Mentoring
what the girls have said...
“A trial mentorship program was started in my final high school year. It was the best opportunity I ever had to discover myself in a vulnerable environment. Having been unconsciously bitter, mentoring started off my journey to recovery, especially at a time when I was always at a conflict of whether to celebrate life or complain about everything. It was not an easy journey towards attaining purpose in life; it called for my mentors to frequently pose new and tougher challenges, and it’s out of the challenges I learnt to adapt and soar to the heights of any challenge. It was out of these mentoring events that I learnt to trust again, to seek guidance whenever not sure, to keep going even when the storm hit harder; and above all, to strive for the best”
Miriam Class of 2009
“Unlike all the other organisations that provide scholarships to high school students, Precious Sisters goes an extra mile. Besides the assurance that you are going to be in school without having to worry over school fees being paid, we had someone to talk to. Please note; talk to not listen to. That was the one thing that stood out most for me. The opportunity to have somebody listen to you, share your troubles without judging or having to share it with somebody else was one I had wished for since childhood. So when presented with the opportunity to do so, I felt like a burden had been lifted off of my shoulders. I cannot say that it was all smooth. I had hitches at the beginning. It was not easy trying to get comfortable with the whole idea of telling a stranger about things that worried me, or that were happening in my life”
Mary – class of 2017
The mentors I met in Precious Sisters have walked with me throughout my academic/career journey. I consider myself extremely lucky to have so many shoulders to lean on at any given moment, and this is in addition to the great network of professionals that they provide.
Angelar – class of 2011
"It’s the mentorship that has carried through with me even now that I am in university. I would not be here today, were it not for those group meetings where we got to share our aspirations and huge dreams with each other. Were it not for the one on one session with our mentors. Were it not for ‘inspirational Sundays’ as I like to call them, where someone would encourage us to achieve just as they had and more. PS gave me the confidence to dream big."
Anne – class of 2012
"Looking back to what got me here, I can remember the words of encouragement and motivation received during the mentoring weekends, where I was always pushed to challenge myself and to set higher goals. Ann, the program manager during my time, would visit us at different time points in the term to check up on us and help us strategize on ways to improve our grades and overall performance in school."
Fanice – class of 2013
"The mentoring totally changed my perspective on life and I stopped defining myself as a poor girl from Kitui and started thinking of myself through the lens of the great mentors that I met. They were my role models, all of them, and I wanted to be like them one day. Precious Sisters has helped me become that confident woman who is not afraid to dream or make things happen. I have girls from my hometown looking up to me now and I can not stop myself from thinking of what more I can do to make sure that they have the same gift I got by becoming a part of the Precious Sisters family."
Florence Class of 2011
“My family and I are forever grateful for what Precious Sisters has done for me. For stepping in when I had lost all hope of ever getting through high school, for giving me hope for the future, for showing me the importance of always putting God first in everything that I set out to do and for teaching me the value of hard work, ambition, self-belief and commitment. Thank you for giving me the tools to navigate school life and also my personal life. I will never take it for granted and may God continue to bless you.”
Maureen - class of 2015
“As a teenager, school can be tough at times and one may be confused on who to talk to. This is why I always looked forward to Precious Sisters mentorship. The impact it had was that I was able to finally focus on my studies , avoid bad company, participate in necessary activities and make life plans. I have applied this even in my life after school and things are always turning out great. Sincerely, I owe my success to precious sisters. I am forever grateful.”
Stacy - class of 2018
“The most important quote I learnt is Albert Einstein's and it was actually through Precious Sisters, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think”. It completely changed how I think about matters education. It's not only about cramming concepts, writing them in your exams and passing your exams but also understanding the concepts. That way you can apply the knowledge gained. I always thought to myself, who taught the first teacher? It came from his mind. He must have studied the phenomenon, studied the trends and understood. That way he came up with facts and laws. After scholars learnt and understood these facts, through more research, they built on the concepts and came up with amazing inventions working under those laws. For instance, generators, motors, transformers, etc., are applications of electromagnetism. So I can conclude that these laws and facts taught these inventors how to think. And that is the impact that education should make in my life and yours; to improve how we think.”
Blessings - class of 2021
“The mentorship programs have been a life changer for me. They have helped me reflect on my decisions, and the questions ‘why?’ and ‘how?‘ have always kept us on track. The program will make you embrace the importance of a mentor. We all need a mentor in our lives.”
Gladys - class of 2017
“My experience as a Precious Sister beneficiary has been one of my most life-changing experiences. I began the journey with the organisation when I joined high school in Form One and honestly it is a never-ending one. The team at Precious Sisters were really hands on with each student and were very much involved in our development. Personally, Precious Sisters really aided with my self-confidence especially through the mentoring sessions, and they really aided my self-actualization journey as a teenager.”
