1,700 beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly Scholarship Programme Advised to Embrace Hard work
Nairobi,9/1/2017: Equity Group Foundation has today commissioned 1700 Wings To Fly scholars as they join various secondary schools across the country to further their education.
The Wings to Fly Program, which has so far benefited 14,368 deserving students, will see the eighth cohort of 1,700 students this year get full sponsorship for the four years of study in various secondary schools that they have been selected to join across the country. The 2017 Wings to Fly class is funded by The MasterCard Foundation with support from KfW and Equity Bank.
Presiding over the commissioning of the Wings To Fly, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiangi hailed the program for playing a critical role in supplementing the government’s efforts in providing education for all:
“The Wings To Fly program has transformed many lives since its inception and as a government we recognise the complementary role this program has played to support us to educate needy and bright students. As a result, we will be looking at ways of strengthening our partnership under the new policy framework,” said Dr. Matiangi.
The initiative by Equity Group Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation with additional financial support by other Wings to Fly partners, offers comprehensive secondary school scholarships to academically gifted children from needy backgrounds which covers: tuition fees, books, school uniform, accommodation, pocket money, transport costs among other expenses.
At the same time, Dr. Matiang’i also launched the 2017 Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program for the 2016 Wings to Fly graduates who scored an A and A- (minus). The Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program enables the scholars to pay for their University Education while undergoing leadership, coaching and mentoring. This year 569 Scholars will join the Program. They comprise of 286 scholars from the Wings to Fly program and 150 top boy and girl from each district in Kenya where Equity has a branch, who attained a minimum score of A-. Equity Bank also extended an exceptional opportunity to all the 141 students who scored an A plain in the KCSE exams in 2016 nationally (of which 8 are Wings to Fly scholars) to join the program. This will bring the total number of scholars who have benefitted from the Equity Bank Paid Internship to 5,059.
Dr Matiang’i said, “These Programmes are a great inspiration for the furtherance of cooperation between the government and the private sector in our efforts to support the education pillar as enshrined in our economic blueprint, Vision 2030 as well as supporting the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The Wings to Fly Programme has inspired other organizations in Kenya to start their own scholarship programmes targeting academically gifted children who are economically and socially challenged. Indeed many other corporate institutions have followed in Equity Group Foundation’s footsteps and come up to support the education of underprivileged and disadvantaged students from many areas within the country.
Dr. Matiang’i also implored upon the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity afforded to them, and ensure smooth completion of their studies with a view of transforming their lives as well as those of the community and nation at large.
On his part, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi reiterated that there are many needy students who require the necessary support in order for them to pursue their dreams.
“This year alone, we received over 25,000 applications from students who are unable to afford secondary school but were only able to award 1,700 scholarships. Although we strive to offer opportunities to the most deserving cases, we still feel that there is need for more collaboration between various stakeholders to achieve the dream of universal quality education in the country,” Dr. Mwangi said.
“We are encouraged by the performance of the Wings to Fly scholars. So far, four cohorts of Wings to Fly scholars totalling 6441 scholars have gone through secondary school with a 98% completion rate. 5476 have attained university entry qualifications, being an 85 % transition rate. Out of these, 2,343 have joined the Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program (Equity Leadership Program-ELP) and benefited from paid internships in Equity Bank before proceeding for their university studies. The scholars have remained true to their commitment to work hard, excel in their studies as well as actively participate in problem solving through taking up leadership roles,’ added Dr Mwangi
At the same time, Reeta Roy, President & CEO, The MasterCard Foundation confirmed the continued support for the program and called upon the students to embrace the spirit of discipline, hard work and tolerance in order to be successful in life:
“The MasterCard Foundation is impressed with the transformation of lives through Wings To Fly and we will continue to give our support to this program. We believe through our partnership many students will have an opportunity to change their lives and their communities. We recognise the importance of education as part of socio-economic development.”
On the other hand, the German Government through KFW, also reassured Wings To Fly students of its continued support as it implored on students who do not make it at the university to take advantage of technical courses:
“We have supported the Wings To Fly program because we believe in its net effect on social economic development.We will be supporting students from Wings To Fly who have not attained the grades to make it to universities to access tertiary and technical universities to further their studies,” said Dr. Klaus Liebig, Director KWF.
