1. education

The inaugural Wings to Fly class during their orientation in Nairobi before joining secondary school in 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE PROGRAMME
3
FOREWORD5
STATEMENT FROM DR. HELEN GICHOHI, MANAGING DIRECTOR EQUITY
Scholar Profiles: 2011 Wings to Fly Scholars Transition into Equity Leaders
Programme (ELP).....................................................................................................35
LOOKING AHEAD
38
GROUP FOUNDATION
7
FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL TO HIGHER EDUCATION: EQUITY LEADERS
ABOUT EQUITY GROUP FOUNDATION
8
Mentoring a New Generation of Leaders...............................................................39
Education & Leadership Pillar..................................................................................8
PROGRAMME (ELP)
39
History of the Programme.......................................................................................39
THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS IN KENYA 9
Our Leadership Development Model.....................................................................41
ABOUT THE WINGS TO FLY PROGRAMME
10
Our Scholars.............................................................................................................43
THE WINGS TO FLY PROGRAMME SELECTION PROCESS
12
Major Initiatives........................................................................................................42
Our Impact................................................................................................................44
Eligibility...................................................................................................................12
Scholar Profiles: Equity Leaders Programme (ELP)................................................45
Outreach & Application...........................................................................................12
STATEMENT FROM PARTNERS
Selection...................................................................................................................13
Induction & Commissioning....................................................................................13
THE WINGS TO FLY PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
15
Rigorous Academic Standards ...............................................................................15
Digital Tools to Enhance Learning ..........................................................................18
Mentoring Model.....................................................................................................19
Annual Education and Leadership Congress..........................................................21
SUMMARY OF IMPACT
22
Impact Stories...........................................................................................................23
Testimonials from Teachers and School Leaders ...................................................30
Scholar Profiles: 2010 Wings to Fly Scholars Transition into Equity Leaders
Programme (ELP).....................................................................................................32
51
Statement from Reeta Roy, President and CEO The MasterCard Foundation.....53
Statement from Karen Freeman, Mission Director, USAID....................................54
Statement from Department For International Development (DFID)...................55
Statement from KfW Entwicklungsbank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry
for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) ...........................................56
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
57
Equity Group Foundation (EGF)..............................................................................58
The MasterCard Foundation...................................................................................58
USAID.......................................................................................................................58
DfID...........................................................................................................................59
KfW...........................................................................................................................59
Transforming Africa
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Transforming Africa
THE
PROGRAMME
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Transforming Africa
Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi shares a moment with Wings to Fly scholars
during the Education and Leadership Congress.
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Foreword
The Wings to Fly programme successfully completed the enrollment of the first five year phase in January 2015.
The programme was launched as a partnership between Equity Group Foundation (EGF) and The MasterCard
Foundation in 2010. EGF is particularly indebted to The MasterCard Foundation for making the first significant
grant of USD 40.9M to support 5,000 scholarships. This gift and the success of the Wings to Fly programme
attracted other like-minded donors enabling the programme to grow and rapidly expand to 10,377 scholarships.
This demonstrates the power of partnerships. I wish to most sincerely thank our partners: The MasterCard
Foundation, UKAid, USAID, DfID and KfW.
This programme was inspired by our shared vision and belief that the destiny of young people is not tied to the
circumstances of their parents. Young people have the potential to break the cycle of poverty and change their
destiny, that of their families and society, if they are given access to education and leadership skills.
The programme’s objective is to give academically talented children from vulnerable backgrounds an equal
opportunity to access secondary school education, university education and a pathway to transform their lives
and those of their villages and wider communities.
The growth and evolution of the Wings To Fly programme has been inspiring and fulfilling. The programme has
had a transformational impact on the scholars and their families. They have maintained exemplary academic
performance while also demonstrating leadership capability by taking up roles such as school prefects, games
captains, and club leaders while upholding discipline and focus in their academic pursuits. Some of them have
represented their schools in competitions and international forums earned by merit.
By 2015, the first two cohorts that had completed secondary school education posted exemplary results:
• 41% (2010 cohort) and 30% (2011 cohort) scored an A grade in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary
Education (KCSE) examinations, compared to the national average of 3%
• 94% (2010 cohort) and 93% (2011 cohort) scored C+ or higher (which is the minimum grade for university
entrance in Kenya), compared to the national average of 27%
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The Wings To Fly programme, as a case study, has become a demonstration of the potential of our children.
The first one is hope. The scholars have demonstrated that retaining hope against all odds can change one’s
destiny. The second one is resilience as seen in the stories of our scholars’ lives, and the third is determination.
The fourth lesson is the power of opportunity. It shows the potential of a people to transform themselves and
realize their full potential when availed an opportunity. These scholars have espoused these values, and they
continue to make us proud of the decision we made with The MasterCard Foundation and our other partners to
walk with them in their academic and social journey to discover their full potential, to redefine their future, and
to prepare for transformational leadership.
The Wings To Fly programme aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030 agenda which has the objective of investing in the
young people of Kenya in order to improve the quality of life for all Kenyans and transform Kenya into a middle
class economy.
By giving Wings To Fly to some of our best brains, we are unlocking the early demographic dividends from these
energetic, enthusiastic, determined and focused young Kenyans who hold Kenya’s promise. They are a group
of well prepared, value based and compassionate future leaders who will realize Kenya’s dream of growth and
prosperity and become a generation of servant leaders.
That is the legacy we wish to bequeath Kenya, that of creating a generation of world citizens with a mentality
of abundance, bound together by national pride, determination to create a better world and maintain peaceful
coexistence with all communities and people across all walks of life.
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Dr. James Mwangi, CBS
Executive Chairman - Equity Group Foundation
Transforming Africa
Statement from Dr. Helen Gichohi, Managing Director Equity Group
Foundation
Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is committed to the social and economic transformation of the people of Africa. Education
is a critical driver of transformation at the individual, community, and national levels. However, many economically
disadvantaged families struggle to provide their children with this basic opportunity. This results in the loss of many
bright minds, to the detriment of Kenya’s future. In line with the aspirations of Vision 2030, EGF places a high priority on
education, and we are committed both to facilitating increased access to quality formal education opportunities as well as
to developing talent and the leadership abilities of Kenya’s youth.
Our journey with the scholars these last few years has been both inspiring and educating. Our interactions with them has
taught us a great deal about the human spirit, the strength and determination that very young people can have in pursuing
education, and what a motivating force it can be in achieving success. We have also learnt the type of support the scholars
require to be successful in their academic and personal leadership journeys. The scholars are unanimous in expressing
the inordinate value of the Annual Leadership Congress. In their own words, it has helped them believe that anything is
possible from their interactions with leaders from Kenya and around the world. We have also learnt about the value of
individual or small group mentoring and on the academic side the subjects and topics scholars find difficult. The latter has
led us to seek mobile and digital tools to provide this much needed support.
We join scholars’ families and loved ones in witnessing with tremendous pride the unfolding journeys of these young
people. These scholars are already inspiring primary school students in their communities, changing cultures in their
schools, and taking on formal leadership positions.
With the continued support of our partners, we will continue to help shape a more prosperous and equitable future for
our country and the world through these life-changing investments in education. We thank Equity Bank, Thye MasterCard
Foundation, USAID, UKAid, KfW, DSSBs and each of you for playing a part in this amazing journey.
