Mary's graduation: a success story thanks to the sponsorship project in Kenya

Mary Gaturu is one of over 150 boys and girls enrolled in the distance support educational project in Kenya who has had the opportunity to access education in recent years, thanks to the precious support of the donors of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation.

Mary's story and the role of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation

Mary is a bright and determined girl, the youngest of eight siblings raised by a single mother in a context of extreme poverty. In Kenya you can only attend school if you can afford to pay the registration fee and no one in her family had this opportunity; in fact, her older siblings were forced to abandon this path and make do with humble and regular jobs, to try to support their large family.

Mary's intelligence and her strong will and desire to learn have not gone unnoticed and for ten years, thanks to a tip from our contact in Kenya Joab Omoto, Mary has been accompanied by the Valter Baldaccini Foundation throughout her entire school career.

Once she graduated, thanks to the sensitivity and sacrifice of one of her brothers, Mary enrolled in the degree program in Political Science and Public Administration at Maasai Mara University. Then the sudden death of her brother and an extraordinary request from Joab: "Can you give us some help to allow Mary to complete the University? Mary is an exceptional girl, and it would be truly an injustice not to give her this opportunity". And so, it was. In 2020 Mary, with the support of the Foundation, resumed her university studies.

Mary's letter: a testimony of gratitude and hope

In December 2024 Mary graduated and wrote us a letter that particularly moved us.

"I am writing to you to express my deepest and sincere gratitude for your incredible support during my educational journey. From my years in primary school to my recent degree in Political Science and Public Administration at Maasai Mara University, your generosity has been the cornerstone of my academic success. Your support has been more than just a contribution: it has been an investment in my future and a beacon of hope in difficult times and has turned my dreams into reality (…) You have given me confidence and the opportunity to pursue higher education, to learn, grow and develop skills and knowledge that will shape my future career, that I could never have imagined accessing on my own (…). I am overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude (…) you have given me the opportunity to become a potential agent of change in my community. Words seem inadequate to fully express the depth of my appreciation. Your support has been a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of generosity and a life-changing gift that I will cherish forever. I will strive to honor your investment by using my education to make a meaningful difference in the world”.

Here, through Mary’s words, Valter Baldaccini’s message has come true: “together we have planted a great seed that will become a great plant”. Our great thanks go to Mary for her beautiful words, we are very happy to have walked beside her, and we will always remember her with esteem and affection.