Meet Emma!

Starting high school is a big step for any young person. For Emma, it has been a journey filled with both challenges and hope. Growing up in the slum, most of his early schooling was in overcrowded classrooms with few resources. Only a few years ago did Emma’s path change when he received a SONBT scholarship. Suddenly, he found himself in a new environment, surrounded by higher standards and new expectations—changes that haven’t always been easy to navigate.

Yet the obstacles in Emma’s life go far deeper than academics. He was born with HIV after his mother, unaware of her own infection, carried him in pregnancy. His father died when Emma was very young, leaving his mother to raise him alone in the slum. Life has never been simple, but through it all Emma has learned to persevere.

What stands out most about Emma, however, is not his hardship but his hope. He dreams of becoming an ophthalmologist, inspired by the suffering of his grandfather who battled eye disease. He wants to use his future to bring healing to others. At the same time, Emma carries a deep love for his mother, whose tireless work has kept their family going. One of his greatest desires is to lift her out of the slum and give her a better life.

Emma’s story reminds us that education is more than just lessons and books—it is a stepping stone to a transformed future. His optimism, shaped through struggle, has given him a vision not only for his own life but for other children who suffer as he has.

Thank you for standing with students like Emma. Your prayers and support are opening the door for him to pursue his dreams and to shine a light of hope in the midst of hardship.