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About Equity Group Foundation
Established in 2008, Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is a not-for-profit implementing foundation based in Nairobi,
Kenya that champions the social and economic transformation of the people of Africa. Born out of Equity Bank’s
commitment to servicing the poor as part of its core business model and through its long-standing corporate
social responsibility initiatives, EGF designs and delivers high-impact social development programmes across
seven strategic pillars: Education and Leadership Development, Financial Inclusion and Literacy, Innovation,
Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Health and Environment. Since its founding, EGF’s programmes have helped
over six million Kenyans advance on journeys to more secure and productive futures.
EGF has demonstrated social impact across Kenya by leveraging Equity Bank’s extensive infrastructure and
through strategic partnerships with government as well as local and international actors. In the coming years,
EGF looks forward to expanding its programmes and each pillar’s reach to Equity Bank’s other markets, including
South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and beyond, as part of EGF and Equity Bank Group’s commitment
to socio-economic transformation throughout Africa. EGF is committed to impacting the lives of 100 million
Africans by 2024.
Education & Leadership Pillar
Through the Education & Leadership Development pillar, EGF increases access to and transition through
secondary and tertiary education and provides leadership and career development in order to break the cycle
of poverty and develop the next generation of leaders. EGF’s programmes, Wings to Fly and the Equity Leaders
Programme (ELP), focus on secondary and tertiary education to fulfill a large and constantly growing unmet
need for increased and more equitable access to education.
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The Need for Comprehensive Education Scholarships in Kenya
Education is universally recognised as an important factor contributing to economic growth and competitiveness,
poverty alleviation, improved health, and increased stability for individuals, families, and entire nations. In
its 2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report, UNESCO estimated that every $1 spent on a person’s
education yields $10 to $15 in economic growth over that person’s working lifetime.
In 2003, the Kenyan government made an important policy decision, to provide free primary education. This
resulted in a nearly 15% increase in school enrollment in just one year. Yet many challenges remain in delivering
quality, comprehensive education to all children, especially beyond primary school level, for the poor and
vulnerable. The Kenyan Government is actively seeking ways to mitigate the expenses of secondary school,
but in the meantime, the cost of secondary school remains on average twelve to twenty times as much as the
monthly income of parents in Kenya’s rural areas. The challenge is similar in urban slum areas. Consequently,
of those who sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2013, only 77% are expected to transition
to secondary school, and of these, only about 13% will make it to public universities.
The transition to university education is equally as challenging for most students. Only 27% of the students
graduating secondary school in 2013 earned a C+ or above, which is the minimum grade required for university
admissions in Kenya. Even fewer qualified for government Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, which
only supports tuition fees. Students who qualify for university loans must therefore raise additional money to
cover food, accommodation and transport costs.
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About The Wings to Fly Programme
The Wings to Fly programme is a partnership between The MasterCard Foundation, Equity Bank and EGF, with
generous support from UKAID and USAID and the German Cooperation’s KfW. Since 2010, the programme
has grown from an initial commitment of 5,000 scholarships worth US$ 40.9M to 10,377 scholarships worth US$
92M.
The Wings to Fly programme increases access to quality secondary schooling and supports student success for
academically promising yet financially disadvantaged students from across Kenya. The programme provides
comprehensive scholarships covering tuition, room and board, books, transportation, uniforms, medical
support, transport to and from school, and incidental expenses, for the duration of students’ secondary school
tenure. EGF also provides additional services including medical check-ups, psycho-social counseling, and digital
learning tools to supplement and enhance scholars’ learning. These provisions enable Wings to Fly scholars to
start secondary school on a more equal footing with their peers.
In addition to financial support, the Wings to Fly programme also seeks to develop the next generation of
leaders through leadership mentoring and social transformation programmes. The leadership and mentorship
component of the scholarship is a collaborative structure that involves Equity Bank’s senior managers, university
students from the Equity Leaders Programme, and mentors from various professions who interact with scholars
every year during the Annual Leadership Congresses.
EGF ensures that its selection process is transparent and community-based, and that the scholarship package
is comprehensive enough to fully remove the barrier of costs to recipients. These elements distinguish Wing
to Fly from other scholarship programmes and have been hailed nationally as a model for scholarship selection
and design.
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2012 Wings to Fly Scholars present a memento to President
Mwai Kibaki in appreciation of his Government’s Free Education
Policy which was implemented in 2003 and enables all children to
attend free primary school.
His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta receives a memento
during the commissioning of Wings to Fly 6th cohort in 2015.
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The Wings to Fly Programme Selection Process
Eligibility
The programme targets high-achieving yet needy (orphan or vulnerable) students. EGF through the District
Scholarship Selection Board (DSSB) uses the following selection criteria:
1. Academically Promising – students perform in the top 5 percentile in their district on the Kenyan Certificate
of Primary Education (KCPE) examination
2. Orphans or Vulnerable Children (as defined below):
• Children who have lost one or both parents and have no guardian or sponsor to provide for their education
• Children whose parents are physically or mentally disabled and are unable to educate their children
• Children whose parents are living with HIV/AIDS or other chronic, debilitating illness and are unable to
educate their children
• Children from families affected by natural disasters such as flooding, drought, and famine or civil conflict
and are unable to educate their children
• Children who have suffered neglect and/or abandonment
• Children with parents living under extreme poverty and are unable to educate their children
Outreach & Application
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EGF leverages Equity Bank’s extensive reach across Kenya to ensure broad public awareness of the scholarship
opportunity annually. EGF employs public forum announcements, digital and print media placements, radio
broadcasts, and direct communication to academic institutions to ensure that interested and qualified students,
their parents, and teachers know how to access Wings to Fly. As soon as KCPE results are announced, application
forms are available at local schools, religious and community institutions, and at all Equity Bank branches and
Equity agents nationwide. Wings to Fly applicants are required to fill these forms with a parent/guardian and
submit their application to the nearest Equity Bank branch.
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Selection
One of the defining features of the Wings to Fly programme is the transparency and inclusivity of the selection
process. The DSSB have been institutionalised and serves as the main organ for selecting scholars. Upon
receiving applications from the candidates, the DSSB reviews, shortlists, interviews and selects students to
receive scholarships using predefined criteria. The DSSB is chaired by the District Education Officer (DEO)
and coordinated by Equity Bank branch manager(s) in that district. The Board is comprised of a minimum
of 13 local community representatives including Heads of Primary & Secondary Schools Associations; District
Social Development Officers; Constituency Develop Fund (CDF) chair; religious leaders; local women and youth
leaders; Equity Agent representatives; and provincial and civic administration.
The DSSB remains a crucial link in ensuring objectivity in the selection process, making it possible to verify
the application. The wide representation of society in the DSSB makes the process widely accepted in the
community as a transparent and inclusive process.
Induction & Commissioning
Once selection is finalized, DSSBs host a Flag-Off Ceremony, which convenes newly selected Wings to Fly
scholars as a district cohort and prepares them for their Wings to Fly induction and commissioning in Nairobi.
Scholars then travel to Nairobi for a week-long induction. For some children, this is their first time in Nairobi, the
country’s capital. During the week, scholars are prepared to join the Wings to Fly programme and to transition
to secondary school. Students also receive medical and psycho-social check-ups and follow-ups, if needed.
At the end of their induction week, the new intake of Wings to Fly scholars participates in a commissioning
ceremony in Nairobi under the patronage of His Excellency The President of the Republic of Kenya. Being
addressed and encouraged by the President and other honored guests gives the students a great deal of pride
in their achievements and fuels their determination to seize this unique opportunity and succeed in their studies.
The commissioning is broadcasted across radio and television channels so that the entire nation can celebrate
the accomplishments of its youth.
