Most kids would not consider it a treat to wake up at 6:30 a.m. for school. But for the Nyongesa children, it was a welcome change.

A typical day, in a typical world, started as early as 4 a.m. when they would wake up and get ready for school. They prayed as a family and ate breakfast before the children left for school . The children went to school in multiple trips, and when returned home later in the day, Leah would have dinner prepared. After eating, they did homework, got baths and had time for more studies before bed at 9:30 p.m. . But all of that changed.

Leah’s children, like other children at Maono Light and around the world, stayed home from school for the next year. There weren’t any buses to catch, so children got a welcome two extra hours of sleep. “The children worked on their farms before the sun is up and hot, come back to have breakfast and embark on their studies by 8:00 a.m. .”

In the absence of in-person schooling, Leah did a wonderful job supporting her children in their academic studies, as well as encouraging time for fun activities.

Leah, along with other parents at Maono Light, bought exams which the children studied for and took. They shared subject matters, much like teachers in a school: Leah was in charge of social studies and Christian religious education (C.R.E.). Families combined children and divided them into learning groups by their corresponding school grades, encouraging the atmosphere of a real school environment.  “During social studies and C.R.E, the children gathered in my house and I helped them study and revise their work,” Leah says. Children who improved in Leah’s family were motivated to follow their studying schedules and often asked questions when they didn’t understand something. 

Despite the year’s abnormality,  Leah is pleased to say the children did well with their studies. Brian, Calvin, Lucy, Alice and Nataly  have each improved particularly well!

“I feel so good. They give me the strength and heart to continue helping them even more,” Leah says. “A child is your strength and when you hear they have passed, you feel very happy.”