Impact Story: Lindah Sanyanda
Lindah has received the laptop at her new college.
My name is Lindah Sanyanda and I live in a beautiful village called Kimilili, near Chwele, Kenya. I had a rather bumpy journey during my early tender years: divorced parents; abandoned to be raised by my grandmother and uncle after the re-marriage and death of my mother.
I later attended Chwele Girls High School where I was blessed by joining a school club called the “Peace Ambassadors” which helped guide my life and gave me the wonderful opportunity to care for the environment by helping to plant 300 fruit trees around our school compound. Sponsored by our patron, Dr. John Allcott of Eugene, Oregon, who had heard about the Peace Ambassadors from Mama Grace Kuto, President, of the Harambee Centre in Portland, Oregon, we created an environment to promote earth conservation in our region. Dr. Allcott was eager to help us and provided sufficient funds for the tree seedlings, as well as expressed a keen desire to connect personally with one of our Ambassadors.
When an opportunity for a cultural exchange trip to Portland, Oregon through Harambee Centre emerged, my club members immediately shouted, “Lindah Sanyanda should be the one to go. She will be perfect.” My grandmother and uncle were so very happy for me to be able to take my first plane ride to meet Mama Grace and Dr. Allcott in the United States.
Mama Grace worked so hard to get me on that plane but my names did not match in my documents, so my school Vice Principal, Madame Agatha Kundu had to leave Kenya without me. I did not give up hope and God came through for me. I left for Portland, Oregon the next day. I spent several days getting to know my host families and my fellow students at Mountainside High School. I attended classes for a few weeks. I found American class learning methods to be much easier than our methods in Kenya because of much easier access to information via internet. In Kenya, we mostly rely on text books and teaching notes from teachers in the classroom, so it is very important to be present in class every day. I also got a chance to meet Dr. Allcott, his wife Beth, and several science students in the Eugene area. Dr. Allcott asked me what my dreams were. I told him I had always dreamed of becoming a doctor and serving my village. Amazingly, he offered to support me after High School in medical school if I did well in school. I was so happy and felt like I had made a real friend in Dr. Allcott. That really motivated me to keep doing well in my classes after I went back to Kenya. There was a new hope in my life.
Since I was in the United States on a Cultural Exchange Program, sponsored by Harambee Centre, I was hosted by three different families with students from Mountainside High School. I had so much fun touring Oregon for the next few weeks, while we shared our stories and cultural differences. My time in the States taught me a beautiful lesson that in order to succeed, I need to be patient even if it takes a thousand hours. It’s through this lesson that I learned that my desire to become a doctor was both my dream and my adventure. Life is a challenge; an envelope to be unfolded. I trust and believe that I can succeed with God’s help.
I am now successfully enrolled in a Physician Assistant Program (Clinical Officer) at one of the best Medical Training Colleges in Kenya (North Coast Medical Training College) in Mombasa along the beautiful Kenyan coast. (Upon completion of her studies, Lindah plans to serve rural communities as a healthcare professional).
My gratitude goes to Dr. Allcott and his wife Beth, whose generosity and kindness are making it possible for me to pursue clinical medicine. Without their support, this would not be possible for me at all. My gratitude also to the circle of “Friends of Lindah” who have and continue to surround me with their encouragement, love, advice and support:
Mama Grace and Mr. Paul Kuto
My Mountainside host families and students
My dear grandmother and uncle
My sponsors, Dr. John Allcott and his wife Beth
My mentor, Madam Agatha Kundu
My former teacher, Mr. Misiko
You have all changed my life and that of my family for generations to come. As we gather around the evening fires, I believe that one day you will be able to visit and see what you’ve done in my life. You’ve put a mark on my heart that will never be erased. God is great! May God care for you to live long.