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During the selection process, Wings to Fly applicants are interviewed and visited at their homes by DSSBs and programme partners
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The Wings to Fly Programme Structure
To ensure students acquire the academic knowledge and leadership skills needed to thrive, the Wings to Fly
programme includes several components: rigorous academic standards, digital tools to enhance learning,
mentoring, and Annual Education and Leadership Congresses.
Rigorous Academic Standards
Scholars commit to maintaining the performance that allowed them entry into the Wings to Fly programme.
They are expected to maintain an average grade of B or above. EGF, in turn, provides support to help scholars
not only achieve high grades but also grow personally and develop as leaders.
Scholars’ academic performance is monitored closely by EGF and their mentors. Scholars are required to
submit report cards to their EGF Branch Champion each term. As soon as a scholar falls below the academic
standard of a B average, the scholar receives a written academic alert and is required to create an action plan in
consultation with their teachers and mentors. At the end of each term, the scholar’s progress will be reviewed
by the support team. If a scholar’s academic performance has not improved after two terms, the scholar will be
put on academic probation. The scholar will only be released from the Wings to Fly programme if the scholar’s
academic performance has not improved after three terms of academic probation.
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Commissioning of the Wings to Fly 2014 scholars
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Digital Tools to Enhance Learning
In order to support scholars’ academic performance, scholars are given access to Wings to Fly Learning, a
collection of carefully curated digital content and experiences. This content is designed to equip scholars with
critical 21st century skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will assist them in school, the workplace and beyond.
The content includes a wide range of engaging, practical, relevant, and applied learning opportunities, including
video tutorials, quizzes, and motivational talks, that are both aligned with and supplementary to the Kenyan
curriculum. Currently, scholars can access this content via a range of affordable and appropriate technologies
including zero-rated Equitel SIM cards, USB sticks and other innovative devices and access points, allowing
students to learn while they are in and out of school and on their own time. The programme is also designed
for use by students, teachers and the general public, so that over time these resources will impact the wider
education system.
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The scholars learning how to use the mobile learning platform
on Equitel
Video tutorials aligned with the Kenyan curriculum available to
scholars on Wings to Fly Learning USB sticks
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Mentoring Model
Equity Group Foundation (Core)
Mentoring is a core part of the Wings to Fly programme. EGF builds a support network for each Wings to Fly
scholar by mobilizing individuals to serve as mentors for the scholars, including Equity Bank Leadership and
staff; high-achieving pre-university and university students, mostly drawn from the Equity Leaders Programme
(ELP); and community members through the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) and District
Scholarship Selection Boards (DSSBs). These mentors support scholars academically and personally throughout
their secondary school education. Support is provided during the school term and even during holidays. EGF
Mentoring Field Coordinators provide the technical leadership, train mentors and serve as the focal point of
coordination, execution and reporting for all mentors and scholars.
Equity Bank staff (1st level)
The BGDMs of scholar’s home branch is the first point of contact for the scholars in their geographical area. The
BGDMs build strong relationships with scholar’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and school. BGDMs also play a critical
role in mobilizing Equity Bank staff to volunteer as mentors. In addition to the BGDMs, each branch designates
an EGF Branch Champion, who works with the BGDM and EGF’s Mentoring Filed Coordinators in order to
ensure sustained contact with the scholars. EGF Branch Champions work with schools to ensure scholars submit
report cards and receive school fees and other supplies on time.
University Role Models (2nd Level)
Each scholar is mentored by a university student drawn from Equity Leaders Programme (ELP). ELP scholars are
top pre-university and university students, who graduated from the same secondary school where the Wings to
Fly scholar is attending; many ELP scholars are also beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly programme, and therefore
share similar backgrounds. ELP scholars, as the youngest mentors in the programme, are able to build a special
relationship with Wings to Fly scholars and support them both emotionally and academically during the four
years of secondary school.
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To build this relationship, ELP scholars spend the entire one-week commissioning with their mentees, visit scholars
at school every term, and spend two-weeks together each year during the Annual Leadership Congresses.
Community Level (3rd Level)
Community support for positive youth development is a key contributor to the mentorship program. EGF
integrates the support received from various parties to ensure the success of each scholar. These include:
• Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA): Scholars’ Primary School Head Teachers, having
known the scholars for a longer period of time, maintain communication with scholars throughout
secondary school and are able to help in the transition.
• District Scholarship Selection Boards (DSSBs): In addition to selection, the DSSBs are also charged with
tracking scholars’ academic performance and general welfare over the course of the four-year scholarship.
To facilitate interaction between the DSSBs and scholars, the DSSBs host at least two mentorship forums
per year during the school holidays.
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Annual Education and Leadership Congress
A two-week Annual Education and Leadership Congress, typically held in August, enables Wings to Fly scholars
to interact with local and international leaders, while also strengthening their relationships with their mentors
and Wings to Fly peers. Each year the congress focuses on specific themes, which have included: From Class
Leader to World Leader (2010), Nurturing Global Leaders (2011), Developing a Global Edge (2012), Value Based
Leadership (2013), Preparing Ethical Leaders for a Global Society (2014), and Leadership and Giving (2015).
Scholars have frequently credited congresses for broadening their worldview, inspiring them to believe that they
too can succeed, and sparking an interest in leadership. In 2014, 79% of scholars reported that their decision
to assume leadership roles, such as school presidents, captains, prefects, and council/club leaders, was heavily
influenced by speeches they heard at Congresses.
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Summary of Impact
41%
%
30
67 %
%
50
94 %
%
93
99%
%
98
79 %
115
340
(2010)
(2011)
earned an A grade in their Kenya Certificate
of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations,
compared to the national average of 3%
(2010)
(2011)
successfuly completed secondary school
education
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(2010)
(2011)
earned B+ or higher on their KCSE
examinations
of scholars reported leadership roles as
school presidents, captains, prefects, council
and club leaders as well as founders of
mentoring programmes and communitybased organizations
(2010)
(2011)
earned C+ or higher, the minimum grade
for university admission, compared to the
national average of 27%
(2010)
(2011)
Wings to Fly scholars were admitted to
the Equity Leaders Programme
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IMPACT
STORIES
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Yusuf Kasidi
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Secondary School: Alliance High School
Grade: Form 4
School Leadership: Prefect for Sponsorship Department
Community Leadership: Founder of BUKISAMIKA, mentoring programme
Yusuf grew up in Voi sub-county, a small village in the Coast
Region, where he attended a school with mudfloors and few
teachers. The eldest of four children, Yusuf often missed
school to care for his siblings while his parents worked as
casual laborers in order to provide the family’s next meal.
Yusuf’s life changed when Simon Mwatela, a Wings to Fly
scholar and alumnus of Yusuf’s primary school, told Yusuf
and his peers that despite their families’ financial situations,
they too could access secondary school through the Wings
to Fly scholarship programme. Hearing this, Yusuf was
inspired and started arriving at school before 6am to study
on his own before the school day began.
As a result of his hard work, Yusuf attained a 417 out of
500 marks on the KCPE, and with the support of his head
teacher, Yusuf applied and was accepted into the third
cohort of Wings to Fly in 2012.
Days later, Yusuf left his home for the Wings to Fly induction
and commissioning, where he realized that “with education,
poverty could no longer trap me or my family.” Yusuf joined
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the class of 2012 at Alliance High School in Kiambu County, Central Province alongside 358 peers, 34 of whom
are Wings to Fly scholars. He explains:
“Having the opportunity to attend high school has changed my life. I have participated in an
international exchange programme to Uganda, exercised my leadership skills, and connected with
teachers and peers who really care about me.”
