For many of us, memories of childhood are tied to familiar, comforting spaces—a favorite tree, a cozy dining room, or growth marks on a wall. But for Denis, home was a different reality. Growing up in a dilapidated shanty without basic amenities, he faced a level of hardship that many can scarcely imagine. He recalls it as "not a good place to live," yet these early memories are what shaped his future. They fueled a dream to improve living conditions for others facing poverty, to create safe, strong homes where families can thrive. This dream would guide him through every challenge, including his journey to becoming a civil engineer.

Thanks to the sponsorship from the Collective for Orphan Care and Education (COCE), Denis was able to pursue his education and graduate from Machakos University in 2021 with a degree in civil engineering. Without COCE’s support, Denis says he would have likely been homeless or, at best, working as a house boy. Losing most of his family at a young age, he lacked a support network and the financial resources to follow his dreams. But COCE stepped in, providing the structure and stability his family couldn’t. 

Today, Denis’s dream is a reality. After completing a three-year internship, he is now a certified civil engineer with his own business. As COCE’s principal engineer, Denis has built the community library from the ground up, transforming the vision into a place that will support education for countless children in Busia County. His impact in the community is already being recognized; a local school recently hired him to design a building, and community leaders have praised his work. One leader expressed gratitude to Denis’s mentor, our Executive Director, Eusebius, for guiding him along his path.

Denis’s story is a testament to the power of education and support. By investing in him, COCE helped him rise from hardship to success. Today, Denis is paying it forward, working to provide the opportunities he once dreamed of. His journey from vulnerable child to respected community builder shows how life-changing a sponsorship can be.