The Wings to Fly programme, continues to impact thousands of households in different parts of the country. The vision for the program is to provide a safety net that enhances transition of academically promising students from disadvantaged backgrounds, from primary to secondary level education and develop them into social transformational leaders of the future.
Highlights for Wings to Fly Programme:
- Wings to Fly Programme is aimed at offering comprehensive secondary scholarships to bright but needy students
- Wings to Fly Scholarship programme has been in operation since 2010.
- Over 25,000 applications were received this year.
- 1,700 students have been awarded Wings To Fly scholarships in 2017
- 14,368 students have benefitted from the Wings To Fly programme to date
- 85% transition rate of Wings To Fly Scholars to university
- The programme aims to award 20,000 scholarships in the few coming years.
Highlights for The Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program (Equity Leaders Programme):
- The Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program enables the scholars to pay for their University Education while undergoing leadership, coaching and mentoring.
- 569 scholars set to join The Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program in 2017
- 5,059 scholars have benefited from The Equity Bank Paid Pre-University Internship Program to date
- 362 scholars are alumni/studying at top universities globally
- All 141 students who scored A plain in the 2016 KCSE will join Equity Bank for a paid internship before proceeding to university
- 8 Wings to Fly scholars scored A in in the 2016 KCSE
About Wings to Fly programme
Equity Group Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation with additional funding support from USAID, UKAid, KfW, Equity Bank, individuals and institutions under the Wings to Fly program has been implementing a comprehensive secondary scholarship support program for top performing yet needy (orphan or vulnerable) students in the sub-counties across Kenya. In providing this opportunity to Kenyan children who may have otherwise gone unnoticed, the Wings to Fly program is in line with Kenya’s Vision 2030 blueprint to transform Kenya into a middle-income economy led by well-educated and trained citizens.
The objective of the scholarship program is to provide financial support and leadership empowerment tools to such students. The scholars under this program receive support for all their needs (tuition, accommodation, books, uniform, and transport to and from school, shopping and pocket money) while attending secondary school for the 4 years. This year’s 1,700 students will bring the total number of scholarships given under the Wings to Fly program to 14, 368 since 2010.
Equity Group Foundation
Equity Group Foundation was established by Equity Bank to create the financial and operational infrastructure for its social programs aimed at the low-income population. This innovation and creative vehicle has fully transformed the concept of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. While Equity Group Foundation champions the social economic transformation of the people of Africa and seeks partnership along seven cluster thematic areas, Equity Bank provides the infrastructure of delivery hence reducing the operational cost of the Foundation and increasing the rate of return on any social investment. The seven key social thematic areas are Education and Leadership development, Financial Literacy, Financial Inclusion, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Health, and Environment.
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The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation is an independent, global organization based in Toronto, Canada, with more than $9 billion in assets. Through collaboration with partner organizations in 46 countries, it is creating opportunities for all people to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s programs promote financial inclusion and advance youth learning, mostly in Africa. Established in 2006 through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide when it became a public company, the Foundation is a separate and independent entity. The policies, operations, and funding decisions of the Foundation are determined by its own Board of Directors and President and CEO.
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https://www.youtube.com/user/MasterCardFoundation
SCHOLARS’ PROFILES
- Derrick Shikuku
Age:14
KCPE Score: 399
Primary School: Shihalia Primary School
Branch: Kakamega
Secondary school admitted: Kapsabet Boys High School
Background Information:
Shikuku lives with his ailing grandmother in a semi-permanent house. His mother, the only breadwinner of the family lives in Nairobi where she works as a house-help. With his bedridden grandmother since December 2015, Shikuku has to do most of the work at home. They depend on neighbours where Derrick fetches water and firewood for them for food and also his teacher who would assist once in a while. Derick is hardworking and he has planted some sugar cane on a 4square meter piece of land next to the house which when grown he could sell. He also repairs the grandmothers house when need arises. Despite such hardships, Shikuku managed to seat for his KCPE exams and attain high marks.