Moreover, through being mentored, Yusuf has learned to mentor others. He is currently a mentor to a Form
2 class at his school and has launched a mentorship programme, BUKISAMIKA, reaching 70 primary school
students across five villages in the Coast region.
At 19, Yusuf is currently in Form 4 and hopes to join ELP and study pharmacology abroad. However, before
leaving for university, Yusuf wants to work for Equity Bank in order “to see my sisters through high school and
show my appreciation to Equity for the Wings to Fly scholarship.”
Reflecting upon how he has changed over the course of the Wings to Fly programme, Yusuf says:
“I have changed a lot. I am bolder than ever before. Our dad, Dr. James Mwangi, gave us Wings to Fly.
Now that I have wings, I must soar like an eagle. I have no excuse to fail. I know I have to change my
society’s life.”
Fatuma Salim, Yusuf’s Mother
“The Wings to Fly programme has really helped my son not only access his high school education but also
supported his wholesome growth. It has actually transformed him from a boy into a gentleman. He is very
hardworking and inspiring. After the Annual Leadership Congresses, I have seen him rise to leadership and help
others. Moreover, the programme has relieved his father and me the burden of school fees and the basic needs
Yusuf has required in high school. In fact, were it not for Wings the Fly programme, my son would now be at
home. I am very grateful to Dr. James Mwangi and all the stakeholders.”
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Mrs. Gladys Olang’, Teacher in charge of the Sponsorship Department at Alliance High School
“Yusuf Kasidi is a talented young man, who, had it not been for the Wings to Fly programme, might have not
had the opportunity to attain a secondary school education least of all be able to attend Alliance High School,
one of the nation’s best schools. Yusuf is without a doubt, an incredibly talented and hardworking young man.
He demonstrated this not only in his KCPE exam, which earned him a spot at Alliance, but also throughout
his secondary school career as one of the top students in his class. Yusuf is also a leader—a humble and kind
one. He was appointed as a class monitor in Form 1 and has subsequently become a senior prefect in the
Sponsorship Department, a position which shows not only his leadership capacity but also his desire to serve
students from difficult backgrounds.”
Susan & Purity Wangu
Secondary School: Mugoiri Girls High School
Completed Form 4 and Sat for the KSCE in 2014
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Twin sisters Susan and Purity were raised by a singlemother,
who died of tuberculosis when the girls were nine years
old. A year later, when their grandmother died, Susan and
Purity were taken to a children’s home in Narumoro.
Their life changed when they learned about the Wings to
Fly scholarship programme on the radio. When they were
accepted, Susan says, “We thought we would never go to
high school, and the scholarship gave us hope for a better
tomorrow.”
Purity and Susan have now completed Form 4 at the top
of their class with scores of 75 and 70, respectively, on the
KSCE. Purity dreams of studying industrial chemistry, and
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Susan dreams of becoming a nurse. In addition to studying at university and pursuing careers in their respective
fields, Purity hopes to one day open a children’s home.
In reflecting upon what they have learned through the Wings to Fly programme, Purity says, “Dr. James Mwangi
taught me that I could shine for the whole world,” and Susan shares, “Reeta Roy inspired me that even when I
grow up to be a great person, I shall not forget to help my family and others, especially needy children.”
Josphat Loukot Lowoi
Secondary School: Lenana High School
Grade: Form 4
Leadership: School Captain
Born in remote Turkana County in north-western Kenya, Josphat is one
of nine children. Facing drought and ongoing tribal conflicts, Josphat’s
family moved to Baringo County. When Josphat began class 1, his father
left. As a result, Josphat could not attend school and began working to
help his mother feed the family. Josphat remembers buying milk from
farmers and collecting wood from the forest in order to sell to nearby
plantations as well as serving water in restaurants to try to earn money
for his family
When his eldest brother became a teacher, Josphat was able to return to
school. Despite having missed two terms, Josphat completed class 1 at
the top of his class and held his spot through class 8, receiving a score of
395 on the KCPE.
He learned about Wings to Fly from his brother’s wife, who traveled to a
neighboring town to get an application. Josphat applied, and in January
2012, Josphat joined 2,144 scholars at the Wings to Fly induction and
commissioning.
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He remembers:
“I met children who had experienced some of
the same challenges; some children had stories
that were even sadder than my own. At the
same time, I met people who had struggled in
life, but had succeeded and become stars. I
learnt not to be ashamed of my background.
It gave me hope that even though I had a
challenging past, I could still have a brighter
future.”
Josphat enrolled in Lenana School, and over
the last four years he has excelled as a student
and leader. Josphat was voted School Captain,
receiving 96% of his school’s votes. He credits the
Annual Congresses for teaching him how to lead.
He remembers:
“The Leadership Congresses transformed me and my leadership. Before I thought a leader had to be
very authoritarian, like a dictator. Now I see leadership as a conversation. I learnt that as a leader, I
shouldn’t command people, but instead listen to know their problems and work with them to solve
problems. When I lead, I learnt to leave room so that everyone can chip in to solve a problem.”
In 2014, Josphat wrote his first book, a revision manual for chemistry, titled Precise et Revisia Manual, and he
also teaches chemistry, mathematics, and physics nightly. Smiling, he says, “The Form 1 and 2 students call me
Mwalimu,” which means teacher in Swahili. He explains that he wrote the manual and teaches because “I never
felt good seeing my peers suffer in a subject. I felt it was my duty to make sure everyone is ok.”
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Transforming Africa
Josphat wants to study law at Harvard University. He says that he loves science, but “my passion to help
others drives me to law. I want to know the law well, so I can fight against injustice. I want to be a person who
brings change to the world.” Josphat recently learned that he has been accepted into the African Leadership
Academy in South Africa, where he will take the next steps toward achieving his dreams.
Sara Lotia, Josphat’s Mother
“I am at a loss of words to describe the help Equity Group Foundation has given my family. My dream of being
a top plus mother has been restored by my 5th born son who has greatly been aided by Equity. I am now sure
and confident that I will wear decent clothes some day. I am very happy by the way my son has been shaped
and molded by the congresses and mentorship programmes. My son is now more focused and well-informed
on various issues affecting the nation. He reasons out like a world-class person who is ready and armed to take
Africa and the world to the next level. I have heard him say that he will pioneer the wiping out of unethical
leadership in Africa. He also already has taken action by ending bullying at his school and offering mentorship
to students in local schools. This virtue of commitment and determination has also been instilled in my other
children through his example. This, therefore, makes our family to be termed as a happy one by the very same
people who termed us societal rejects before. The sleepless nights I had worrying where I would get the money
to further the education of my son has been turned into nights of hope. Equity Group Foundation’s impact is not
only felt by the family, but also felt by the larger society. I was struggling to fend for the family single-handedly
by working odd jobs like in the slaughter house, but now I know our destiny as a family is well-defined. Thank
you very much and may God bless the Equity Group Foundation and their partners.”
