My name is Eunice Ruguru from Embu County. I schooled at Kimangaru Primary School where I sat for my KCPE in 2007. We are five children in our family and I am the fourth born. Life at first for us was smooth sailing as my father was working with the now defunct Nairobi City Council and he was able to support us as a family financially.

Things changed in 2004 when my dad passed on and my mother, as a housewife, was not able to support us. We would be sent home regularly because couldn’t afford exam fees. My mother was a member of a farmers SACCO and was informed about the Co-operative Bank Foundation.

Things changed in 2004 when my dad passed on and my mother, as a housewife, was not able to support us. We would be sent home regularly because couldn’t afford exam fees. My mother was a member of a farmers SACCO and was informed about the Co-operative Bank Foundation.

Through their intervention, I joined Nguviu Girls in Embu. I do not think I would have made it through high school had I not obtained the scholarship. While we still faced various financial issues, I was received another guardian angel. In form three, the Principal realized I had potential to perform well academically but I was frequently unwell because of stress related illnesses.

Choosing to believe in my potential, the principal then took up the responsibility of providing me with all my personal items. After my final form 4 exam, I went to work as a house help in Kahawa West to support my family.

When the results came out and I had passed with an A, the Principal again took me back to my former secondary school where I was hired as an untrained tutor. While I was there, I learnt that I had qualified for the University Scholarship Program. I was then granted an opportunity to join University of Nairobi to study Finance. I graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

The greatest impact in that the Foundation has had in my life was to facilitate my access to education. Additionally, the work experience I gained while working with the bank as an intern and the stipend I received during the internship greatly influenced my life.