Daniella - class of 2020
“Precious Sisters gave me a chance to succeed academically. Through the mentorship programs, I got a chance to speak out my problems. This was an assurance that I am never alone in this life. I am so proud to be part of Precious Sisters as this was was a lifetime opportunity for me.”
Rose - class of 2020
GIVING BRIGHT GIRLS THE CHANCE TO SHINE
Mentoring
Paying a girl’s school fees gives her the gift of an education. A chance of a better future. Mentoring supplements that gift by encouraging, supporting and guiding her - giving her the opportunity to realise her potential. To set an ambition. To pursue it with confidence.
To believe in herself!
How does our mentoring programme work ?
- Bring the about 135 girls from the 5 schools to one school in Nairobi, three times a year, at the start of each term
- Include as many of the ‘alumnae’ as possible to join these weekend events.
- We focus on three key messages for the girls :
Ambition
(Self) Belief
Commitment
- 50 adults, all volunteers, join us to interact with the girls and act as mentors
- Mentors lead a small group (3-5 girls) in a themed discussion during the morning, encouraging sharing of opinions, discussion, debate
- Mentors hold 1-1 sessions with these same girls in the afternoon
- Mentors are given comprehensive information about each of the girls
- Mentors write up notes after each 1:1 session
- Girls participate in public speaking exercises to help build their self confidence
- External speakers talk about their careers, sharing what is involved in their type of work, what skills are needed to succeed and, in so doing, providing invaluable career insights and role modelling
After each mentoring event, we write Precious Times - a magazine style reminder of what we covered during the weekend, reinforcing the messages and learnings. This is written with the help of several of the girls who attended.
You can take a look at some recent editions below:
We employ two experienced managers - Programme Manager and Mentoring Programme Officer - who follow up on a 1-1 basis with each girl several times each term
BECOME A PRECIOUS SISTERS MENTOR
If you are in Nairobi and can spare a Saturday, please join us for what are inspirational days mentoring these bright girls.
We provide training and guidance at the start of every weekend to the mentors but we don't script the discussions at all. We want our mentors to listen to the girls as much as possible. They are used to being talked to but not heard.
QUOTES FROM OUR MENTORS
"I mentor the girls, because being an alumni of Precious Sisters, I know exactly how motivated and supported I felt after the mentoring sessions. After spending a holiday at home running through chores every day and experiencing a number of hurdles, the sessions provided a moment to reset the mind, reignite the flame to study and have a positive mindset. Therefore, mentoring provides a platform for me to give back to the girls and better their school life and development in general."
"I feel extremely blessed to be at this moment where I can relate with their experiences, listen to them and provide some insights on self-awareness and motivation. It makes me appreciate the feeling of gratitude and honestly very fulfilling since I get to see how much purpose and inspiration I can be to another person's life."
"From the feedback received from the girls it is clear that they have a great need for mentorship to gain an understanding of the outside world and how to overcome challenges they experience outside of their studies."
"The gratitude of the girls and their term by term and year by year development in their confidence and skills is greatly motivational to keep being involved with the process."
"The girls get the chance to ask questions that they either are uncomfortable asking parents and teachers or they simply do not have the opportunity to do so within their busy schedule."
"Working in groups the girls can support one another and learn from the experiences of others as well as facing up to their own challenges and being made accountable to take action."
"Mentoring is a mutually beneficial process. During the hours spent with the girls as much as it is first and foremost about the girls, mentors also do a lot of self-reflection and introspection."
"I see self-assured, confident and goal-oriented girls, ready to take on the world. I have had a pleasure of meeting a few after they have sat their Form Four exams and received their results, the pride and happiness in them is indescribable."
"Something bigger happens during the mentoring days…... the lessons being imparted on these days are sure to last a lifetime and applied in different stages/chapters of the girls’ future. It doesn’t just stop with them attaining good grades in Form Four."
"I mentor the girls because I missed such an opportunity when I was in school and looking back I remember how confused, unsure and lost I felt. I also do it to give a listening ear to the girls because I know they are usually told what to do and are not asked their thinking."
"This day makes me feel part of the Precious Sisters family. I am very proud of the work they do to transform the girls and their families’ lives."
"All the activities that take place during the day like hall discussions, group discussions, and the one on one’s help the girls to become better students in class and in the school of life. New friendships are also made on mentoring days."
"I am a Precious Sisters alumni and a product of mentorship. I understand the positive impact it has on the girls and the role it plays not only in their high school life, but also in life after school. The skills and values learnt during mentorship are real life gems; priceless."
"After every mentoring session, I get new energy and hope. There are days when I have gone for mentoring bearing feelings of discouragement just from life happenings, and after meeting and talking with the girls, I end up feeling so much better. The encouragement and hope that we share is therapy for me as well. I also get a great sense of fulfilment."