2. Mary Kadii Age:
KCPE Score: 392
Primary School: Voi Saint Jude Educational Center
Branch: Voi
Secondary school admitted: Asumbi Girl’s High School, Kisii
Background Information
Kadii was born with a condition that curtails her physical mobility but with a mental capacity that makes her the envy of the village, an arid area making it hard for crops to thrive. At home, Mary a third born in a family of 11 shares a room with her six siblings. Although some may consider her situation to be dire, Kadii has a positive outlook for live. “My name (Kadii) means beautiful in my language and I know once educated I will build my family a beautiful house, we shall no longer sleep hungry like we have done many times,” It is with this heart that Kadii thought to apply for the Wings to fly programme.
3. Shadrack Lemuyak Age:
KCPE Score: 364
Primary School: Kimalele Primary School
Branch: Baringo
Secondary school admitted: Kabarnet boy’s High School
Background Information:
Lameyak learnt to fend for himself at an early age. As the eldest child, Lemuyak had to help his mother shoulder the burden of raising his 6 siblings after his father died. Lemuyak worked hard to support his widowed mother but meals were still scarce, and water hard to find. Together with his mother, Lemuyak burnt and sold charcoal for a living. However, this hardships did not deter Lemuyak from pursing his academic goals and rising beyond adversity to succeed in his primary school education.
4. Mboya Maurice Owino
Age: 14
KCPE Score: 349
Primary School: Nyawawa Primary School
Branch: Homabay Branch
Secondary school admitted: Orero Boys
Background Information:
Maurice is physically handicapped and cannot stand upright.
Upon the death of his father, he was neglected by his biological mother who later on passed away however and no one knows where she was buried. The step mother who is also jobless could not afford to pay his primary school fees.
His head teacher decided to take up the responsibility of paying his school fees including buying of school uniforms and at times providing him with shelter especially during the examination period.
He was the best boy in his school with 349 marks, this is the highest marks ever recorded by a student from the school, and the 2nd run-up scored 241 marks.
If not for WTF scholarship, Maurice will not proceed with his education.
5. Brian Kevin Omolo
Age: 21
KCPE Score: 403
Primary School: Okota Primary School
Branch: Homabay Branch
Secondary school admitted: Kanga High School
Background Information:
Kevin is an orphan with other four siblings. He sat for his KCPE in 2014 and managed to score 363 but he did not manage to get a chance to join High School. He then decided to become a herdsman from December 2014 till end of the year 2015. Brian’s former head teacher came across him and inquired why he was manning a home and looking after the cattle instead of being in school.
The teacher of Okota Primary School Mr. Gerald Otieno Olela decided to take him and managed to convince him to go back to school in January 2016. Kevin agreed and that is how he made his way back to school and managed to score the 403 marks in KCPE 2016
The boy has appreciated the WTF Scholarship and above all is thankful for his teacher Mr. Olela
6. John Githigi Mwangi
Age: 16
KCPE Score: 367
Primary School: Oltaffeta primary school
Branch: Nanyuki Branch
Secondary school admitted: Lenana School
Background Information:
He lives with his aged paternal grandparents having been abandoned by both parents at a tender age when they divorced in the year 2007.Their whereabouts are unknown to date. He cannot recall the faces of his parents neither does he know if he has other siblings or not. He had dropped out of school for two years and was living with a relative who had made him his farmhand from where he was rescued by the grandfather and taken back to school.
His seventy year old grandfather is diabetic and frail, despite this, his grandfather together with the grandmother do manual jobs like digging in other people’s farms to fend for the family. They come from a place called Oltaffeta which is one of the most arid places in Laikipia Sub County. The family is under threat of being evicted from their home by a relative who claims that he owns the land. John has a problem with his eyesight which at times affects his studies.
His leadership skills became evident when he was elected to be president student council Laikipia central and also as a member of board of management for Oltaffeta primary school upon recommendations from the county director of education.
He got to know about Wings to Fly scholarship through his church. Was it not for this scholarship he would have failed to join Lenana School and therefore his dream of becoming a cabinet secretary would have been shattered. He also wants to uplift the living standards of his grandparents and the entire village.
