Purity’s journey from a young orphan living in a challenging environment to a successful receptionist in Dubai is a powerful testimony of hope, focus, and resilience. As an organization that encounters many young people from underprivileged backgrounds, Purity’s story stands out as a faith powerhouse that embodies the true spirit of perseverance.
Born and raised in an informal settlement called Gataka in Rongai, Kenya, Purity never got a chance to meet her parents, for she was orphaned when very young. “I may not describe anything pleasing about my early life as my peers do,” said the 23-year-old Purity.
At just seventeen and in high school, she got pregnant, and the baby’s dad could not take care of them. Trouble had hit home. “Hell broke loose for me, and I had to choose my next step. I quit school and started doing menial jobs to support my child as well as my aunt who I was then living with. I started working even before I could regain my health after giving birth,” Purity remembers with sadness.
Life had happened, and before she could rationally think of the next step, fate had mapped out her life like a movie scene and she ended up engaged to another young, orphaned man.
Their similarities had brought them together, but their dream of Romeo and Juliet moments died on the altar of newly added bills. “Life became unbearably difficult, and I had to go back to my guardian’s house as my then-partner could not sustain our primary needs. A 17-year-old would not have withstood marriage,” she chuckled.
Back at home, she learned about Crime Si Poa and the opportunities it offered youth from underprivileged backgrounds. She grabbed the opportunity as was enrolled in the very first cohort of the Digital Livelihoods class. She would attend classes in the morning and work in the afternoon to feed her son.
Even with this training, she still had an unquenchable desire that she wanted actualized; “I dreamt of completing my high school education, but the situation at home was not favorable.” She recalls. Talk of the audacity of hope; Purity approached and explained her desire to the Digital Livelihood Officer Phanice Kimutai as well as County Program Officer Halima Guyo, and together, they managed to get her a sponsor.
Thwarted dreams
“We had planned to take her back to school after the ICT graduation, which she greatly wanted. I could see her resilience when interacting with others even outside of class. She was destined to be more than her present condition,” narrated Phanice Kimutai.
However, there was an issue: “At home, when I expressed my desire to go back to school, it was met with resistance, and I knew that I was all alone,” said Purity. She was offered two options: to either go to school with her kid, (an impossibility) or discard the thought and if she went ahead to actualize it, she would have to look for somewhere else to stay.
She was shuttered!
Rekindled hope
Amid the desperation, she heard of opportunities to travel for work in Dubai which she applied for. “The certificate I had gotten from Crime Si Poa after graduation came in handy and placed me ahead of other interviewees. I passed the interview, and I could now smile.” Said Purity. Today, she is a successful receptionist at a hospital in Dubai, a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work.
“As someone fortunate enough to witness many young people transform their lives through the power of ICT and employability skills, I am inspired by Purity’s story. Her determination and unwavering faith in herself makes her a true powerhouse. And while there are many more young people like Purity who could benefit from the opportunities that we provide, the reality is that resources are often sparse,” said Phanice.
Purity’s story shows the need for more benefactors to support programs targeting young people from underprivileged backgrounds to acquire the skills they need to succeed and grow for bright futures.
You can support the Digital Livelihoods program on this page: https://crimesipoa.org/donate-to-crime-si-poa/