LITTLE LAMBS, BIG HOPE - MARY

Mary Ng’endo was born on 19th May 2007 to Ruth Mbaire in Dagoretti, Nairobi County, as the second child in a family of two. She was raised in Nairobi and began attending school at the age of four, though she does not recall the name of the school.

In 2016, while Mary was in Grade 4, her mother passed away after a long illness. With no relationship with her father and no extended family in Nairobi, Mary and her brother relocated to Mbauini, a village near Kijabe, to live with their grandmother. Sadly, her grandmother did not have the financial means to keep Mary in school, and for a time she remained at home. Her brother, being older, returned to Nairobi in an effort to earn a living.

In 2017, Mary was admitted into the Little Lambs program and was immediately enrolled at Kiambogo Primary Schoolin Grade 4. Adjusting to school after time away was difficult, and she repeated Grade 4 in 2018 in order to catch up. She persevered and continued with her studies, sitting for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2022. She passed her exams and joined Mbauini Secondary School the following year.

Mary is now in her final year of high school and is preparing to sit for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at the end of this year. She enjoys playing soccer and is a member of her school’s team. She also sings in the school choir and actively serves in the praise and worship team at her local church, where she is also part of the youth group.

Mary hopes to pursue a career in fashion and design after completing high school.

It is important to note that last year Mary lost her brother to illness. This was a heavy blow, but she has shown great resilience and continues to do well. She has also received strong and consistent support from the Little Lambs family, which has been a great source of encouragement and stability in her life.