7. Stephen Tunu Iha
Age:
KCPE Score: 385
Primary School: Mjanaheri Primary School
Branch: Kilifi
Secondary school admitted: Kanga High School.
Home: Lwandani-Gongoni
Background Information:
Stephen is a single orphaned boy (father deceased), he is the tenth born in a family of 12. Two of his siblings are physically handicapped and totally immobile.
The mother is the sole bread winner of the family and does casual work- laundry and cleaning from door to door to earn a living, the family can go for upto 2 days without a meal. The family receives assistance on meals from the church they fellowship.
Stephen had got a solar lamp donation which he would use as a source of light for his studies at night, he is one scholar who rose from such a humble background faced with many challenges and fought against all odds to score 385 marks in the 2016 K.C.P.E and secured a scholarship position for the Wtf program.
8. Matthew Letuaa
Age: 15
KCPE Score: 402
Primary School: Samburu
Branch: Maralal Branch
Secondary School admitted: Muranga High School.
Background Information:
Mathew comes from a very poor family where the parents are old. The Father is 96 and the mother is 60 yrs old.
They live in a small Manyatta which is characterized by poor thatching by old sisals leaving holes in the roof. Mathew is a Moran and according to samburu culture one should stay in a different manyatta from the parents.
His family could not provide one, he therefore has no specific Manyatta and instead spends in other Morans houses and most of these boys do not go to schools and are actively involved in cattle grazing. Mathew spends a lot of time with these boys but despite that Mathew performed extremely well and to join Muranga High.
9. Delight Roselne Abetsa
Age: 14
KCPE Score: 387
Primary School: Sinyanya primary school
Branch: Bondo branch
Secondary School admitted: Moi Girls, Isindu
Background Information:
Delight is a total orphan coming from a disadvantaged family who can barely afford two meals a day. Abeta’s guardians are distant relatives, her uncles, who have never sent any of her sibling to a secondary school, let alone a girl child. She is the first in the family to have obtained a high primary school score. With no money for secondary school, her guardians were contemplating sending her to Bondo town to work as a house help and eventually marry her off.
10. Joseph Kamau
Age: 14
KCPE Score: 363
Primary School: Thika Road Primary School
Branch: Ridgeways Branch
Secondary School admitted: Kisii High School
Background Information:
He has come from a humble background in Mathere North Slums. He father abandoned him after the 2007 political crisis. After studying in a Thika Road primary school he managed to get 363 marks in KCPE. His mother sell vegetable sells vegetables and her earnings are only enough to provide food for the family. His mother lives to a one bedroom house which is not big enough for Joseph and his siblings. As such, being the only boy, Joseph has to be hosted by their family friend.
11. James Nyakoe
Age: 14
KCPE Score: 400
Primary School: Precious Hope Primary School
Branch: Kisii Branch
Secondary School admitted: Maseno School
Background information:
James is a single orphan boy (Father Deceased) comes from a family of three. When he was nine months the father passed on leaving the burden to the mother. The mother decided to take the children to the grandmother’s that she could save to buy land since her in-laws took everything once her husband died. When James was five years old he started doing menial jobs so that he could secure his school fees. At the age of twelve he got help from well-wisher who took him to an academy so that he could study better. Even with fee arrears he managed to finish class 8. Under the Wing’s to Fly programme he was admitted to Maseno School.
Equity Leaders Program scholar’s profiles:
- Ahmed Salat- Male
Family Background:
Ahmed comes from a place called Sarman in Wajir County. He was born in a family of seven and went to Dambas Primary School, a small public school with a population less than 150 students from where he scored 393 marks and joined the Wings to fly Program.
He was sponsored through high school by the Equity Group Foundation under the wings to Fly Program.