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Transforming Africa
Testimonials from Teachers and School Leaders
Mr. Paul A Otula, HSC, OGW, Chief Principal of Maseno School
“I am proud to announce that all 23 beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly Scholarship programme currently attending
Maseno School have scored an A or A- on their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
In addition to their outstanding academic performance, our Wings to Fly scholars have excelled as school
leaders; in fact, two of the beneficiaries—Jacob Arara Owuor and Eshiwani Benjamin Angobe– are the current
school captain and vice-captain. These students come from very challenging financial backgrounds, and through
the Wings to Fly programme have already begun to live in a brighter future. I am humbled and inspired by the
possibilities and opportunities resulting from the Wings to Fly programme”
Mrs. Gladys Olang’, Teacher in charge of Sponsorship Department at Alliance High School
“As the teacher responsible for all students who are sponsored, I can say that the Wings to Fly programme
enables students from disadvantaged backgrounds to arrive at Alliance High School with the confidence
and resources they need to compete with some of the best students in the country, who often come from
very different economic backgrounds than Wings to Fly scholars. As a result, Wings to Fly consistently excel
academically; in fact, last year, out of the 22 students 18 received an A and A- and 4 received a B and B+.
Wings to Fly scholars also come to school ready to exercise their leadership. As they join Form 1, some of the
scholars are appointed as monitors. They then join various committees in the school and are given leadership
positions. Many of them rise to become senior prefects. The scholars are confident and take part in school
activities, including competitive foreign exchange programmes, which two Wings to Fly scholars have won in
2014: Yusuf Kasidi represented the school in the exchange programme in Kings’ College Budo (UGANDA) while
Byron Onduru went to Brooks school (USA) aided by the Wings to Fly programme. As a teacher, I am grateful to
the Wings to Fly programme for giving these bright minds a chance to develop themselves through a secondary
school education.”
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Transforming Africa
Mrs. J Akatsa, HSC, Principal of Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta
“Over the last 6 years, we have had 16 students benefiting from the 4 year secondary school scholarship by
Equity Group Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation under the Wings to Fly programme. I have watched
these young and gifted girls blossom from shy uncertainty to confident assuredness. This has been as a result of
the strong mentorship and exposure by the foundation in leadership, positive values and academics. They have
been given wonderful opportunities to discover and develop themselves. The experiences they have gained in
the training, sharing and mentoring by local and international speakers has unleashed great potential in them
and they can never be the same again. You have indeed given them Wings to Fly and for this God will always
bless you.”
Mrs. Rosemary Saina, Principal, Kenya High School
“At The Kenya High school, for example, 60 students out of a Form 1 class of 280 come from family backgrounds
which cannot provide for their education. Needless to say, students admitted to the school are above average
academic achievers. To ensure that these students remain in school, the Board of Governors (BOG) invests a
lot of time and focus on sourcing for funding to support the financing of education for these students. With
55 students under the comprehensive Wings to Fly sponsorship package, an enormous headache has been
removed from the school management. In addition, the Wings to Fly programme has also removed the stress
that a student undergoes when faced with unpaid fees. There is the anxiety that the student may be sent home
any time which seriously affects the concentration levels of the student. The student also suffers from low self
esteem. We applaud Equity Bank, Equity Group Foundation and their Partners for this great intervention and
appreciate that more partners have joined in to ensure that children from disadvantaged family backgrounds
have equal opportunities to access secondary school education in schools of their choice and qualification.”
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Transforming Africa
Scholar Profiles: 2010 Wings to Fly Scholars Transition into Equity Leaders Programme (ELP)
Elijah Koome
University: Amherst College
High School: Meru School
Year Joined: 2010
Attending an elite college
in the United States was not
something Elijah imagined as
a young boy. He grew up in a
remote area at the heart of Meru
County in Eastern Kenya and has
gone through insurmountable
challenges to be the first in
his family to get a university
education. After joining the
Wings to Fly programme and
scoring a straight A in the KCSE
examination and becoming the top boy in Meru County,
Elijah joined ELP’s College Counseling Programme and
gained a full scholarship to Amherst College in the United
States. He plans to study Economics and Computer
Science. He hopes to use the knowledge he gains to
contribute to Kenya and Africa’s economic growth and
technological advancement and be able to see Africa rise
beyond its challenges in his lifetime.
32
President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulates Elijah for earning
a full scholarship to Amherst College, the President’s alma
mater.
Transforming Africa
Selina Alulu
University: Arizona State University
High School: Buru Buru Girls High School
Year Joined: 2010
Selina is a total orphan
and has been living with
her elder sister who runs
a small business. After
the release of the KCPE
results, her dreams of
attending a school of
her choice quickly turned
into worry about school
fees. She is grateful to
her primary school head
teacher who assisted her
in applying for the Wings to Fly scholarship. Four years
later, Selina scored an A- on the KCSE examination. She
joined ELP’s College Counseling programme earning a
MasterCard Foundation Scholarship to attend Arizona
State University. She plans on studying Business
Information Technology. Upon graduating, she hopes to
help young entrepreneurs leverage technology to grow
their businesses.
Antony Muchina
University: University of Toronto
High School: Maseno School
Year Joined: 2010
After losing his mother,
Antony went to live with
his grandmother in rural
Gatundu. As a result of
his high KCPE examination
score, Antony became the
very first student to win the
Wings to Fly scholarship
in Gatundu. He joined
Maseno School, which
is among the top high
schools in Kenya. While he
was a Form 4 student, Antony developed a bio-digester
that would convert kitchen refuse and human waste to
biogas to be used as fuel in the kitchen. His innovation
was voted the most viable idea by the Rockefeller
Foundation out of over four thousand presentations in
his final year in high school.
He scored an A Grade in his KCSE examination. He
joined ELP and participated in the College Counseling
Programme.
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Transforming Africa
He was awarded a MasterCard Foundation Scholarship
and will be pursuing Computer Engineering at the
University of Toronto. He hopes to use his education
to launch ICT projects in Kenya’s rural primary and
secondary schools in order to expose students to
technology and digital learning resources. He looks
forward to interacting and learning from a diverse
international community during his stay in Canada.
Geoffrey Okochil
34
University: University of
Pretoria
High School: Nakuru High
School
Year Joined: 2010
Geoffrey lost his parents
as a young boy. His young
siblings were adopted by
relatives, but he remained
with his grandmother. As
the eldest in the family, he was forced to drop out of
school to look for a job in order to help support his
grandmother and siblings. Luckily one of his teachers
provided assistance, which enabled him to re-enroll in
primary school. Joining the Wings to Fly programme
Geoffrey, excelled at Nakuru High School.
During
high school, Geoffrey championed a number of
initiatives in order to support his fellow students
facing financial challenges. He scored an A on the
KCSE examination and qualified for ELP. Through the
College Counseling programme, Geoffrey earned a
MasterCard Foundation Scholarship to the University
of Pretoria, where he plans on pursuing a degree in
Electrical Engineering.
Transforming Africa
Scholar Profiles: 2011 Wings to Fly Scholars Transition into Equity Leaders Programme (ELP)
Phelix Oketch
Home: Gwassi, Suba District, Migori County
Primary School: Our Lady of Orore Primary School
High School: Maranda High School
Year Joined: 2011
Phelix was born in a
small village in Gwassi
Constituency, Suba, and
grew up in a single-parent
home, his father having
passed on when he was
still very young.
Phelix
walked several kilometers
to get to primary school
each day and was the
first in his family to sit for
the KCPE examination.
After finishing primary school, however, he faced an
uncertain future, as his brother was struggling with
epilepsy and required urgent medical attention,
leaving his unemployed mother without any money to
pay for his secondary school fees. Phelix joined the
Wings to Fly programme in 2011 and was admitted
to Maranda High School, one of the top national
schools in the country. In 2014 he graduated from
Maranda with a grade of A and thereafter joined
Equity Bank Mbita Branch as a part of ELP, enabling
him to earn enough money to save and pursue
university education in Kenya. Additionally, he has
been able to use his allowance to improve the lives
of his family members, including buying three goats
for the household, medicine for his epileptic brother,
and paying school fees for his sister in primary school.
