A grateful former sponsored child becomes a sponsor

Monday, September 24, 2012

Dishani Paul grew up in rural Kenya, the youngest of eight children, and was brought up by her single mother. 

She became a sponsored child when she was in Grade 6. The support transformed her life, she says.

Now age 33, Dishani is married and runs her own hair and beauty salon in the coastal city of Mombasa. Dishani’s husband Amos is a financial controller of a large tourist hotel. They have two children and one foster child, their nephew. 

Recently, World Vision met with Dishani for an interview to discuss her life and how World Vision played a vital role in her journey.

World Vision: What is your most vivid memory from your childhood? 

Dishani: “The challenges and stress my mother went through as a single parent trying to take care of us all. I remember how she would sometimes faint in our presence out of fatigue and weakness. She had high blood pressure. Watching all this, I was determined to be disciplined and help my mother as much as possible.”

World Vision: What benefits did you receive from sponsorship? 

Dishani: “I received school fees and uniforms. I was also encouraged and given hope by my sponsor. Her sponsorship made me determined to work hard and be disciplined to achieve more in life.”

World Vision: Would your mother have been able to afford schooling for you and your siblings without child sponsorship? 

Dishani:“No, my mother was barely able to pay for primary school education for my older sisters and brothers. My mother was earning Kshs 1,400 per month (US $14).”

World Vision:How did you feel when you received letters from your sponsor? 

Dishani: “When I received the letters, I would read them over and over again. My sponsor would send me letters that had colourful stickers of a doll, a dog, and other pictures on the letter. I had never seen such decorations, let alone received a letter from anyone.”

World Vision: In what ways would your life be different now if you hadn’t been sponsored? 

Dishani:“I probably would have been married off at a tender age just like my older sisters. After seeing what happened to my older sisters, I remember telling my mom, never to accept dowry from anyone in my village until I had finished secondary school.”

World Vision: What would you say to encourage someone who sponsors a child? 

Dishani: “Sponsorship has changed my life. If I were to say one thing to Christine, my sponsor, it is that your money didn’t go to waste. It was used for a worthy cause. Sponsorship gave me a strong foundation in education, something I could never have gotten without help. Sponsorship also gave me hope, knowing that someone cared about me. It also helped me see the value of helping someone in need.”

World Vision:Did you complete high school? 

Dishani: “I completed Form 4 (Grade 12) with the help of World Vision. After this I didn’t want to stay in the village and get married off like most of my classmates. I wanted to become a nurse, but I couldn’t afford the college fees needed to enroll for a nursing diploma. 

“I opted for a certificate course as a nurse’s aide. I stayed with my aunt and paid my way through the course by working as a house maid in the city for two years.”

 

Dishani with her husband, Amos. Dishani gained education, hope and a generous heart through sponsorship, and currently sponsors three students. Photo by May Ondeng

World Vision:Where do you live today?

Dishani: “I have a wonderful home in Mombasa. Something I could never have imagined I would live in. It’s a three bedroom stone house and each bedroom has its own bathroom. The house is on its own compound in a good neighbourhood. I really thank God.”

World Vision:What kind of work do you do? 

Dishani: “I worked as a nursing assistant for almost six years, earning Kshs 3,000 per month (about US $37) but now I work as a trained hair dresser and beautician. I run my own hair and beauty salon in the city and earn about Kshs 40,000 (about US $500) per month.

 

Dishani works with her students at the hair salon. Photo by May Ondeng

“I have been working as an owner and manager of my hair dressing salon since December 2005. I currently employ three permanent staff and one or two temporary staff depending on how busy we are.”

World Vision:What do you enjoy about your profession? 

Dishani: “I like fashion and love making women beautiful! I also like ministering and talking with my clients.”

World Vision: Does it give you an opportunity to give back to your community?  

Dishani:“Through my business, I have been able to help support my family, including my extended family, and expand my business. In addition, I also help a lot of people. 

“Currently, I sponsor an orphaned girl called Maureen and give her free training in my salon. Her parents died when she was in Standard 7. 

“I also sponsor a Muslim boy called Ali Hassan Ngoa. He was introduced to me through my staff member at the salon. He is doing well in school and is the only one among his brothers who does not use drugs. 

“We have also managed to sponsor another boy through college. Matthew Njenga has done very well in his accounting course and has recently been employed in one of the large tourist beach hotels in Mombasa.”

World Vision:What are your dreams for the future? 

Dishani:“I have many dreams. I am about to open a school for hairdressing and fashion design so that I can train more young people and women in order to help them to be self-sufficient like me.”