High School: Alliance Boys High School
KCSE Grade: A, 83 points
Leadership: Utility Captain, Deputy School Captain
University: Duke University, Durham NC
- Annjoy Muthoni Gichane
High School: St.Anne’s Girls Secondary School, Lioki
University: Washington and Lee University
Her daring nature led her to being the first ELP and possibly Kenyan, to become an upcoming student of Washington and Lee University. Annjoy’s whole life has been in a one-road town in Kiambu which explains her desire to study in a global university. She studied at St. Anne’s Girls Secondary School, Lioki where she topped most of the exams and was eventually the best student in Kiambu in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations 2015.
She has since joined the ELP scholars program and interned at Equity Bank where she has had
the chance to build her strengths, foster great relationships and nurture her drive to explore new opportunities. Her curiosity and ambition has led her to try her hand in business, being an active representative of an international marketing company. At only 19, she is a strong believer of making a difference by being the difference. She enjoys spending her free time with friends and trying out new adventurous things.
- Pricilla Achieng Onyango
I am from a single parent family with my mom being the family’s breadwinner. I have 3 siblings and I am the second born. My family resides in Kapsabet, Nandi County.
Most people believe that to have a title in school or community is a leadership skill but I think that all those moments that I have the opportunity to make people come together and impact change are my leadership times. I therefore think that I have had these leadership positions in many encounters.
I went to Alliance Girls High School and graduated in 2015 with an A grade of 84points.I was the top girl in my district and the first student in my school. I recently got an admission to Dartmouth College next fall.
Helstine Ochieng Opondo is the first born in a family of five siblings. Both parents are alive. The family resides in the western part of Kenya in the poorly cultivated region of Siaya County. This is their county of birth.
I first came into contact with this family in the large Korogocho slum in the outskirts of the city centre, Nairobi in early 2002 when I was working as a community nurse in one of the largest slums in Africa. Since then sickness, joblessness brought about by less education, poverty and lack of focus for future life were major vices. However they were regular church goers, attending Sunday church services without failure.
We were sometimes sent to the slums to go for community health awareness and advice families on healthy living tips. The boy (Helstine) was still young and one could not tell whether he would attend school or not. In 2005 I was posted by the health ministry to Siaya County and met the family already there, they again posted me in the nearest health facility. I was able to be in contact with the health life of the family and mostly my contact with the boy grew deep for he used to come at the health center to take drugs on behalf of his chronically sick parents who lived positively on HIV/AIDs. Still to date his parents are on regular care in the health facility. Income sources are purely scarce. His parents are of peasant stock living basically and on basic meals just to make a day pass. Remarkably, the family is also under the list of poverty victims who receives relief food which occurs in irregular basis.
The parents are semi-literate (Both primary school leavers.) and for the boy to have worked hard in academics in a totally remote village school (Siginga primary) despite the many times he was sent home to collect fees and often forced to miss classes almost a full term and got a colourful scholarship to high school, was purely a rare achievement. Notably by many and I, I am solely sorry to state that Helstine spent much time of his primary schooling out of school than the time he spent in class due to unfortunate inability of the family to constantly afford the mere approximate five dollar per annum school fee. An occasion where his parents were bedridden, the then twelve year old boy was forced to abandon school to look for meal for their younger siblings. Amazingly, An occasion six years back that I happened to visit the family one evening, I was surprised to see the boy struggling to conduct his studies at the cooking zone, seeking light from the fireworks as his mum was preparing a meal despite the aroma for their hut was in half darkness, however he got a high school scholarship from Equity group foundation and her partners (Mastercard Foundation, USAID etc) and excelled.
The family lives in total poverty where father and mother are jobless only to be bent on peasantry which is done at a very low level that is why even the younger academically promising siblings in the family need serious attention. The boy and the family live in an old grass thatched hut. These are why even the Equity Group Foundation and her partners had to intervene in financing the highly bright but economically disadvantaged boy for high school education.
Importantly, I’m marveled by the boy’s stupefying assiduity and his unparalleled leadership virtuosity coupled with his burning heart to transform his community. Since he graduated from his high school, he has not been attached to any of our local universities but alternatively I see him devoted in community voluntary services of his own. Many are the times he has requested me to permit him conduct general cleaning with the support of his peers whom he has convinced in the nearby community`s health centre I work for. Besides that, I hear patients and other village dwellers mention his stantaneous visits in different homes only to advice adults and their kids on the relevance of education.
