Equity : Commissions the 2018 Class of Wings to Fly Scholarship Programme

Equity Group Commissions the 2018 Class of Wings to Fly Scholarship Programme

So far 15,168 deserving students from across the country have benefitted from the Programme

Nairobi, Thursday, January 04th, 2018… The 2018 Class of Wings To Fly Programme has received their comprehensive secondary school scholarships. The students received the scholarships at a Commissioning Ceremony officiated by the Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i. This brings the total number of scholars in the Wings To Fly Programme to 15,168.

Speaking during the event, Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i noted that the Wings to Fly programme has continued to greatly impact bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 'There is nothing that surpasses the beauty of empowering the youth to take charge of their own future. I commend Equity Bank and Mastercard Foundation , who through the Wings to Fly Programme, have given young Kenyans an opportunity to shape their destiny. This programme fits well within the premise of Sustainable Development Goals, which is based on the notion of trying to offer long-term solutions to the problems that plague our society, including poverty by the year 2030. Education is one of the avenues through which poverty can be eradicated,' Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Matiang'i said.

The Wings to Fly initiative 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.

Dr James Mwangi, Equity Bank Group CEO & MD and Executive Chairman Equity Group Foundation said the success of the Wings to Fly programme has prompted and encouraged other organisations to also start offering education scholarships to needy students.

Last year, 1,309 Wings to Fly scholars qualified for university having attained the entry grade of C+ and above, representing 68.9 % of the 1,899 who sat the exam, compared to the national qualifying rate of 11.5%. Out of these, 9 scholars scored straight As while 107 got A minus in the in the 2017 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination. The Wings to Fly scholars who scored straight As and A minus, together with the other 133 who scored A nationally in the 2017 KCSE, will join the Equity Bank paid internship programme alongside the top boy and girl with an A minus from each sub-county where Equity Bank has a branch.

'We continue to be encouraged by the performance of the Wings to Fly scholars and the 2017 KCSE results, a true testament that the programme is truly impactful. So far 6,778 scholars have attained university entry qualifications and out of these, 84 ELP scholars have received admission to global universities. Another 34 have received admission through the early decision cycle for 2018 bringing the total number of scholars admitted to date to 443,' added Dr Mwangi.
Ends………

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 programme has been implementing a comprehensive secondary scholarship support programme 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 programme 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 programme is to provide financial support and leadership empowerment tools to such students. The scholars under this programme 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 intake will bring the total number of scholarships given under the Wings to Fly programme to 15,168 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.

www.equitygroupfoundation.com , http://www.facebook.com/KeEquityBank, https://twitter.com/KeEquityBank

Mastercard Foundation

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.

www.mastercardfdn.org , https://www.facebook.com/TheMasterCardFoundation , https://twitter.com/MastercardFdn , https://www.youtube.com/user/MasterCardFoundation

Share this article

Rate this article