Keeping Children’s Hope Alive Through Sponsorship: Stephen’s Path to Purpose.

Stephen Alole, 21, is a young and passionate carpenter in his village. He adjusts his overall as he squints at the skeletal frame of the roof above him.

He picks a hammer and drops a hand-full on nails in his overall pocket. With precision, he balances himself on the wooden beams to access the roof. His movement reveals that he is experienced in roofing.

“I have been doing this work for two years now,” says Stephen, with pride in his eyes, “I love it when I walk past a house and know I put that roof over someone’s head.”

He drives nails into the timber with accuracy. His colleagues join in, and in a few minutes, the roof takes shape. He always works with a team to get the job done on time and then looks for more work.

“This job has been my backbone. It has helped me to acquire basic needs and take care of my mother.”

Stephen, who became a registered child with World Vision in 2010, says he developed a passion for vocational skills after completing his primary education. This was shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Throughout my education, the organisation supported me with school-related needs. When I discovered my passion for carpentry and concrete practice, I spoke to my field monitor, who passed on my dream to the organisation. They believed in me and gave me the support I needed to pursue it.”

After completing the course, the organisation equipped him with a start-up kit as his first step into the world of employment, ready to turn his skills into opportunity.

“With so many registered children in our community, being chosen and given the chance to attend a vocational institute and pursue my dream is a privilege that continues to humble me.”

Moses Okoel, a community volunteer who has monitored Stephen since 2010, says several registered children have been impacted by World Vision through different interventions that have improved their well-being.

“One of the greatest benefits to our community has been the construction of classroom blocks and the provision of scholastic materials. These efforts have opened doors to education for our children,” says Moses. "Many children are now close to completing their studies, and others like Stephen, have received support to pursue vocational training and have been supported with income-generating activities, helping them build a more secure future.”

Story by; Derrick Kyatuka, Communications Manager, and Mungu Jakisa Brian, Communications Officer.