Four months ago, after a while individual observation of mine on the boy and continuous worries on where he would get someone to finance his tertiary education, I decided to call him on one evening to hear his thought. Amazingly and undoubtedly sure, these are among few lusting words I still recall he said to me, ’I will get a chance to a highly global reputable institution of learning and my people gonna see the change they have longed for.’ Truth to be told, this sounded hypothetical and nigh impossible to me based on the humble background he is from and the surrounding, for this is strange and unheard of in this village(studying abroad).Recently he debunked this myth when he told me that he has been granted an admission in a university in United States, Michighan State University.
Hopefully granted this amazing scholarship, am deviently sure this will be a one time and the most credible opportunity to the society and Kenya at large, for the boy will hopefully be their ambassador sent out on an education platform. With sincerity and my wishes, Helstine is one type of a candidate whom when granted such a scholarship like this, will be of great value in the lives of the disadvantaged and the vulnerable in the society for I have always seen the passionate heart he has for people and his thirst to bring a rapid transformation. As I conclude, I plead to be contacted without hesitation any time in case of any confirmation that might be required from me.
- Lily Muindi- Female
High School: Mary Hill Girls’ High School
KCSE Grade: A, 84 Points –
Leadership: School Captain in High School
University: Princeton University
I come from Kasarani in Nairobi. I attended a typical government sponsored primary school called kahawa primary where I topped my class with a score of 414 marks, hence I was called to Mary hill girls’ high school. I was a student leader throughout my high school life, and ultimately became the school captain in form three. I also participated competitively in many math contests and music festivals.
I scored an A of 84 points, topping both in my school and in Thika west district, it is for that reason I joined the ELP group ’16. It was an amazing opportunity. I made many awesome friends who are like family to me, and was mentored by high achievers. My job helped me attain financial independence and learn responsibility in order to meet the set standards. Better still i got to mentor students at Pangani girls.
I am now eagerly waiting to join Princeton University next year. I am undecided about what course I’ll take, but I’m sure I’m excited to about the experience.
- Naomi Nyambura Theuri- Female
High School: Alliance Girls High School
KCSE Grade: A-
Leadership: Dorm Captain in High School
University: Vanderbilt University Nashville,
Family Background
I am from Kiambu, Kenya. I have four siblings, two older sisters and two younger brothers. My parents paid my school fees throughout high school.
Academic Details
I attended Alliance Girls High School from 2012-2015. I scored an A- but I was privileged to join the Equity Leaders Program because i was top in German in the country in my year. I have been admitted to Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee school of Engineering Class of 2021. I am yet to decide what I will major in when I get there.
Leadership
While in high school, I was dorm captain. I was also part of The Equity Leaders Program.
Entrepreneurship/ Initiative
In my final year in high school, I began a business in which our class would make jewelry from beads and sell it so as to raise school fees for our classmates. We were able to offset the balances for three of our classmates.
- Samuel Kinuthia Mbugua- Male
High School: Ituru High School
KCSE Grade: A, 82 Points
Leadership: School Captain in High School
University: Cornell University
Family Background
Being born in the slums of Gomongo- Kariobangi, growing up in the suburbs of Kahawa West and later moving to Ikuma, Gatundu, life has not been without its challenges. I am the 2nd born in a family of three. Before father became a casual labourer in the construction sites of Kenyatta University, he would run a kiosk in Kongo, Kahawa west. Mother, on the other hand, has always been a local tailor, doing repairs on clothes. Meanwhile, I was in Gatundu living with grandmother who recently fell ill. I also attended school here in Gatundu. My school fees, for the most part, has been paid by the CDF after being organized for by the School’s administration. Father has always sought bursaries in Kahawa West after I failed to secure a place in the Wings to Fly Program 2012.
To have joined the Equity family five years after I unsuccessfully tried to do so, to me, is amazing. I am more than excited.
Academic Details
Primary School: Ikuma Primary Gatundu, Kiambu County High School: Ituru High School 2012-2015 Gatundu, Kiambu County I graduated from high school with an A of 82 points and managed to top Gatundu District. Mine was the only A in the district 2015.
