Richard’s Story
Richard is a farmer, an accountant and businessman with a wife and energetic 4- year old child called Zoe.
Richard's story is a testament to the transformational power and support of sponsorship programmes. As an orphan himself, Richard fully understands the struggle that many children face daily in Africa. However, the generosity and kindness of sponsors gave him the self-belief, courage and financial means to face his problems and make a success of his life.
Richard’s father passed away when he was 9 when his carefree world and that of his 6 siblings was thrown upside down.
Relatives scrambled over the family property: cows, clothes, land and even his step-mother. Creditors moved in like vultures circling...
At that time, Richard moved to his Auntie’s house where 10 other children were living and then later to stay at his grandmother’s. Having so many dependants to look after was a big hardship for kindly relatives. Richard’s school fees became an especially large burden when he was due to attend secondary school in 2002. To supplement any support, Richard did casual labour and had to beg the school administration for patience…
In 2003, Richard had managed to make it to S3, but was in financial arrears with the school. At that time, a sponsorship agency learnt of his plight and decided to step in.
In 2008, age 20, Richard completed secondary school. To this day, Richard’s gratefulness that a family from New Zealand that never met him would help him, is heartfelt.
Richard believes that the reason he was given help and support was because God has a purpose for him to help others in his situation. This is the reason that he doesn’t give up struggling to pay for the school fees of overburdened children and the reason he feels so passionately about Cheka Child.