Baran's Story (Joyce's husband)

I had a very interesting conversation with Baran the other day. He came over to tell me how thankful he was for helping to find someone to sponsor his wife's education. He was smiling so big that he kept covering his face when he would talk about Joyce and how happy he was that she was here and able to go to school. This conversation led somewhere that I had not expected. Even tho I see Baran everyday we had never really talked about his past. I knew he came from a village 2.5 hours outside of Arusha and that he had come to Arusha 7 years ago to get a job so support his family. While talking about Joyce's education I asked if Joyce had ever attended school. He told me that she had to drop out of school at form 5 because she got pregnant. Now because children start school are varying ages I am not sure how old this makes her but I believe form 5 is the same as 6th grade. School is free up until form 7 and that is when most children's school careers end. After telling me this Baran said something that kind of shocked me, "I hate my father". I didn't really say anything and he continued his thought. He said I hate my father because I was a good student and I wanted to go on to secondary school. He said that his father has money to send him but that he refused and this was why Baran hated him. Baran then went on to say that he knew the reason that his father did not allow him to go to school was because he was not educated and that he could not even form the letter "A". He knew that since his father did not understand the value of education and that Baran could herd cattle just like he did. Baran continued his story and told me that he did tend to the goats and cattle for a little while but soon he chose to run away from his family. He ran away and got a job and saved enough money to go to English school. He saved enough to go for 3 months. After 3 months he could not afford to go any more but continued to practice and learn as much as possible. He ended up getting a job with a safari company and the reason he got the job was because he could speak English. Now Baran works for the safari company that happens to be located on our compound. He told me that he knows the value of education and hopes his boys will one day make it all the way to University. That is a big dream here and few people actually make it but I know Baran will make sure his boys get a good education and know the value of education. Then his boys will instill this value in their children. Baran has started a very positive cycle for his family and I do not doubt that Barans grandchildren and great grandchildren do make it to University.