Gerald

My first day at MCV, I spent much of my time just walking and talking with a couple older boys at MCV. Both of them had amazing stories. Their stories are the type of things you’re used to reading about in brochures and newsletters for organizations. It was really amazing to hear their stories first hand. I recounted one true, typical Malawian story below. Luckily this story has a happier ending because of MCV.

Gerald was a very good student in Primary school (which is provided free in Malawi by the government) and was selected for Secondary School because he did well on his exit exam. Then his father died, and everything changed. His family did not have enough money to send him to Secondary school, and so he spent two years sitting around his house and village. He began to lose hope, and thought that he was too old, and would never be able to go to Secondary School. He was then introduced to MCV by Ken Montgomery (an American, MCV board member). MCV offered to pay Gerald’s school fees. He did very well in school once again, and upon the completion of form 4, sat for an exam to get into a government college. Over 4,000 people sat for the exam, and only 150 were chosen to attend one of the few free government colleges. Gerald was selected! He will be starting college in a couple weeks where he plans to study education. Life is still not easy for Gerald however. His brother-in-law recently died forcing his sister to move back home with her three young children. Gerald now lives at home with 7+ people (I forget the exact number). This is in a typical small village home with no electricity or running water.