Paul Okanga is 17 years old and is currently a student at Humwend Secondary School in Ukwala, Kenya. Before Paul entered High School, his parents threatened to cut him off financially as they would be unable to afford his education. Paul left behind his three sisters and his mother and he now lives with his friend’s grandmother. His favorite subjects in school are math and history and he is determined to get a career with them. After high school he would like to pursue a career in law to help the needy and advise people on environmental issues.

About the School

Humwend Secondary School is a community-run school situated in Ukwala. Here, 57 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, and 24 per cent lives with the highly stigmatized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Fifty students attend the school, 95 per cent of which are partial or complete orphans.

The cost of operating Humwend Secondary School for an entire year is approximately $21,000 USD. Unlike primary education in Kenya, the cost of tuition in secondary school is significantly higher and makes up the majority of school costs.