha dragged her mother to the property to sign her up, and Natasha joined Charles’ class at the property.
"I was in his class for three years and then my sister managed to raise some money and I was taken to Twatemwa school in grade six,” Natasha said. “I sat for my grade seven exams and made it to grade eight at Divine School. I love going to school and enjoy every minute of it. I thank you so much for bringing the Girls Program which is now paying for my school fees. This has lifted a burden off me and my family’s shoulder.”
Memory’s mother died in childbirth. “I was born in the village – if it was a hospital my mother could have survived. I never knew my mother and in our village no one even had a photo of her.” Memory went to live with her grandmother, who was a caretaker at Living Compassion. “I started school very late because my grandmother was always considering me a baby. It was the Living Compassion team that convinced her I needed to go to grade one at Twatemwa school and at last she gave in when I was nine years old. I was a very bright student when I went to Twatemwa. I always came out number one. I am still the best student even at Twabo Private school where I am right now.”
In gratitude for the willingness of these young women, their families, and the community that supports them.
Gassho,
Sreedevi