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Equity Wings to Fly scholars from across the country gathered on Sunday at Pangani Girls High School in Nairobi for the official commissioning of the 2024 cohort.
The 1,000 top performers in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) who are academically gifted but financially challenged and who are drawn from every part of Kenya, have been awarded comprehensive four-year secondary school scholarships under Equity Group Foundation’s (EGF) Wings to Fly program.
Before the official commissioning, 1000 beneficiaries from across the country gathered at Pangani Girls High School for a two-day induction and training programme.
The launch of the 15th cohort of the Wings to Fly programme brings the total number of comprehensive secondary school scholarships awarded by Equity Group Foundation to 60,009.
Audrey Kijulu, 14, of Voi, is one of the program’s lucky beneficiaries, and despite his small stature, his tiny shoulders bear the weight of his family’s and community’s hopes.
Kijulu, who scored 354 marks, is looking forward to joining Matiliku Boys high school, where his future already marked out
“Equity scholarship is paying for our school fees, proving us with pocket money and uniforms, school fees – and its bata shoes, and I thank them for that because I cannot afford it.’ Kijulu told a local TV.
“I want to be a neurosurgeon and help people in my village. Most of them are poor and have mental challenges.” He added.
Farahan Hasan is a similar beneficiary from Mandera county. He says, he can’t wait to finish school and go back to help his community.
“I want to become a teacher because in our county there are no teachers, because the security is not good and this people from down Kenya have disappeared from us.” Farahan said.
Speaking at the commissioning, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi encouraged the learners to take full advantage of the scholarship and mentorship programme.
In addition to covering the entire cost of tuition for four years, he said Wings to Fly will make sure the scholars are well-rounded people by providing a thorough mentorship programme, a back-to-school basket, psychosocial support, and on-campus medical care.
Read Also:1000 students to benefit Equity Wings to Fly Scholarship
“This programme is about giving you a chance to change your life. Everything you have spoken about as a challenge, we are living it behind. Wings to fly and equity group foundation has chosen to adopt you.” Mwangi told the scholars.
“So yours is just to principally focus on your dreams, your very big dreams,”
Scholars from the Equity Leaders programme, who will be attending Global universities, were also featured in the commissioning.
“Throughout he program I got accepted into Princeton university, I will join in August this year. I will always wanted to work at a top the university. I feel like so many doors have been opened to me,” Meshack Oloo, beneficiary said.
The Wings to Fly programme was established as a collaboration between Equity Group Foundation and Equity Bank, with additional support from other partners, to support secondary education for top performing children from financially challenged families.