“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
As we begin a new year, we are reminded that education is not just about classrooms and textbooks. It is about opportunity, dignity, and the freedom for young people to imagine a different future for themselves.
For many young people growing up in disadvantaged circumstances, education is not always guaranteed. It is fragile and often interrupted by financial hardship, limited opportunities, or circumstances far beyond their control. Yet when education is protected and nurtured, it becomes a powerful force for change.
At Amara Charitable Trust, our mission has always been clear: to support disadvantaged youth through education, particularly skills-based training, and to strengthen the schools and communities that surround them. We believe education is one of the most effective tools for breaking cycles of disadvantage, not only for individuals, but for families and entire communities.
Looking back on the past year, we are deeply encouraged by the impact we have had, and by the potential that still lies ahead.
In 2025, Amara enrolled 45 new students into our scholarship program for various technical training courses. Behind this number are 45 young people with hopes, fears, determination, and immense potential.
For students from disadvantaged families, a scholarship represents far more than financial assistance. It represents stability to families, confidence to students, and reassurance that someone believes in their ability to succeed. For many, higher education is simply not conceivable without this support. The cost of tuition, learning materials, accommodation, and daily living expenses places education far beyond reach for many families.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors who share our vision that education has the power to change the trajectory of a student’s life, these barriers, that once seemed insurmountable, are removed. Students are given the freedom to focus on learning rather than survival and, in doing so, to begin seeing themselves differently.
When we invest in the dreams of youth through scholarship opportunities, something truly extraordinary unfolds—quiet self-doubt gives way to belief, hope finds its voice, and shy individuals grow into confident young adults who begin to see the limitless possibilities before them.
In 2022, we met Naomi Buyaki for the first time. She arrived not with certainty or privilege, but with quiet determination. Naomi had a clear dream: she wanted to become a nurse.
For her, nursing was not just a profession—it was a calling. She wanted to care for others, serve her community, and build a future grounded in compassion and service. Yet the path ahead was uncertain. Nursing required three years of intensive training, demanding clinical placements, and financial resources her family simply did not have.
There was something in Naomi’s quiet determination and hopeful spirit that made us believe in her, and she became the very first nursing student supported through Amara’s scholarship program. From the beginning, her journey represented possibility and proof that with the right support, even the most challenging circumstances could be overcome.
With the stability provided by her scholarship, Naomi was able to focus fully on her studies. She attended classes consistently, engaged fully in practical placements, and persevered through moments of doubt. As her knowledge grew, so did her confidence. She began to see herself not just as a student, but as a future healthcare professional with a vital role to play in her community.
In November 2025, Naomi completed her nursing training. Today, she is a fully registered nurse, working in a clinic in Makueni.
Her achievement represents more than the completion of a qualification. It marks a remarkable transformation—from a young woman with a dream into a professional equipped to save lives and strengthen healthcare within her community. Her success inspires her family, her peers, and other young people who now see what is possible.
Naomi’s journey is one of many. Another powerful example is Duncan, a scholarship student currently studying Civil Engineering.
When Duncan first began his studies, he struggled to imagine himself beyond the limits of his circumstances. Engineering felt distant, something other people did. However, as he progressed through his training, something changed. With each completed assignment, each practical lesson, and each challenge overcome, Duncan’s confidence grew by leaps and bounds.
Today, being addressed as “Engineer” has reshaped how Duncan sees himself and his future. It is no longer just a title—it is an identity. He speaks with pride about designing infrastructure that will serve communities and improve safety. Every holiday from college is an opportunity for him to look for work, where he can put his skills into practice. Education has not only equipped him with technical skills; it has given him belief, direction, and purpose.
Duncan’s story reminds us that education transforms how young people view their own potential. As students grow into professionals, their confidence grows with them, opening doors that once felt closed. To witness the transformation where quiet potential rise into confidence and possibility is a profound privilege.
While individual success stories inspire us, we also recognize that education does not happen in isolation. A student’s ability to learn is shaped by the environment around them.
Safe classrooms, adequate facilities, and access to basic resources play a vital role in educational outcomes. That is why Amara also invests in school infrastructure projects, improving classrooms and essential facilities so that students can learn with dignity, safety, and confidence.
By strengthening schools through our infrastructure projects, we ensure our impact extends beyond individual students to benefit entire learning communities.
As we step into the year ahead, our commitment to education remains unwavering. Building on last year’s progress, we aim to enroll an additional 45 students into the Amara scholarship program in 2026 thereby creating new opportunities for young people ready to learn, grow, and build meaningful futures.
We move forward with gratitude and hope: gratitude for students like Naomi and Duncan, who remind us what determination and opportunity can achieve; and hope for the many young people still waiting for the chance to imagine a different future.
At Amara Charitable Trust, we are privileged to be part of these journeys and look forward to the many stories of transformation yet to come. Every success fills us with profound gratitude for our donors, who may never meet the young students whose lives their generosity is changing forever. Through their support, our donors are not just funding educational opportunities, they are planting hope, opening doors, and leaving a legacy that will be felt for generations.
