East Africa Scholarship Update Report July 2013
Background The Guinness Scholarships started in 2001 to support talented students who were unable to fund higher education This evolved into the EABL Foundation Scholarships which among other things now funds 14 students per year in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. MRI started sponsoring students in 2007 through the MR Foundation The MR Foundation Scholarship Scheme is administered by Strathmore University, Nairobi. Strathmore takes two Foundation Scholars annually. McKinney Rogers Kenya staff administer the Scheme The MR Foundation as at end of 2012 has had 33 students sponsored under its educational scholarship scheme. The 2013 recruitment of 6 new scholars is ongoing A profile of the thirty three MRI Scholars across East Africa is below
Strathmore University - Nairobi Was the first college to offer accountancy courses in Kenya and thus most of the current senior financial experts are Strathmore Alumnus. Was the first Educational institution in East and Central Africa to get ISO 9001 2000 Certification in 2003. One of 71 Universities in the country and offers Bachelor of Commerce, Actuarial Sciences, Bachelor of Hospitality & Tourism, Bachelor of Science in Leadership & Management and Bachelor of Business Information Technology Was ranked the best university in Kenya in 2009 and 16 th Best in Africa. The university formed the Strathmore Research & Consulting Company which is an income generating academic facility Statistics indicate that 60% of graduates find employment within 4 months 80% of today s Kenyan CEOs are alumni (incl G Mahinda EABL and T Naikuni Kenya Airways)
MR Foundation scholars in East Africa Selection criteria Must have achieved straight A s at O level. Must be financially needy and outstanding in character. parents / guardians of those shortlisted are carefully vetted. EABL advertises the scholarships annually. The Strathmore Committee handle selection to ensure impartiality. This year 6 more scholars will be chosen from 2,000+ applicants. Scholars have a personal mentor to help guide them: they are from a very different social background to most of their fellow students. The profiles below have a summary of their family situation. They are invited and encouraged to attend various EABL corporate events and internships Our scholars have attended our Annual Conferences in the US and Italy, have won laptops for performance and 14 of then have been through the EiA Scholars Challenge Week in 2011 and 2013
Kenya: Alumni Profiles Name Particulars Comments Elias Lagat [Works at Samsung Electronics KE] Lydia Kariba [Works at Gulf African Bank KE] Bachelor of Commerce, Graduated 2011 Business Information Technology, Graduated 2011 He was orphaned when he was one year old and has had his fees paid by well-wishers. He was the only child of his parents. He has won several awards both academic and extra-curricular during his secondary school days. She is the second born in a family of 5 children. Her secondary school fee was paid by well wishers and by the time she was leaving school she had a fee balance of K.shs. 52,087 that the school wrote off. Was doing odd jobs at the time of being selected for the scholarship. Immaculate Mwende [Intern at Family Health] Amos Onsando [Works at Deloitte KE] Bachelor of Commerce, Graduated 2012 Business Information Technology, Graduated 2012 She is the 4th born in a family of 7. The family farm was burnt down during the clashes that rocked the country in January 2008. The mother earns a net salary of K.shs. 8,000 per month they thus raise pigs to help supplement their income. Was on fees bursary while at school. The student was an all-rounder in school and has a very good school leaving certificate. He is the 3rd born in a family of 6. Elder siblings have not been able to complete college owing to fees. Mother has been ailing since 1992 thus drained all family resources. He went through school on fees bursary. Despite being away from school on many occasions he still excelled in his exams. He has initiative and had begun working as an un-trained teacher earn K.shs. 3,000 per month.
Kenya: Student Profiles Name Particulars Comments Judy Tuwei Business Information Technology, Graduated June 2013 She is the 2nd born in a family of 4. Her secondary school fees was paid by USAID on a bursary basis. The 3 rd born is in form one and her school fees are being paid by Red Cross. Judy s pocket money would be provided by her teachers since they understood her family background. Peter Kibe [Deceased] Bachelor of Commerce, Admitted 2009 He was the 1 st born in a family of 3. He and his siblings were brought up by their grandmother. His secondary school fees was paid by Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. His two siblings are now in secondary school. Quite mature though young, he had a lot of initiative. Jane Njuguini Mumo Bachelor of Commerce, Graduating June 2014 She is the 1 st born in a family of 3. Her secondary school fees was paid through loans and that is what the mother has taken to cater for the fees of the other two siblings. The mother get a meager net pay due to the numerous loans she has taken. She is the hope of the family. Eddy Onditi Onyango Business Information Technology at Graduating June 2014 He is the 1 st born in his family. He went through secondary under sponsorship from well wishers. He still has a fee balance of K.shs. 65,000 at Maseno School. His mother s income can t support him and the other siblings one of whom is being sponsored by Starehe Boys Centre for secondary education.