Eldaa Nafula Ojiambo
Home: NduguMnani Village, Malindi County
Primary School: St. Andrews Primary School
High School: Maryhill Girls High School
Year Joined: 2011
Eldaa is the first born in a
family of five. Her parents
work hard to provide for
the family, despite the
constant financial and
medical challenges they
faced. After completing
primary school, Eldaa
was left unsure about
her future.
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Transforming Africa
Her family had barely been able to afford to put
her through primary education, leaving secondary
education out of the question. Fortunately, Eldaa
joined the Wings to Fly programme in 2011 and
was able to attend Maryhill Girls just outside of
Nairobi. Four years later, Eldaa achieved an Aon the KCSE examination and looks forward to
joining the University of Nairobi to pursue Actuarial
Science. Eldaa also joined ELP, where she is
interning at Equity Bank Malindi Branch and using
her earnings to help her siblings to continue their
education and to support her mother who suffers
from cancer. When she looks back, she says she
always remembers Dr. James Mwangi’s words that
“my future does not have to be a continuation of
the past” and that “society always gives way to the
best.”
Veso Hamis Ojiambo
36
Home: Mtongwe, Mombasa County
Primary School: Kenya Navy Primary School
High School: Shimo La Tewa High School
Year Joined: 2011
Veso comes from a single parent family of four children,
living with his mother who performs casual jobs to
earn a living. Throughout his
primary education, Veso was
determined to stay in school
despite financial constraints
and a low level of appreciation
for education in his community.
The negative peer pressure
and an environment rife with
drug abuse were constant
challenges he had to face, but
he was able to excel in his primary school examinations
and get a scholarship through the Wings to Fly
programme. He was admitted to Shimo La Tewa
High School in Mombasa County. Veso was inspired
to succeed by the Annual Leadership Congresses,
which were a huge boost for him, always motivating
him to go back to school and work even harder than
before. Through his superior work ethic, he was able
to get a straight A grade in his KCSE examination.
This remarkable performance has since allowed him
to join ELP, where he is currently interning for Equity
Bank Mombasa Digo Branch. In the future, Veso
wants to dedicate himself to making his community
more aware of the consequences of drug abuse in
order to improve his community.
Transforming Africa
Mary Chao
Home: Burastation,TaitaTaveta.
Primary School: Vumari Primary School
Marks: 396
High School: Nakuru Girls Secondary School
Year Joined: 2011
Before being award the
Wings to Fly scholarship,
Mary knew she was going to
end as a house help despite
her exceptional KCPE score
of 396 marks because no
one could afford to take her
to secondary school. Her
parents separated when she
was younger and she went
to live with her father but
when he remarried she went to live with her aunt,
a peasant farmer. At the aunt’s home oftentimes
there was no paraffin for the lamp, so she was
unable to study properly. But this did not stop her
from working hard at Nakuru Girls High School and
attain a mean grade A on the KCSE exam, ranking
among the top 1% students in Kenya and earning a
place in ELP. Currently, she is doing her internship
at Equity Bank Taita Taveta as she prepares to go to
university to pursue her dream of studying Software
or Electrical Engineering. Mary wants to go back to
her community in order to open her own company
and sponsor needy children to go to school just like
the way Equity Group Foundation helped her.
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Transforming Africa
Looking Ahead
Early 2015 marked the successful conclusion of the Wings to Fly programme’s first phase. EGF joins with Equity
Bank, The MasterCard Foundation, and other generous supporters in being thrilled that, together, we met and
exceeded our target and were able to educate and cultivate the leadership capacities of 10,377 promising,
young scholars. This represents a more than two-fold increase in impact compared to our initial commitment
of 5,000 scholarships.
With only 77% of the Kenyan youth attending secondary school currently, we are committed to continuing
and intensifying our efforts to provide access to education for more young people. With the support of The
MasterCard Foundation, EGF will be embarking on a second phase of the Wings to Fly programme in 2016.
In addition to expanding our scholarship programme, Wings to Fly is working with the Kenyan Government to
catalyse broader change across the education sector. Through our Wings to Fly Learning initiative and via our
broad commitment to education innovation, we hope to use mobile and other technologies to avail high-quality
education and learning tools to more learners.
As Equity Bank expands to new markets throughout East Africa and beyond, EGF also looks forward to exploring
opportunities to adapt the Wings to Fly model in other countries that face similar challenges in affording access
to secondary schooling to their best and brightest young people. In this way, EGF will seek to further broaden
its impact, en route to our larger goal of impacting the lives of 100 million Africans by 2024.
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Transforming Africa
From Secondary School to Higher Education: Equity Leaders
Programme (ELP)
Mentoring a New Generation of Leaders
When the first class of Wings to Fly scholars sat for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
examinations in 2013, they knew that another coveted and highly competitive sponsorship, the Equity Leaders
Programme (ELP), awaited those who would qualify. Scholars in this programme interact with the Wings to Fly
scholars and mentor them on academic excellence. Every year during the Annual Education and Leadership
Congress, the scholars meet and network, share experiences and mentor the younger ones on continued
academic excellence. The programme gives the Wings to Fly scholars inspiration to continue focusing on
academic excellence.
EGF’s ELP works to equip academically gifted secondary school graduates from across Kenya with the professional
and leadership skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. It also cultivates
a community of ethical leaders, who work together across disciplines and sectors to transform the lives of their
families, communities, country and the world at large.
Since 1998, Equity Bank has been sponsoring bright Kenyan students to local universities to study various
courses. The programme benefits the top boy and top girl in KCSE in each district in the country where Equity
Bank has a branch.
That changed in 2014, when the first group of Wings to Fly scholars were admitted into the programme, with an
initial intake of 115. The second intake in 2015 was even larger with 340 scholars qualifying for the programme.
History of the Programme
In 1998, Samuel Kirubi, a student at Egerton University studying Economics and Statistics, applied for an internship
at Equity Bank. At that time, the bank was already thinking about how they could recruit future professional
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Transforming Africa
40
leaders. Although the intent was there, the structures and the procedure were not in place. Nonetheless, the
bank took him in and he became the first student beneficiary of Equity Bank’s leadership programme.
“I was very keen to work in a financial institution upon graduating, so I wanted to hone my skills even before I
left the university,” Kirubi says. Kirubi is today the Managing Director of Equity Bank’s Rwanda subsidiary.
Between 2001 and 2002, the bank started a deliberate effort of identifying students who were top in their
districts in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations and offered them pre-university
internships. Twelve students were enrolled in 2001 and 20 in the subsequent year. The programme continued
to expand in size as more branches opened in different districts in the country. In 2006, a larger group of 30
students joined the programme.
EGF under which the programme is now run was founded in 2008 and the leadership and mentorship development
model was refined in 2009. The key challenge had been how to handle the scholars so that in addition to the
internship, the mentorship and leadership components were incorporated in a structured way.
By far, the largest number of beneficiaries are admitted to local public universities. EGF Chairman Dr James
Mwangi agrees that the biggest and most impactful change to Kenya will be made by the beneficiaries who go
to local universities.
“Together with the scholars studying abroad, they create a unique and diverse community of leaders with
varying experiences and exposure. It is this uniqueness of the programme that will enable our scholars to impact
all sectors of the economy,” he says. The local students are given a stipend that caters for their tuition and living
expenses for the period they are in the university. The students who get scholarships to go abroad get initial
living cost payment since their fees and stipends are already covered by the sponsoring universities. While on
holiday, many of them prefer to continue their internship at Equity Bank.
