Agnes started working as school cook at Spurgeons in 2014 and loves being part of the ‘Spurgeons family’. Her children have all attended the school and benefited not just from the excellent education but from the wider support that SCCK gives through its social work department.
Agnes had a very turbulent past and her father threw her out to live on the streets when she was just 13 years. Whilst living on the streets she was abused which led to her becoming pregnant and facing many challenges. Thankfully a ‘Good Samaritan’ took her in and persuaded Agnes not to get rid of her child, helped her with clinic appointments and bills, and taught her to cook. The Good Samaritan is like family now and calls Agnes’s children ‘her grandchildren’.
Agnes has 2 children and 1 foster child who have all been to Spurgeons Academy. They all live together in a single room, with Agnes sharing the bed with her daughter, and the boys sleeping on the floor. She would love to be able to shelter other children, just as she was given shelter, but she doesn’t have the space.
Agnes says: ‘I am so happy to work for Spurgeons. It is such a good school and I don’t know where I would be without it. My children have all been sponsored through their education thanks to Spurgeons, and we get so much. It is a safe place, and we came here in the riots when it was too dangerous to stay at home. We get physical and spiritual help here as well as the school fees and there is always someone I can turn to.
I would like Spurgeons to grow so that it goes up to high school level. That way there would be less drop out cases from the high school students and they could do groups and learning courses for girls who get pregnant so that they can learn a skill. I’m not sure if it could happen but it would be so good if it can though’.