"I once talked one-on-one with a form four girl who happens to be in the high school I went to, and also from the slum area in Nairobi where I grew up. I shared a bit of my story just to encourage her. After the session, she told me how she had gotten a new sense of hope and encouragement to go work hard. she said, " I know that if you made it, I can also make it"."
"On Saturdays, the girls meet the mentors. In the morning session, each mentor talks to a group of three or more girls on the subject topic for that mentoring weekend, they share and exchange experiences and lessons. In the afternoon session, the mentor meets each girl one-on-one. The girl gets to open up to the mentor on various issues from academics and extracurricular activities to personal struggles and life at home. They then come up with solutions / action points and set SMART goals for the new school term. The girls also have group sessions where they learn important life skills such as public speaking and doing presentations."
"On Sunday, the girls get to learn about various careers. Speakers In different career fields come to talk to them, just to give them a better perspective about what their jobs entail and what it takes to get there."
what the parents and teachers have said...
“You have very good mentors in the sense that they are genuinely interested in the girls and their welfare. This seems to come from an inner feeling that 'I want to give'. This kind of spontaneous feeling is catching and the girls notice it, and that is what makes them feel that they can trust the mentors. The girls know when someone is sincere and your mentors are all very sincere and genuine.”
Head teacher Precious Blood, Riruta
“Precious Sisters is the best organization that I have worked with. Your follow up on your sponsored students is amazing. The one-on-one mentorship has a great positive impact on the girls. It raises their self-esteem which makes them improve in their academic performance.They always look forward to the next mentorship season.Their mentor, Ann is humble, social and easy to work with. She is excellent in time management and is personal about her work. We get along very well. I also appreciate Wallace and Rosemary for their immense support to the girls. May Almighty God bless Precious Sisters always, to continue supporting the education of the girl child.On behalf of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Maryhill Girls High school administration and the girls, thank you very much.”
Class teacher, Maryhill
“I'm so thankful for Anne's sponsorship; I thank God for your great support. Sponsorship has helped Anne to continue with her studies, has also helped to work hard to achieve her goals. Sponsorship has enabled us parents to cover some needs like paying school fees for other siblings. It has also helped her to have mentorship every term since she has never had any mentorship, she loves what you do for her and she has gained a lot since she joined Precious Sisters. May God bless you for everything you have done for Ann and our family. Have a wonderful time.”
Mother, Form 2
“As a parent since my daughter got this scholarship it has been a good journey, she has changed in the way she views things and now boldly tells me that although we are from a not so well up family, she has got lots of encouragement from the mentorship programme. She always shows me and tells me how the mentors who come to talk to them are making it in life and that I can say has given her a zeal to pursue her studies, regardless of our background, also the love, talks and visits that Ann gives them when she visits them at school has made her to be a bold girl and know that she has a parent in her. She talks highly of Ann, as a parent. In my daily prayers I always tell God to bless our sponsors, wherever they are, the impact they have brought into the life of my daughter is amazing, when as a parent I was at the verge of taking my daughter to a day school because I couldn'to afford the fees.You came to my rescue. I am forever grateful and always happy reading the magazine (Precious Times) when she comes from mentorship.”
Class teacher, Maryhill
“Precious Sisters is the best organization that I have worked with. Your follow up on your sponsored students is amazing. The one-on-one mentorship has a great positive impact on the girls. It raises their self-esteem which makes them improve in their academic performance.They always look forward to the next mentorship season.Their mentor, Ann is humble, social and easy to work with. She is excellent in time management and is personal about her work. We get along very well. I also appreciate Wallace and Rosemary for their immense support to the girls. May Almighty God bless Precious Sisters always, to continue supporting the education of the girl child.On behalf of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Maryhill Girls High school administration and the girls, thank you very much.”
Mother, Form 2
“I am a single parent of two, but have been blessed to have a wonderful support system in God. I have been working as a casual worker for the last few years now. I want to thank you for the scholarship that you have given my daughter. It has helped her attain quality education, which is something I was willing to offer but my financial status couldn't allow me to. It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that I write regarding your generous contributions towards the education of my daughter, who is now studying in this prestigious high-school. The scholarship has not only helped her attain access to quality education, but it has also helped her nurture the skills that would help her excel in the future. I am grateful for the opportunity given by your organization and would like to express my sincere gratitude towards you and your staff members for their kindness and generosity towards me and my family.”
Mother, Form 2
“Precious Sisters are a special people in our family because of the very important role and impact they have had in my daughter’s life and that of the entire family. She has never missed school, thanks to Precious Sisters, and this has enabled her to improve her performance in school. Also, she has become strong spiritually and well grounded in Christian faith. We look forward to her growing up into a responsible person in the society. Thank you, Precious Sisters and may the good Lord bless you and enlarge your territories.”
