Boarding schools for high school students is the norm in Kenya. Life in a boarding school is a deeply transformative experience, especially for students from less fortunate backgrounds like the ones in our sponsorship program. For these children, boarding school isn’t just a place of learning; it’s a place where they can escape the harsh realities of their everyday lives in the slums. From the moment they step through the gates of a boarding school, they start to experience a different kind of life, one they don’t get to see back at home. The daily struggles that defined their existence are replaced with stability and security.

In boarding schools, our students get to experience the joy of having their own bed for the first time. They no longer have to sleep on a cold, hard floor.  Instead, they have their own bed with clean sheets, a comfort they have never known before. It’s a simple pleasure that fills their hearts with gratitude and joy. Food is no longer a constant worry. At home, every meal is uncertain, and hunger is a familiar experience. But in the boarding schools, they are assured of regular, nutritious meals. For many of these students, the concept of personal space is foreign. At home, everything is shared, from clothes to toothbrushes, in the limited space in their tiny homes. At boarding school, they have their own space. They have their own locker to keep their belongings safe and their own desk to study.

Beyond physical comforts, boarding schools offer something more precious: a chance to focus on their education without the distractions and demands of their challenging home environments. Here, they can dream big, work hard, and strive for a future that once seemed impossible. They are surrounded by peers who share their aspirations and by teachers who believe in their potential. Every lesson learned, every book read, and every exam passed brings them one step closer to breaking the cycle of poverty in their homes.

When I was in high school, a day for me looked something like this. I would wake up at 4 am in the morning. I would take a cold shower, as hot baths were only given to students who had medical conditions like asthma. The rest of us had to take a cold bath. I would prepare myself for the day which would take me about an hour and a half because I would need to get in line and wait for my turn to take a bath as bathrooms were few. I headed to class at 5:30 am as I waited to have breakfast which was being served at 6 am. After breakfast, we were required to go to class for our morning “prep” which ended at 8 am. ‘Prep“ is when students do their personal studying and preparation for the day.

Classes went from 8 am to 4:15 pm, with tea and lunch breaks being served at 10 am and 1 pm respectively. After 4:15 pm, I would go for my extra-curricular activity which, in my case, was music festival training. Other students preferred to take this time to take a nap from the tiredness that comes with sitting in a classroom for hours. At 6 pm, dinner is served.  I then had to go back to class for my evening “prep” which would start at 7 pm and end at 9 pm. Two or three teachers would be around at this time to monitor students and, if needed,  give out punishments to anyone found outside the classroom or making noise in class during the session. The day would end at 10:30 pm when lights in the dormitories would be switched off. This structured environment instills discipline and time management skills, preparing students for the rigors of academic and professional life ahead.

Beyond academics, boarding school life fosters a strong sense of community and friendship. Living in close quarters with others from diverse backgrounds encourages students to learn from one another, fostering understanding and tolerance. Friendships formed in boarding school often last a lifetime, creating a support network that extends far beyond graduation. However, life in boarding school is not without its challenges. Homesickness is a common experience, especially for students who are away from home for the first time. Adjusting to the communal living arrangements and the absence of familiar surroundings can be daunting. Bullying is also a common challenge, especially for younger students who get bullied by the older students. However, in recent years, bullying has been significantly reduced, thanks to the strict consequences for those found engaging in such behavior.

Boarding schools are an important and life-changing experience for students. It is at this time that students explore and choose their career interests, get to experience life on their own, meet and make new friends from diverse backgrounds, and learn to follow set routines and rules. These experiences equip them for the life that lies ahead.