---
title: Once vulnerable, now strong
description: When Christine was 11, her father had plans for her to marry. But Christine said she imagined a different future and dreamed of pursuing an education.
image: https://www.worldvisionphilanthropy.org/hubfs/stories/christine.jpg
---

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# Once vulnerable, now strong

Written by [World Vision Staff](https://www.worldvisionphilanthropy.org/news/author/world-vision-staff) on Mar 30, 2016 3:23:52 PM

| ![Christine](https://www.worldvisionphilanthropy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/stories/christine.jpg?width=397&name=christine.jpg "Christine") |
| --- |

***When Christine was 11, her father had plans for her to marry. But Christine said she imagined a different future and dreamed of pursuing an education. ***

Her family of 10 lived near a World Vision program in West Pokot, Kenya. Among World Vision’s priorities were eradication of female genital mutilation and child marriage, which were rampant in the area.

Christine decided to run away rather than marry, and when World Vision learned of her desperate situation, they stepped in to help. 

With sponsorship support, Christine was able to continue her education at Morpus Primary School where World Vision had helped to establish a rescue center for girls escaping child marriage.

Christine thrived in this environment and passed her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 2009. She then began attending St. Elizabeth Secondary School as a member of the inaugural class.

Significant building improvements at St. Elizabeth were made over a three-year period, including constructing a library, dining hall, dormitories, and staff housing.

These investments contributed to the school attracting top administrators and teachers who take pride in their work to nurture the academic and personal development of students.

Christine has now graduated from St. Elizabeth and received her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. With the help of World Vision, she completed a mentorship program designed to prepare students for college and university life.

“We learned so much in this program,” Christine said. “I will transfer all this skill to college. ... I consider myself as [a] life-skills educator and will teach my friends the life skills that I have learned so that they make good decisions of not indulging in harmful behavior.”

She continues, “I owe my life to World Vision. They have met all my educational needs, from primary school to college.”

Now 19, Christine is attending Eldoret Technical College and pursuing a certificate course in nursing. Her life is radically different than what she would have experienced as an 11-year-old child bride. Her future is bright with promise. She said she hopes to work to help the sick and poor in her community in Kenya.

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