I was selected to join ELP, a chance of a lifetime, and later on got into JKUAT to pursue
Radiography at the College of Health Sciences. It was while interning at Equity Bank,
Gatundu Branch, when I applied and qualified to join the highly selective Equity College
Counselling. I went on to apply to Cornell University and got accepted.
It’s almost unbelievable! I am eternally grateful to the Equity Leadership Program.
Leadership
During my years in high school I was appointed the Sanatorium Captain in charge of health
at only form two. In my third form of high school, I was also appointed the School’s Deputy
Captain. During the first term of that year, I was elected Gatundu Sub county/ District
Student President. In that same year I was elected Kiambu County Student President and
thus Chairman of the County Student Council 2014-2015.This position has been traditionally
held by Form four delegates. In 2015, my final year, I went ahead to become the School
Captain, Ituru High School. I didn’t stop at high school. With a few of my ELP colleagues interning at Gatundu Branch and the rural youth, we founded a youth social group. Its aim was to try and rehabilitate alcoholics within the group. I took up the post of the group’s treasurer where I help formulated the group’s entrepreneurial business plan to raise funds for the group’s initiatives. It has been an incredible journey.
- Onesmus Osero Mongare- Male
High School: Kisii High School
KCSE Grade: A
Leadership: School Captain in High School
University: University of Nairobi
FAMILY BACKGROUND
SUMMARY OF FAMILY BACKGROUND
My siblings and I were raised by a single parent (mother) since my father passed on in 2005. Up to December 2013, my mother was a house wife. Since then, she is a nursery school teacher at Bridge Academies. My brothers in university depend on the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan to pay their school fees and also for upkeep. I also depended on it while still in the university. As a family, we do not have a stable source of income.
WHO PAID MY FEES IN HIGH SCHOOL
Up until the age of twelve, I was brought up by both parents. In 2005, while in the final year of primary school, a tragedy happened. My father passed on and it’s the worst nightmare that I have ever experienced. My mum, a housewife at that time, was left all by herself to bring up four children. However hard a task it seemed to everyone else, my mother still kept the hope and on we trudged with life. Back in school, I put in the hard work, emerged the second best student in the school and got admission to the best high school around the region.
Bearing in mind the large sum of school fees required, some of my relatives bemoaned why we insisted on raising the large sum of money when we would opt for the local secondary school around where fees were much lesser. It is fair to say more than the odd eyebrow was raised when mother called for a fundraiser in church. This was the trend during my entire high school life and it was a sigh of relief when I completed my high school. Not only did I emerge the best student in the school, but I was also the best student in the vast region. Raising school fees for my high school education is the most significant obstacle I have ever experienced. In as much as it was a struggle throughout, I achieved my ultimate goal of being the best.
All things considered, such an experience would lead to some other people giving up, but my hard work and determination always persuaded the well-wishers to help pay my school fees. In conclusion, I learnt that sometimes there is a way where there seem to be none
- ACADEMIC DETAILS
HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: KISII HIGH SCHOOL
YEAR: 2006 – 2009
GRADE ATTAINED: A PLAIN
RANKING:
- Best student in the school.
- Best student in the vast Kisii Region (Nyamira and Kisii Counties).
- Nationally ranked the 128th best candidate.
UNIVERSITY: UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
COURSE: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE – ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
ACHIEVEMENT: FIRST CLASS HONOURS
- LEADERSHIP
Secretary General of the Engineering Students Association (ESA) – University of Nairobi
Duties and Responsibilities
- Presided over all meetings of the executive committee at all general meetings in absence of the chair and vice-chair and conducted all duties assigned to me by the Chair.
- Worked to safeguard and implement the general policy of the students association.
- ESA magazine editor.
- ENTREPRENEURSHIP/INITIATIVE
Volunteering in my community is a great way to make a difference to people’s lives. Between 2006 and 2009, I donated old clothes to the less fortunate.
I also was a volunteer tutor at a local secondary school between 2010 and 2011. Hence, in a small way, I pushed my local community forward.
