Today, Sharon is paying her son’s school fees

Dentists for Africa has been supporting the now 26-year-old half-orphan since her childhood. She now works as a fashion designer in Nakuru and provides for her own family. Donations have made it possible for Sharon to follow this path. For many years, dental gold and other precious metals donated to Dentists for Africa by dental practices and private individuals have also contributed to this cause.

Her mother was still in school herself when Sharon was born in 2000. That’s why Sharon’s widowed grandmother took the girl in. She had several children of her own to care for and very little money. Through the Children’s Committee of the St. Monica Widows’ Cooperative, Dentists for Africa learned about Sharon and enrolled her in its sponsorship program. This allowed her to attend preschool starting in 2004—a program that was already fee-based in Kenya.

When Even Lunch Is Scarce

The older Sharon got, the more difficult the financial situation at home became. Her grandmother still had to provide for several children and other family members, while at the same time the expenses for the growing children were rising. Sharon still remembers it well: “Sometimes I’d come home at noon and go back to my afternoon classes on an empty stomach.” As a teenager, she says, the situation eventually became almost unbearable.

The Kenyan team at Dentists for Africa learned about this and made it possible for Sharon to transfer to a boarding school in 2010. This ensured not only that she could continue her education but also that she would have a place to live and regular meals. Sharon graduated from primary school in 2014, transferred to Nyakach Girls High School, and graduated from there in 2018.

Constant New Challenges

In 2019, Sharon’s mother became seriously ill. Sharon initially put her education on hold to care for her. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, making her planned return to school even more difficult. In 2021, Sharon herself became the mother of a son. At that time, Sharon was no longer supported by a personal sponsor. Dentists for Africa continued her support using its own donation funds. These funds also include proceeds from donated dental gold and other precious metals. In September 2022, Sharon was finally able to begin her training in fashion and design at the Kisii National Polytechnic vocational school. While her mother cared for her son, Sharon continued her studies. She graduated in June 2026.

Today, she provides for her family on her own

She also succeeded in launching her career: Sharon completed the practical portion of her training at a company in Nakuru, where she made a strong impression—she was hired and now works as a full-time fashion designer. Today, she not only supports herself but also helps her mother and pays for her son’s education. Sharon is proud of what she has achieved: “Today, I can provide for my mother myself and pay for my son’s education. I never took it for granted that I would one day reach this point. I’m very grateful for the support that has been with me all these years and has enabled me to complete my training and stand on my own two feet today.”