Mother, Form 4
“Thank you for your support towards our daughter’s education. Your support has already helped her since you have made her to be in school without being sent home for fees. Your support helped her to improve her academic performance because she knows very well that the only thing to maintain this sponsorship is by hard working and discipline. Also those mentoring events they attend have been of great help to help her. She has opportunity to meet different successful mentors, and a chance to interact with fellow students from different schools. Through these events, she has gained self confidence, self belief and self awareness. She has become more focussed in her studies and social life. May God help her achieve her career dream. May the Lord bless you as you continue helping and mentoring young girls. Thank you very much.”
Parents, Form 2
"I wish to thank you all for your great kindness and support you have offered my daughter for the last four years. Her secondary education was guaranteed when you took her in your program which has been of great help in all areas, both morally and financially, in her education.I was relieved of her fees and guaranteed my daughter will never be sent home for her fees.During the corona epidemic, of the nine months I sincerely want to thank her sponsors who through you made sure we never lacked food or Joy's airtime for her online classes and any books she needed. The mentorship holiday trainings have really made a lot of impact to her. She has matured and grown to be a very responsible girl and she was always excited about the training. She fondly told me how she met different people of different professionals.Ann has been more than a second mum to her. Every holiday my daughter tells me of the many visits and encouraging words she offers them and every holiday she always take time to know how we are doing. I sincerely want to thank the entire team for making my daughter's dream of finishing high school possible. She has always told me one day when she is through with her studies she will make sure to give another girl a chance to education through your program.I am positive God will make a way for this happen. I really appreciate all that you have done for us. Words cannot explain enough but may God bless and always provide for the entire team."
Mother, Form 4
Closing The Loop
“Closing the Loop” is the concept of providing support to the girls that have been sponsored by Precious Sisters as they prepare for, and experience life at University. The need for the project comes from the recognition that their experience at school is very focused on academic success and not all girls are fully prepared for University.
From a poll taken in 2018, Precious Sisters alumnae were very clear that they would have appreciated support at three stages:-
1. In the last two years at school as they consider which university course is right for them.
2. In the 8-month period between finishing school and university they would appreciate learning skills such as communications, computers and basic financial management.
3. At university they would like Precious Sisters to continue mentoring and provide a structured support network of PS alumnae.
So far, we have had 8 groups undergo the training, 4 in 2021, 1 in 2022, and 3 in 2023
- 2021:
- the girls in high school
- ex-Form 4 (2020 class)
- the classes of 2019 & 2018 (1st-3rd years in university)
- the classes of 2013 to 2017 (3rd & 4th years in university and recently graduated from university)
- 2022:
- the ex-Form 4s (2021 class)
- 2023:
- the ex-Form 4s (2022 class)
- the classes of 2020 & 2021 (1st & 2nd years in university)
- the classes of 2017 to 2019 (3rd & 4th years in university, and recently graduated)
In addition to Precious Sisters staff, Ann and Rosemary, we had internal and external facilitators across all the trainings.
A big Thank You to several alumnae who shared their experiences with their younger sisters, namely:
Mary, Mariam and Mirriam (Class of 2009)
Grace (Class of 2010)
Sylvia (Class of 2013)
Alice and Leah (Class of 2015)
Mary, Leah and Faith (Class of 2017)
Nancy and Lydia (Class of 2018)
Maria and Sandra (Class of 2019)
A huge Thank You as well to our external facilitators:
from Storymoja - Muthoni, Evelyne, Faith and Barbara;
Fridah from a financial institution;
Betty and Wangari, consultants/trainers in entrepreneurship;
Maria, HR practitioner and long-serving PS mentor;
and other non-Precious Sisters university students - Boniface, Mark, Yuri and Kiilu.
what the girls have said...
"Well, it was interesting, a moment of learning. I got to know myself better. Hearing other people’s stories motivated me really a lot."
"The training for me was an eye opener. I feel rejuvenated even after high school and now have found new goals and new things to work for."
"Fun, involving, informative."
"The training was very interesting, educative and enjoyable."
"Awesome, interesting, motivating, fantastic."
"I found the training informative and insightful."
"The training was interactive, very inclusive and most importantly non-discriminating and provoking change of our perspectives."
"The training acted as an eye opener to me. I was able to see some issues in a different angle other than the way I used to."
"The training was very engaging and educative creating an awakening to strive to do better especially after listening to what my fellow sisters are working on to better themselves."
"Being introduced to young people doing exploits it has been a wake-up call and such an eye- opener. New skills acquired and some improved."
"Very engaging in that there was participation from both sides with practical examples. It was also eye-opening because we actually got to think about new things."
"Generally, the training was quite helpful and I really enjoyed. It was very educative and thank you, Precious Sisters, for making us feel precious."
"You guys are just so amazing. I will forever be thankful. If it weren’t for Precious Sisters, I am sure some of the things that I know would be mysteries to me. Thank You! It has been my most enjoyable mentorship program."