Today, the programme has grown from its initial single scholar in 1998 to a class of over 600 scholars in 2015
interning at over 170 Equity Bank branches across all 47 counties in Kenya. The college counseling programme,
too, has expanded from its initial cohort of 6 scholars going to international universities in 2010, to over 60
admissions in 2015. Over this time, the internship model has also developed into a fully-fledged leadership
development programme covering four thematic areas of scholar growth.
Transforming Africa
Our Leadership Development Model
ELP is centered on a rigorous internship that allows scholars to work at Equity Bank branches around the country
before they join university. The internships gives scholars real world professional experience and includes a
college savings scheme, which allows scholars to use their internship stipends to fund their university education
in Kenya. In addition to the pre-university internship experience, ELP provides internships and leadership
development experiences to scholars throughout their time in university and beyond.
The ELP leadership development model seeks to develop scholars across four programme areas:
1. Personal and Professional Development to enable scholars to identify their unique talents and strengths
and to match their individual interests with meaningful career opportunities. This includes both experiential
and taught learning opportunities, such as internships, professional development seminars and workshops,
and an Annual Leadership Congress to inspire and motivate scholars to excel in their chosen field. The aim
of this pillar is to prepare scholars to set ambitious goals for their future and to provide them with the 21st
century skills they may not learn in the classroom that will be required to succeed in the workplace.
2. Global Exposure to encourage scholars to expand their horizons and become world class-leaders who
can compete and succeed in a global marketplace. This includes initiatives such as the college counseling
programme, which supports scholars to earn scholarships to some of the world’s best universities, as well
as scholar development awards for scholars attending local universities to attend conferences, classes, or
trainings in global destinations. The aim of this pillar is to allow scholars to think globally and look at the best
practices in their field through an international lens, an increasing necessity in today’s global marketplace.
3. Creativity and Innovation to empower scholars to think creatively about providing solutions to the challenges
and opportunities facing communities around the world. This includes an ELP Journals online platform for
scholars to share their creative writings and artwork, as well as an innovators programme that awards seed
funding to promising scholar business plans. The aim of this pillar is for scholars to think outside the box in
coming up with the innovations that will transform their communities and Africa as a whole.
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Transforming Africa
4. Community Engagement to inspire scholars to use their abilities for good and to make a positive impact on
society. This includes a Centres of Excellence programme which provides residential mentorship in three high
schools across Kenya, as well as a Wings to Fly mentorship programme which allows ELP scholars to mentor
beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly programme. The aim of this pillar is to develop ethical, values-based leaders
who are deeply concerned about the needs of society.
While developing individual scholars across these four thematic areas, the programme also endeavors to create
a strong network of scholars who work together across disciplines and sectors to transform their communities,
their country, and the world at large.
Major Initiatives
42
Our leadership development model is delivered through some of the following major initiatives:
• Internship Programme which allows scholars at local universities to return for internships with Equity
Group and its partners during university long holidays to get professional experience while contributing
to a College Savings Scheme to fund their university education
• Global Summer Internship Programme which allows scholars studying at international universities to
return to Africa for their summer holidays and intern with Equity Group and its partners, giving them work
experience and building their professional networks in Africa.
• College Counseling Programme which supports Equity scholars to access admission and scholarships to
some of the world’s leading universities, including the Ivy League schools in the US.
• Annual Leadership Congress which allows scholars to connect with each other to form a strong
community, learn about leadership and employability skills, and interact with successful leaders from
various industries.
• Innovators Programme which trains and develops scholars in innovation and entrepreneurship skills,
allowing them to write business plans and pitch their ideas for seed funding.
• Centers of Excellence Programme where scholars provide residential mentorship to students at three
high schools around Kenya: Kwale Girls, Nyawara Girls, and Nyagatugu Boys
Transforming Africa
• E
LP Journals platform which encourages scholars to express themselves through writing and digital
media, allowing them to share their poems, short stories, political commentary, photographs, and more
with fellow scholars.
• University Chapters at campuses in Kenya and abroad that serve as platforms for interaction, networking,
and activities for the scholars during their university session.
• Wings to Fly Mentorship Programme which enables ELP scholars to visit Wings to Fly high school
scholarship recipients at their high schools to provide mentorship and academic coaching.
Our Scholars
Scholars are currently pursuing university degrees in a range of fields, including:
• 32% Engineering and Computer Science
• 25% Medicine and Dentistry
• 23% Business & Economics
• 8% Actuarial Science
• 12% Other (Law, Humanities, Arts, etc.)
Scholars in local universities attend top public universities, with 44% at the University of Nairobi, 16% at Kenyatta
University, 15% at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, 10% at Moi University, and about
5% each at the Technical University of Kenya, Egerton University, and Maseno University. Scholar in global
universities attend some of the best private and public institutions, with the most scholars attending or having
graduated from: Harvard University (19), Yale University (15), the University of Toronto, the University of Pretoria
(14), the University of Pennsylvania (12), Ashesi University College (11), and Duke University (10).
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Transforming Africa
Our scholars have also launched into leadership positions in various sectors, including:
• Dr. John Muthee, Founder and Managing Director of Savannah Informatics.
• Diana Mong’are, first runner up for the Anzisha Prize for youth entrepreneurship.
• Elsardt Kigen, winner of the National Heritage Art Competition and Art Director for Ibuka.
• Angeline Omwamba, Secretary General for the Students Union of Egerton University (SUEU).
• Samuel Kirubi, Managing Director of Equity Bank’s Rwanda subsidiary.
Our Impact
• 2
,673 ELP Scholars have benefitted from the programme since 1998.
• 99% of ELP Scholars transition from high school to university, enabled by the internship programme
and college savings scheme.
• More than 1,000 internships provided across Equity Group annually, making ELP the largest corporate
internship programme in Africa.
• 263 scholars admitted to top global universities, receiving more than $45 million in scholarships from
universities including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Amherst, and others.
• Over KSh. 1.5 million awarded in seed funding to the top scholar business pitches at the annual Equity
Innovators Awards.
• Over 600 ELP Scholars currently in university serve as mentors to Wings to Fly scholars each term
at their respective high schools.
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Transforming Africa
Scholar Profiles: Equity Leaders Programme (ELP)
Bernard Wesonga
Home: MnasiMoja, Nambale, Busia County
Primary School: St. Mary’s Primary, Changamwe
High School: Shimo La Tewa School
University: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture
and Technology
Course: Actuarial Science
Year Joined: 2013
Bernard’s
parents
separated when he
was very young, and
he was raised by his
grandmother for three
years before his father,
an electrician with a
corrugated iron sheets
company in Mombasa,
remarried and took him
in. Although reunited
with his father and new family, life for Bernard did
not turn out as pleasantly as he had hoped. Realizing
that education was the key to the independence
he longed for, he worked hard at St. Mary’s Primary
School in Mombasa’s poorest slum, Bangladesh, and
later in high school at Shimo La Tewa School. Bernard’s
effort, hard work, and self-initiative led him to become
the top male student in his district in the 2012 KCSE
examination, allowing him to join ELP. Bernard now
holds several leadership roles at ELP and on campus.
He is the representative of Department of Statistics and
Actuarial Science in Jomo Kenyatta University Students
Association. He is also the chairperson of the Bachelor
of Actuarial Science Committee, a student body that
helps students access information about the course and
corporate requirements of actuaries, since information
available in the university about the course is limited.
