Jan. 07, 2005 -- Every year, at about this time, these forums are full of appeals for help with school fees. Members respond fairly generously with donations that hopefully help with the intended purpose of school fees.

This generosity is a sign of donors concerns and empathy with those in need. And that is, as it should be considering that a few hundred dollars could make a difference in someone's life; it sure did for me in my days when I was headed for High School.

One question: has anyone ever followed some of these kids to see how they performed in school and what became of them thereafter? A while back in my time at the head of Kenya Community Abroad (KCA), members expended substantial efforts to support one girl (Rita) pay fees in Kenya High School. Some of us were emotionally overwhelmed by others donations, cash and kind clothes, shoes, etc.). Rita was a cause cerebral.

I am wondering what happened to such students as Rita? There is more, a while back KCA raised funds for victims of the terrorist bomb that hit Nairobi in 1998. Money was spared for the education of four orphans. It will be interesting to know how the four fared and how the money helped towards betterment of opportunities for the children that would otherwise have been destitute.

I have always been an advocate of planning rather than ad hoc responses of the kind we see. Such planning would entail setting up a fund specifically to address cases of the kind we see today. Benefactors would commit to a minimum level of annual contribution plus seek matching funds from other sources. Once in place the fund would distribute money based on need and potential for success.

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