Two Kenyan girls win international accolade with advice to parents

Twenty-year-old Angela Owiti and 15-year-old Sarah Muthiora are on top of the world!

A month ago they arrived from the United States (US), where they ranked first in a dramatic dialogue they performed together during the International Students Convention (ISC).

The dialogue titled Believe which they wrote themselves, talks about the misconceptions and behaviour affecting today’s pupils such as lack to appreciate worship, disobeying their parents and being comfortable with their misdeeds.

The dialogue, however, advises parents on how they can address these unbecoming habits through guiding and counselling in line with religious teachings without using canes or abuses.

The two girls, also incorporate humour in their presentations.

Thanks to the top position they earned, they each bagged gold medals and trophies for themselves and their school, during the event which was held at University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg from May 21 to 26.

The victory of the two who are students at Lifegate School in Mombasa has been a steady rise from 15 medals and two shields that they both won during the East African Students convention at Kabarak High School in August 2015.

It was that success at the East African convention that earned them the coveted nominations to the ISC where they trounced more than 4,000 students from other schools around the world.

That’s not all, a choir performance in which they participated in as a school was also scooped position one while another student Wacera Kandie, also from their school, was awarded position two in tennis in the sports category at the event.

ISC is the highlight event for schools and home schools who use the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum.

Students compete in music, oratory, poems, art, athletics, spelling, drama and academics.

“I feel very blessed for this amazing opportunity that I never thought I would get. I have not only grown academically and spiritually but also in my talents plus, I was very excited because it was my first time in the US,” 20-year old Angie Owiti said in an interview with Nation.co.ke at their school.

Sarah however says as much as they are happy with their achievements, participating in the event categories involves a lot of work and practice.

“It has been a lot of work and there are times that I wanted to give up but family and friends supported and pushed me and I managed,” she said.

She added that they also faced challenges in raising funds for their accommodation and food while in the US which amounted to Sh350,000 for each one of them.

To overcome tension and pressures that came with practicing long hours and raising finances, the students said they prayed and corrected one another.

Since their nomination last year, they also involved themselves in different fundraising activities such as selling snacks and other items as well as seeking sponsors to support them in the trip in order to ease the burden of payment on their parents.

Besides the dramatic dialogue, the two also competed in vocal solos, poems and scripture memorization of the Bible books of Psalms and Proverbs.

The bosom friends and their colleagues also said the ISC, besides performances, also offered them room to interact with students from other cultures and to learn more about Christian living.

“The evening rallies at the convention where youth fellowship and the sermons were amazing, youths give their lives to Christ and others who were sick got healed,” Wacera added.

Savannah Kagiri said a time of worship with other teens drawn from around the world was her favourite.

“I want to tell other youth that if they feel like carrying the name Christian is putting pressure on them, they do not have to worry about it but just let their deeds show.

Let them seek God first then the rest will follow,” Emmanuel Gabriel who took part in the 100 meters dash at the ISC said.

He added that youth feel smoking, drinking and partying are fun but they risk contracting ailments and complications.

“It is possible for teens to love God and also enjoy their lives. We go to the beach and swim, watch many good Christian movies not the ‘shady’ ones,” added Sarah.

Lifegate School Principal Ruth Muthiora who travelled with the students advised parents to allow their children to explore their talents and guide them in a curriculum that allows them to be who God wants them to be.

According to her, the subjects they teach their students bases on the character traits of Jesus Christ like kindness, honesty, equity and self-control.

She added that the character traits, are the same values they use when correcting students in school when they err.

“What I love about ACE is that I learn at my own speed without fear of measuring up to the standards of someone else yet still doing what I love which is singing and acting.

“It also helped me to grow spiritually by teaching me values of being a Christian,” said Lulu Kimeu, another student who also travelled for the event.

She added that they have learned how to set their own goals, manage their time and teachers are always ready and willing to guide students who do not understand concepts and need assistance.

In 2014, three students from the school were also nominated for the international student convention which was held in South Africa.