They walked for hours, fueled only by hope and a mother’s desperate love. Today, Vaida, the girl rejected by poverty, is back in class at Rang’ala Girls, her fees paid and her future restored.

It is a story that breaks your heart and then stitches it back together. Vaida, a bright Grade 10 student from Seme, Kisumu County, was sent away from Rang’ala Girls High School because her mother couldn't pay the fees. But they didn't just go home; they trekked. They walked the dusty roads, a mother and daughter refusing to accept that poverty is a death sentence for dreams.

The Power of "Hisani"

Their plight reached the ears of well-wishers, including child model Princess Aileen Akinyi. The response was instant. "Hisani" stepped in, clearing the full fees for the next year. By Monday morning, Vaida was back at her desk, uniform pressed, mind ready to learn. It is a miracle in a country where thousands of students are currently stranded at home due to the high cost of education.

• The Statistics: 65 points in KJSEA. A brilliant mind almost wasted.
• The Intervention: Full scholarship. Shopping bought. Dignity restored.
• The Lesson: "Education is your right," the activists say. But in Kenya, education is often a privilege for those with pockets deep enough. Vaida’s story is a victory, but it is also a reminder of the systemic failure that forces mothers to trek for miles to beg for an education that should be free.

Go for the Best, Vaida

To Vaida: The whole of Kisumu is behind you. You have walked the walk, now talk the talk with your grades. Make that trek count.