VOICES OF OUR STUDENTS

Peter Omanga (Cohort 2014, Kenya)
I came from a family of two mothers and one father – which is very common in Africa…
Peter Omanga (Cohort 2014, Kenya)
I came from a family of two mothers and one father – which is very common in Africa. Since my dad didn’t take care of us, I had to move around often to live with my mom, aunt, or grandma in and out of a Nairobi slum called Soweto. My life was difficult, to say the least. I grew up with a lot of bitterness about life and my dad. The only outlet in my life was to bury myself in studying. I didn’t have any sense of direction, but vaguely believed that if I studied hard, something good would come eventually. I managed to graduate from high school, but since I couldn’t afford the high school fees, I wasn’t granted a high school certificate. This made it impossible for me to get a job after graduation. Out of hunger and desperation, I went back to the Soweto slum and found the Sheepcare Community Center as my home. I helped out with odd jobs at the center in order to survive.
However, I never gave up on my dream of studying computer science one day. It was a seemingly impossible dream until Trinity Education established a partnership with Sheepcare Community Center to offer higher education for young students without any opportunities. I could hardly express my excitement at that time. Soon, a computer lab was set up in my slum community and I had access to well-designed online courses in computer literacy and computer science, entrepreneurship, and Christian worldview. At that time I was still living in a house without electricity, so I had to go to my friend’s house to charge my old laptop that I bought with money I had saved. I used to practice typing by the light of an oil lamp, and my goal was to get so good at typing that I could do so without the oil lamp’s light. I was determined to improve my skills and better my life. I worked hard and often volunteered to help other students with their studies. In fact, this was the first time in my life that I was expected to step up as a leader. When I was younger, I was always quiet and didn’t want to be in front of people. However, three years with Trinity Education has not only taught me computer science skills, but also instilled a sense of leadership within me.
I am now working as a system administrator at an IT company in Nairobi, and I have moved out of the Soweto slum for the first time in my life. I work in the area of computer security and system administration at my company, and the work ethic and character training I learned through Trinity has also positioned me for success at work. I’m grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and education I have received through Trinity Education, and I hope that more students with desperate backgrounds will have education opportunities to fulfill their calling and live life to the fullest.

Regnius Odhiambo (Cohort 2015, Kenya)
I used to believe that that my generation is cursed with poverty, that is from my grandparents to me…
Reginus Odhiambo (Cohort 2015, Kenya)
Hi, my name is Regnius from Nairobi, Kenya.
I used to believe that that my generation is cursed with poverty, that is from my grandparents to me, and down to the generations to come, which will also inherit poverty. I wanted to better my life, but didn’t have any resources or opportunities until I met Trinity Education.
I have acquired so many great skills with Trinity. In the past, I didn’t even know how to turn on a computer. But now I do everything and anything using a computer – searching, designing a logo and website, photo editing, and digital marketing. Not only that, I have gained practical business skills and insights, with which I hope to start a business in the future to help people in my community.
More than anything else, though, the biggest takeaway from learning with Trinity is that I’m here for a purpose. I’m not cursed. I can make a positive impact by serving others with the skills we have learned until we finish our mission on earth.

Jean-Kenel Dessources (Digital Bootcamp 2018, Haiti)
I decided to apply for the Digital Bootcamp because I have had a penchant for web design…
Jean-Kenel Dessources (Digital Bootcamp Student 2018, Haiti)
My name is Jean-Kenel Dessources from Port-au- Prince, Haiti. I live in a very small house with my parents. I also have three married sisters.
I decided to apply for the Digital Bootcamp because I have had a penchant for Web Design, so didn’t want to miss the opportunity that God has given to me. This training was really practical and relevant to what I long to do for a while. And the training was tremendous and outstanding.
Not only that, during the bootcamp I have also learned that my call is not to be a Sunday or a weekly church Christian, but rather be a disciple who brings forward the work of His Master. As I always say to my friends, we live what we believe. The life of a person reveals where his or her heart is. Mango trees will always produce mangos. Now, I see myself as a servant and a disciple and endeavor to share more about different worldviews at work. I sometimes raise discussions and explain to my coworkers differences between the animistic, secular and the biblical views on life. I hope that God will open their hearts so that they can know Him more.

Fredeline Desauguste (Digital Bootcamp 2018, Haiti)
I own a small business that sells locally grown products such as rice and beans…
Fredeline Desauguste (Digital Bootcamp, Cohort of 2018 in Haiti)
My name is Frédeline Désauguste. I own a small business that sells locally grown products such as rice and beans. I have basic knowledge of computer, but I always wanted to learn more about how to use it for my business.
The Digital Bootcamp was a perfect opportunity for me to learn how to design a website for my business and promote it online. I particularly enjoyed the digital marketing course, which helped me understand how to use the internet for the benefit of my business and my community. The bootcamp not only helped me to develop practical skills applicable to my business, but also helped me believe so much more in me. The self-learning methodology of the bootcamp enabled me to study on my own without having to rely upon my teacher. As a result, I stayed disciplined and graduated from the bootcamp with a Certificate with Distinction!
Coram Deo (Christian worldview course) helped deepen my faith in the Lord. I found the stories in the course so applicable to my life and having in-person discussions with my peers about our culture and worldview was eye-opening and facilitated my reflection process.
I am grateful for the Digital Bootcamp team. They were patient and attentive to our needs. My future plan is to promote my business online using the knowledge that I acquired and to become an international businesswoman someday.
VOICES OF OUR LOCAL PROGRAM LEADERS

Jephte Extra
2018 Digital Bootcamp Facilitator at University Espoir, Haiti
In the digital bootcamp class, students became active learners. They don’t rely on me any more…
Jephte Extra (The Digital Bootcamp facilitator at University Espoir, Haiti)
My name is Jephte, and I teach at University Espoir in Haiti. This year we started offering the Digital Bootcamp at our college and the impact on students learning has been remarkable. In my other classes, students normally expect me to deliver everything. They don’t read instructions. Most of my class time was taken up by explanation and questions.
In the digital bootcamp class designed for blended-learning, students became active learners. They don’t rely on me as much any more. They go and try on their own first before asking any questions to me. They Google and help each other. Peer learning happens organically. Now they read instructions, which most Haitians students don’t, and they set their own learning goals for each week. This whole process has been empowering for our students. The classroom is easier for me to manage now, and leading the digital bootcamp has taught me a lot about learning facilitation too. I would like to spread this model to universities in Haiti.

Seige Poteau
Dean of University Espoir, Haiti
Running a computer program in Haiti is a challenge to say the least. The reasons are simple: lack of good instructors…
Seige Poteau (The Dean of University Espoir, Haiti)
Running a computer program in Haiti is a challenge to say the least. The reasons are simple: lack of good instructors. They either left the country for more opportunities. If not, they run their own business and school, or work overtime for a company or the government in Haiti. Our goal is to use online content more than live instructors to overcome this challenge. But it requires a lot of planning and financial resources that we don’t have at this point as a fledgeling university.
Trinity filled that gap for us by providing quality online/blended learning course materials and training (“Digital Bootcamp”) that are already proven to work. We look forward to a continued relationship in order to take advantage of all that Trinity can offer. The Digital Bootcamp has not only taught students valuable website building skills, but it also helped them to think and define their worldview on important life issues for success. These values reflect our own values at University Espoir.
Ena Richards
President of Work 4 A Living, South Africa
Our partnership with Trinity is really important to us…