Kenya: Student Profiles Name Particulars Comments Martha Nyambura Mwaura Business Information Technology, Graduating June 2015 She is the 4 th born in a family of 4. Family lost all property in the 1992 Molo Tribal Clashes. Father now a shopkeeper and Mother passed away a while back. Father struggling to meet ends for family. Student is bright and focused. Victor Wahome Njeri Jackline Kainyu Kimathi Bachelor of Commerce, Graduating June 2015 Business Information Technology, Graduating June 2016 He is the only child of his parents who are no longer with him. His guardian uncle is a plumber in Nyeri and has a family of his own. Victor is the hope of the uncle s family. Victor is bright and been educated by bursaries all through up to now. She is the 4 th born in a family of 5. Parents struggling on the one acre farm and one dairy cow to educate siblings. Jackline has a lot of initiative, she used her post school days to work at an Mpesa shop to help with family expenses Joshua Mutuku Kilonzo Bachelor of Commerce, Graduating June 2016 He is the 4 th born in a family of 5 children. He stays now with his step father, the elder siblings are doing odd jobs. The step father s children are in free primary education. Joshua was on 100% sponsorship at Starehe Boys Centre where he attained a mean grade of A and was 11 th nationwide in 2011 KCSE examinations
Tanzania: Alumni Profiles Name Particulars Comments Justin Mbulu [Works at Maestek TZ] Lilian Kagashe [Works at PwC TZ] Lally Elias Premsingh [Started his own Company] Cleophas Cyprian [Works at Standard Charted TZ] David Kasira [Works at Standard Charted TZ] BSc. Telecoms Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam, Graduated 2011 BA Accounting & Finance, Mzumbe University Graduated 2010 Computer Engineering & IT, University of Dar es Salaam, Graduated 2012 BA Accounting & Finance, Mzumbe University, Graduated 2011 BA Accounting & Finance, Mzumbe University, Graduated 2012 He is the 4th born in a family of 6 children. The elder sister who works as a hospital nurse helped to pay his secondary school fees. Two of the siblings died sometimes back. To help in the family Justin has been offering revision classes to secondary school students at a fee in his neighbourhood. She is the 6th born in a family of 6. The mother works as a secretary in the ministry of Water in Dar-es-Salaam. She also supports children of her in-laws who passed away. They had to fundraise to complete her secondary school fees. She was the school Head girl. He is the 1 st born in a family of 3. His parent separated when he was very young. He has been educated by his aunt. The other siblings are also being taken care of by relatives. Was top student in his district. If it were not for the scholarship he wont have been able to join university, because the aunt is not able to cater for university education. He is the 1 st born in a family of 5 children. Father cultivates a 3 acre farm while mother sells vegetables produced at the local market. To supplement family income before applying for the scholarship he used to offer tuition classes to neighbours. He is a hard worker and has lots of initiative. He is the third born in a family of three. Both parents were retrenched from government and are now peasant farmers. He was outstanding in school and he is hope of the family since the other two are not earning well ( a police man and a school teacher)
Tanzania: Student Profiles Name Particulars Comments Ali Kiruke Walter Kweka BSc. Telecoms Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam, Graduating 2014 BA Accounting & Finance, Mzumbe University Graduating 2014 He is the 3 rd born in a family of 6 children. To supplement family income he has been offering tuition classes to boys in the estate. Though awarded 100% scholarship by government but he opted for MRI. A hard worker and very disciplined He is the 4 th born in a family of 7. His dad is ill and uncle now takes care of them. He was in the top 30 in the country in his final high school exams. He has had to teach and do product marketing to supplement family budget. He is a very bright student and has many good personal traits. Dickson Tumsiime BA Accounting & Finance, Mzumbe University Graduating 2014 He is the 4 th born in a family of 7. Elderly parents income cant support him so one of the sisters supports him too. Been doing charity works on days he had no job, but from time to time he would get a teaching job to supplement sister s income. He is focused and can achieve a lot. Mary Kiangi BSc. Telecoms Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam, Graduating 2015 She is the 3 rd born in a family of 3. Father to retire in 2015 and thus a mum a clerk has gone back to school so that after husband s retirement she can be the bread winner of the family. Parents have no savings and thus struggling with the three children. Mary is focused and had outstanding personality.
Uganda: Alumni Profiles Name Particulars Comments Olivia Namirimo [Works at MTN UG] Keziah Naziwa [Works at KCB UG] Moreen Mbambu [Works at Kasese Medical Centre] Vincent Muzeeyi [Works at UBL] Bachelor of Commerce, Makerere University, Graduated 2011 Bachelor of Business Management, Kyambogo University, Graduated 2010 Business Administration & Management, Uganda Martyrs University, Graduated 2011 Business Computing, Makerere University, Graduated 2011 She is the 3rd born in a family of 8. The first born is a receptionist while the others are still in school. The father drinks all the money he gets from farming and thus mother has to beg from relatives. An uncle has been her guardian and he sees her as the hope of the family. She is the 3rd born in a family of 6. The first born does casual jobs while the others are still in school. The father was retrenched from the civil service in 2006.The mother is a housewife. The father sees her as the hope of the family since he is now jobless and relies on the girl to complete university and help the family. She is the 3rd born in a family of 5. The first two siblings never completed school owing to lack of school fees. She is thus the first child to complete secondary school. She is the only hope of the family. Father died some years back and mother now terminally ill. Moreen has been working in local supermarket as an attendant since completing school. In spite of being on and off school as a result of fees arrears, she is a natural leader and held several leadership positions in school. He is the 2nd born in a family of 3. Mother died in 1993 while father in 1997. Elder sibling did not complete school after the parents demise. His school fee was paid by an aunt who upon being laid off decided to use her entire pension of U.shs. 2,500,000 ( 740) to educate Vincent. The aunt saw the genius in Vincent and decided to take a gamble and it paid off. The last born sister is 17 years old and epileptic. Vincent had to work as a waiter in a hotel to raise money for his sick sister and also his auntie s children. He has no self pity and is a hard worker.
