Hope and Faith School, Ngombe

One of the sites we visited during our first day at Ngombe was Hope and Faith school. My first impression of the school was that it stood out as a place of peace and calm tucked away in the centre of a bustling community. We were greeted by headmistress Rosemary Mumbi, who was happy to take us round and tell us a little about the school’s history. She showed us the single room in which the school had begun, with just two pupils.

Since these small beginnings ten years ago, Hope and Faith has grown to accommodate over 700 pupils ranging from age 3 – 24. Almost 200 of them are orphans. Those who have no parents do not pay to attend, and those from a single parent household only pay half the normal fees. Unlike some of the sites we have visited, the children here are provided with smart school uniforms and receive a school meal each day. For many of them, it will be their only meal of the day and this contributes to the schools low drop out rates. It is clear that the success of Hope and Faith lies with the dedicated staff and headmistress. Rosemary is an extraordinary woman who has overcome many obstacles during the course of her life. It is humbling to meet someone with such determination to make a difference. I was grateful for the opportunity to return the following week to interview Rosemary as I was eager to find out more about her own background and her plans for the future of the school.
Find out more about Hope and Faith school here – http://www.hopeandfaithschoolngombe.org/