FRESH MEADOWS — Koziah Wanjiru Mbugua, a 14-year-old ninth grader at St. Francis Secondary School in Lare, Kenya, aspires one day to be an accountant. 

It’s a journey that is bolstered by support from people she has never met in Fresh Meadows, Queens — the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of St. Francis Preparatory School, the largest Catholic High School in the United States. 

Together, the school raised $60,000 through its annual Lenten service projects, part of which provides scholarships to students at St. Francis Secondary School, such as Koziah. 

Two Franciscans associated with the school, Brothers Bernard Kariuki and Boniface Kyalo, accepted the money on April 15 from St. Francis Prep’s president, Brother Leonard Conway.

The presentation capped the Kenyans’ recent visit to their “sister school,” which included their attendance at the school’s 50th Anniversary Gala on April 12 at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach.

“Since we came here, we have seen Franciscan spirituality so ingrained in the students and the staff,” Brother Boniface told an audience of students assembled in the auditorium for prayer and the presentation of the funds.

“You can see the joy with the students and staff,” he said. “It says St. Francis is very much alive here in this school. We are so grateful.”

Brother Boniface is a former board chairman of the school in Lare, located about 100 miles northwest of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. Brother Bernard is the current board chair of the secondary school.

Brother Leonard described how the two schools bonded 14 years ago at the suggestion of the Irish Franciscans who have ties in Brooklyn and Kenya.

In recent years, St. Francis Prep students sponsored an annual sale of t-shirts printed with scriptural messages that commemorate the Lenten project. This year, the $20 shirts stated, “Remain Here and Watch with Me” — Jesus’ plea to his apostles prior to the Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:38).

Brother Leonard explained that $26,000 of the $60,000 would fund the “Upendo Sponsorship Program,” which helps 45 students like Koziah with tuition scholarships. Upendo is the Swahili word for “love.”

The remaining funds will support expansion projects at the Kenyan school, which now offers classes for junior high school students, Brother Boniface added.

Last year, the projects helped pay for a new bus to ease the commutes of students who previously walked as far as eight miles to reach their school.

“Now they have a more relaxed time because they are not tired,” Brother Bernard said. “So, their concentration in class is better.”

This year, the Kenyan school’s staff has budgeted the money to improve classrooms for the new junior high students.

Brother Leonard noted that faculty and staff, including him, wanted to fund Upendo scholarships for children of the Kenyan school’s staff. His contributions specifically went to help Koziah.

“It’s addictive,” exclaimed Brother Leonard, who has made three trips to visit the sister school and its community in Kenya.

The students also found the fundraising contagious.

“They’re the nicest people,” said Charlie Vallone, a senior and the St. Francis Prep student body president. “Every time we talk to them, I’m even more inspired to keep as many programs going as strong as possible.”

Adria Stacker, the senior class president, responded to Brother Boniface’s comment that $1 can feed a family in his country for a day. Therefore, whatever they raise can go a long way in Kenya, she noted. 

“So, of course, we can help and do as much as we can,” Adria said. “I feel like Prep has definitely taught us to give back.”

Janelle Borges, the student body vice president, agreed. The school, she said, has helped the students develop “good hearts.”