Uganda: Alumni Profiles Name Particulars Comments Peace Agumenawe [Works at MTN UG] Emmanuel Katabalwa [Works at Xtreme Studio] Information Technology, Makerere University, Graduated 2012 Business Administration, Makerere University. Graduated 2012 She is the 4 th born in a family of 4. The elder siblings never completed form 5 and 6 because of the parents separation. One of the siblings stays with the mother while the other three live together where the eldest supports the others through her second hand shoe business. Peace was the 6 th best student in last year s form 6 exams in Uganda. She is an outstanding person. He is the 1 st born in a family of 3. To supplement his father s income from Janury to June 2009 Emmanuel did construction work. With the scholarship he is the hope of the family and will support the other two siblings to complete school. Good person with a lot of initiative. Andrew Pamba Beatrice Byaruhanga Business Administration, Makerere University. Graduating 2013 Information Technology, Makerere University. Graduating 2013 He is the 1 st born in a family of 5. Due to poor family financial position he has been on scholarships while at school. Family assets had to be sold to top up his fees. Won Prefect of the year award while at school. Bright person with a strong character. Good person with a lot of initiative; taught in an Adult Education school after form six. She is the 5 th born in a family of 10. The elder siblings completed secondary school but doing odd jobs. Siblings behind her are in primary and secondary schools. Since their parents passed on relatives have been paying her tuition fees. After completing school she taught in the village school to raise funds. Hope of the family when she completes her studies. She has a strong character
Uganda: Student Profiles Name Particulars Comments Athanas Barigye Business Administration, Makerere University, Graduating 2015 He is the 4 th born in a family of 4.His sickly mother is a nurse and their 2 nd born is epileptic while the rest of the siblings are doing odd jobs. Student is strong and determined, he is the hope of the family since retrenched father abandoned the family. Timothy Tumuhamye Information Technology, Makerere University. Graduating 2015 He is the 2 nd born in a family of 7. Father s income not adequate to support them all. Timothy has had to work in an internet café to help father with expenses. Mother is sickly and needs a lot of many for monthly medication. He is a young promising person. Vianney Sempala Science in Electrical Engineering, Makerere University. Graduating 2016 He is the 4 th born in a family of 4.His elder sister is his caretaker. The sisters are disjointed and thus not supportive of each other. He is the hope of the family now that parents are deceased. Has initiative and was teaching at a primary school after High school to earn some cash. Rebecca Asio Information Technology, Makerere University. Graduating 2015 She is the 4 th born in a family of 8. The first three siblings are doing odd jobs since father s home brew cant raise enough to take them to school. In their current status, Rebecca is the only hope, she will need mentoring, she is very keen with her studies.
2013 Graduation Ceremony at SU Peter Kibe s Mother receives the Community Outreach Programme Award on his behalf. MR Foundation Scholar Judy Tuwei receives award for Top student in her class.
2013 Business Challenge Week L R: Chris Stephenson, Paul Ochieng (Dean Of Students, Strathmore University), Marylyn Muriu (Head of Research at KCB) and Derek Browne (CEO, Entrepreneurs in Action)
2013 Business Challenge Week Scholars have a brain storming session outside with their Coach Derek Browne (CEO, Entrepreneurs in Action)
Next Steps...Arming the Scholars for Success Initiatives: 1. Carry on the MRK Scholars mentoring program 2. Continue Entrepreneurs' in Action (EiA) training for all future graduates Objectives: Mentoring Program 1. Professional exposure 2.Challenging the scholars 3. Increasing self awareness EiA Training 1. Building entrepreneurial skills 2. Preparing for the world outside school 3. Exposure to real life business issues Targets: Mentoring Program 1. Align with Strathmore mentoring program 2. Regularly assess program success EiA Training 1. Liaise with more partners. 2. Completion of practical project. Measures: 1. Highly proactive scholars. 2. 80% of graduating scholars engaged in economically viable activities within 90 days of course completion. 100% in six months. 3. Visible pay it forward mentality with the scholars willing to mentors others. 4. Full support from the various partners. 5. Full alignment with ongoing programs in the universities.