The transformative power of education is vividly reflected in the lives of three postgraduate students from Kenya who are now thriving members of the St Paul’s College community at the University of Sydney. Their journeys—from modest beginnings in rural and urban Kenya to postgraduate study in Australia—are a testament to resilience, ambition, and the life-changing impact of educational opportunity.
Victor Kibisu, Jacinta Onwonga, and Patrick Matata each arrived at St Paul’s through the support of the Oasis Africa Foundation, a humanitarian organisation committed to bridging educational inequality for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their stories exemplify the mission of Oasis Africa, which since 2002 has enabled hundreds of young Africans to access quality education and pursue their academic potential.
- Victor Kibisu joined St Paul’s in Semester 2, 2024, to pursue a Master of Data Science, following his Bachelor of Science from the University of Eldoret.
- Jacinta Onwonga arrived in the same semester to study a Master of Commerce, having completed a BSc in Strategic Management at Moi University.
- Patrick Matata commenced in Semester 1, 2025, undertaking a Master of Computer Science after earning a Bachelor of Information Technology from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
All three students grew up in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, where access to education is limited and daily survival is a challenge. Through Oasis Africa’s scholarship program, they received full support for their primary and secondary education, and later for their undergraduate studies. Their academic excellence and determination led them to the top percentile of national exam results, opening the door to international study.
The University of Sydney provides Sydney International Equity Scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, covering tuition and living costs. In partnership with Oasis Africa, a new collaboration has enabled Victor, Jacinta, and Patrick to reside at St Paul’s, where they have become active and valued members of the postgraduate community.
Their integration into College life has been marked by meaningful friendships with both local and international students, and participation in events such as the St Paul’s College Foundation Dinner, where scholarship recipients were celebrated for the diversity and richness they bring to the College.
Reflecting on their experience, Victor describes the College as “enlightening and mind-blowing,” Jacinta praises the formal dinners as “very cool, dressing in gown and hoods”, and Patrick notes that “the food is quite different.” These impressions highlight the contrast between their current environment and their early lives, where they survived on less than US$3 a week.
Their shared history includes attending St John’s Primary School, where the best classes were held in the schoolmaster’s home. Jacinta, whose home language is Gusii—one of Kenya’s 42 local languages—excelled academically and sat her national exams a year early. Her aspiration to study in Australia was realised in 2024 through Oasis Africa’s support.
The Kenyan Government funds only the first year university fees, leaving students to finance the remainder. Oasis Africa continued to mentor and support these students through their undergraduate degrees, ultimately guiding them toward postgraduate study in Australia. Patrick recalls Oasis talked to him about another Commonwealth-member country, Australia, and his friend from Kibera school days, Jacinta, told him about this “multi-faceted college at Sydney University”. Patrick said “my dream came true … I felt I belonged in Sydney—the teaching is student-focused and practical support is provided for every unit.”
Looking ahead, all three students intend to return to Kenya, where they aim to contribute to their communities through the knowledge and experience gained at St Paul’s and the University of Sydney.
The College community deeply values the contributions of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Events and interactions with alumni have revealed shared stories of travel, work, and global engagement, enriching the intellectual and social fabric of St Paul’s. The postgraduate cohort’s energy is underpinned by this diversity, exemplifying the College’s commitment to multicultural excellence.
International students interested in applying for residency at St Paul’s are warmly encouraged to do so.
