A quiet but powerful wave of change is building ahead of a community-driven outreach set to transform lives at Wagai Mixed Senior School this May.
Organized by Great Gifts CBO, the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Talk and Donation Drive is a lifeline for dozens of vulnerable students struggling silently in rural schools across Siaya County.
Set for May 2, 2026, the initiative will bring together students, educators and community members for a day focused on dignity, mental wellness and basic human needs that many learners in rural Kenya still go without.
A MISSION ROOTED IN LIVED EXPERIENCE
At the heart of Great Gifts CBO is a deeply personal story.
The founder, CPA Josephine Were, recalls growing up without access to basic essentials such as school uniforms, sanitary products and hygiene supplies, challenges that continue to define the daily reality of many students in underserved communities.
“I was once that child,” CPA Josephine Were shared. “I lacked these basic items through primary and part of secondary school. That is what inspired me to mobilize friends and come back to support my community.”
It is this lived experience that has shaped the organization’s thematic focus: supporting education through provision of school uniforms, promoting hygiene by distributing essentials such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary towels and underwear, and offering mental health awareness sessions to address the often overlooked emotional struggles among students.
THE REALITY ON THE GROUND
In many rural schools across Siaya County, poverty is not just a statistic but visible in torn uniforms, absenteeism among girls during their menstrual cycles and learners forced to choose between dignity and survival.
Basic hygiene items remain a luxury for many families. Some students attend school without proper clothing, while others miss classes altogether due to lack of sanitary products. The result is a cycle of disadvantage that affects both academic performance and self-esteem.
Mental health, too, remains largely unaddressed.
With limited access to counseling services, many students carry emotional burdens in silence, making the upcoming session by clinical psychologist Irene Mululu, a critical intervention in breaking stigma and building resilience.
EXPECTATIONS HIGH AS EVENT DRAWS NEAR
As preparations intensify, Great Gifts CBO has outlined ambitious but impactful targets:
●School uniforms for over 40 students
●5-litre detergents for 50 learners
●Sanitary pads for 500 girls
●Toothbrushes and toothpaste for at least 50 students
●Underwear for 30 learners
●Two sacks of maize to support lunch for day scholars
These contributions, though modest on the surface, represent dignity, confidence and a renewed chance at education for the beneficiaries.
CHALLENGES BEHIND THE SCENES
Despite the noble mission, the journey has not been without obstacles.
Limited funding remains the biggest hurdle, often restricting the number of students who can be reached. Additionally, mobilizing support has proven difficult, with occasional discouraging feedback from potential donors.
Yet, the organizers remain undeterred.
A GROWING FOOTPRINT OF IMPACT
The initiative is not new.
Great Gifts CBO has previously conducted similar outreaches in schools such as Barkatado Primary School, Umina Mixed Senior School and Siaya Township Senior School, gradually building a network of hope across the region.
Plans are already underway to scale up the program to reach more schools within Siaya County, signaling a long-term commitment to community transformation.
A CALL TO ACTION
With the event fast approaching, organizers are making an urgent appeal to well-wishers, philanthropists and members of the public to step in and support.
Every contribution, whether in cash or kind, has the potential to change a life.
In a region where many students are held back not by lack of ability but by lack of basic necessities, this initiative offers a chance to rewrite that story.
As May 2 draws closer, the message is clear: this is more than a donation drive but a collective responsibility.
And for the children of Wagai and beyond, it could mean the difference between dropping out and daring to dream.
