When you first met Miriam Midega, you might not have guessed the quiet strength behind her gentle smile. At just 10 years old, Miriam should have been thriving in Grade 5, but instead, she and her younger brother, Jasper, were out of school, kept away not by choice, but by the cruel weight of poverty.
Each week, the two siblings would walk to church alone—small hands clasped together, their clothes worn, their faces hopeful. Week after week, they showed up faithfully, sitting quietly, participating with quiet reverence. It was only later that we discovered the truth: they weren’t in school. The family simply couldn’t afford the fees. No uniforms. No books. No meals
Our hearts broke.
We knew we had to do something. Immediately, we began assisting their family with basic food support. A sponsor was found for Miriam, and we were able to place her back into school—a moment filled with joy, laughter, and the sparkle of a child given a second chance.
But just as things began to improve, COVID-19 hit. The world shut down. Jobs disappeared. Resources became scarcer. And for families like Miriam’s, the impact was devastating.
Yet, the fight for their future didn’t stop. We continued to stand by them, providing regular food packages to keep hunger at bay and hope alive. Then came another beautiful moment—Jasper was welcomed into school, even though he didn’t yet have a sponsor. We couldn’t bear to leave him behind.
Then, during a home visit, we discovered something else: Miriam was sleeping on a cold, hard floor. No mattress. No bedding. Just a thin piece of cloth and her dreams. It was unthinkable. A child already burdened by so much should not have to face the floor each night.
A simple act—but the transformation was immediate. That day, Miriam lit up in a way we had never seen before. Her eyes danced. Her smile stretched wide. She twirled and clapped and giggled as she looked at her very own bed—a space of her own, a soft place to sleep, a sign that she mattered.
“I can sleep well now,” she whispered shyly. “And I will wake up strong for school.”
We have rarely seen a happier young lady. From walking to church alone, out of school, and sleeping on a cold floor—to having a sponsor, a school uniform, and a bed to call her own—Miriam’s story is a powerful testament to what love, community, and compassion can do.
And it’s just the beginning.