Bernard is also an active member of the Debating
Society of JKUAT and was a semi-finalist in the Amnesty
International Human Rights competition held in 2014.
He is also a member of Rotaract Club in JKUAT, a
subsidiary club of Rotary Club of Thika. The club is
currently involved in building bodaboda sheds for
motorists. Bernard also has a great passion for peer
counseling, entrepreneurship and community service.
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Transforming Africa
Eufrasia Mero
46
Home: Kiamweri, Meru County
Primary School: Irimbeni Public Primary
High School: St. Mary’s Girls High School, Igoji
University: University of Nairobi
Course: Dental Surgery
Year Joined: 2012
Eufrasia is the eldest
of five children born to
unemployed parents in
Kiamweri village, Meru
County. Growing up, she
knew the only secure
source of income for her
family was the two-acre
plot of land on which they
grew tea, and did her best
to help till the crop as often
as she could during the school holidays. But when
she was in high school, a visit by an EGF mentor
introduced her to ELP, and she promised to work hard
and gain entry into the competitive programme, even
though at the time she was not the best performing
girl in her school. But once she set her mind to it,
she was undeterred. She earned an A on the KCSE
examination and joined ELP in 2012. She is currently
pursuing a Dental Surgery degree at the University
of Nairobi, where she is already demonstrating
leadership as the class representative of the Dental
Surgery class of 2017, and editor general of Scope,
a university publication out of the department of
Dental Surgery. In this role, she has led the editorial
team of her magazine to organize free medical camps
in Kibera slum and Machakos and Starehe Girls’ High
School. Eufrasia is also an active member of the
ELP Honor Council, a committee of Equity Scholars
established to set high standards for professionalism,
integrity and leadership among the ELP scholars. The
ELP Honor Council is also responsible for vetting top
performing scholars for Scholar Excellence Awards
offered by EGF.
Geoffrey William Ochieng’
Home: Nyangubo, Migori County
Primary School: Migori Primary
School
High School: Migori Secondary
School
University: Moi University
Course: Environmental Health
Year Joined: 2013
Transforming Africa
Before joining ELP, Geoffrey admits that he was not
so ambitious and only had modest dreams: finishing
his undergraduate education and securing a job
opportunity in his line of study. After enrolling in ELP
and interacting with his peers and other leaders, he
began to dream bigger about what his future could
be. He now plans to contribute to the growth of
the health sector and improve health institutions
in Kenya by creating an organization that will take
healthcare to the underprivileged. Although he has a
speech disorder, it has not deterred his confidence to
speak on behalf of his peers. At the Department of
Environmental Health at Moi University, Geoffrey is a
long-standing class representative, a role he has held
since he joined university. He is also a member of
the Environmental Health Students of Moi University
Association, where he has helped organize several
community projects such as cleaning-up of Eldoret
town, conducting local health awareness campaigns
and distributing sanitary towels in Gishu County. One
of his community service activities was a campaign on
HIV/AIDS and cancer awareness in rural UasinGishu
County where he led a team of his peers for the
charity event.
Eunice WambuiWanjiru
Home: Gacatha, Tetu Constituency, Nyeri County
Primary School: Ihururo Academy, Nyeri County
High School: Karoti Girls High School, Kirinyaga
South, top in District
University: University of Nairobi
Course: Economics &Statistics
Year Joined: 2010
Even before being selected
to join ELP in 2010, Eunice
was full of youthful ambition
to go to college, get a
good degree, a good job,
and lead a financially stable
life. To achieve this dream,
she had been working
towards
securing
an
internship with Equity Bank
at the prompting of her supportive father, a retired
accountant for a small cooperative society in her rural
home, and had in fact dropped an application at
Karatina Branch even before her results were out. She
knew her dream was to be an excellent economist
and hoped to use her experience at Equity Bank as a
launching pad toward that dream.
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Transforming Africa
Her wish was realized when her KCSE results came
out, but now she has bigger dreams: she does not
simply want get a get a job, she wants to create
jobs. She wants to make a meaningful contribution
to Kenya’s economic growth. Asked how she plans to
do so, she remarks, “In order to do his, I want to start
my own investment firm, explore Kenya’s investment
opportunities and market them to investors, both
local and foreign.”
Demonstrating her leadership, Eunice is the founder
and administrator of the Smart Investors Facebook
group which offers information on financial instruments
and how to trade in them. This is a project that Eunice
started after receiving mentorship with investment
analysts during her internship at the bank.
Eunice is currently in her final year of University, and is
enrolled on Chartered Financial Analyst professional
test (CFA). She plans to be Charter holder in 3 years
and join an investment firm dealing with portfolio and
asset management after graduation.
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ELP Scholars celebrate their admission to elite global universities
Transforming Africa
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Transforming Africa
STATEMENT
FROM PARTNERS
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Transforming Africa
Reeta Roy, President and CEO
The MasterCard Foundation
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Statement from Reeta Roy, President and CEO The MasterCard Foundation
Since its inception in 2010, the Wings to Fly programme has transformed the lives of more than 10,000 young
people by providing vital support for their secondary education. More than access to tuition for secondary
school, the programme also provides mentorship, counseling and social support to ensure young people are
given all the tools they need to succeed.
The MasterCard Foundation’s commitment to date of $40.9 million to Wings to Fly reflects our deep belief in
the three principles that guide the programme.
1.Equality of Opportunity. Through the programme, the brightest minds in Kenya have an opportunity to
develop and contribute to the country and the continent. The programme provides boys and girls with equal
opportunity to learn — half of the Wings to Fly intake from each district are girls and half are boys.
2.Achievement. Wings to Fly Scholars demonstrate academic achievement, but also their courage and
resilience to overcome barriers. The programme enables them to achieve in the classroom and in their
communities. More than 90 per cent of the first two graduating classes have qualified for university and
many have had the opportunity to gain practical work experience at Equity Bank.
3.Giving Back. Most importantly, the Wings to Fly programme encourages responsible citizenship and giving
back. Many Scholars are leading student projects and volunteering time in their communities.
We are very proud of what Wings to Fly has accomplished to date and thank Equity Bank, Equity Group
Foundation, USAID, UK-AID and KfW for their ongoing partnership and support.
All of us continue to be inspired from the performance and progress of Wings to Fly Scholars. The Government
of Kenya, which has been an instrumental partner since the beginning of Wings to Fly, recently committed to
making secondary education free in the coming years. This amazing commitment will give Kenya’s young people
the tools they need to lead their country into the future.
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Transforming Africa
Statement from Karen Freeman, Mission Director, USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to helping Kenya end extreme poverty
and to develop a resilient, prosperous, democratic society.
Education is a key ingredient in the fight against poverty and a catalyst for rapid economic development. USAID entered
the Wings to Fly public-private partnership with Equity Group Foundation (EGF) and its partners to give academically
gifted but economically disadvantaged and vulnerable children from across the country access to quality education. This
important scholarship programme provides leadership development, career guidance, and personal mentoring to young
people. It equips students to take on leadership roles in their communities and their country.
The U.S. and Kenyan governments are committed to alleviating poverty, joining business strategy with compassion. The
Wings To Fly programme also represents a growing trend of private-sector leadership development. As the U.S.-Kenya
partnership grows and matures, we look forward to supporting an increasing number of such development.
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Transforming Africa
Statement from Department For International Development (DFID)
DFID’s mission is to assist partner governments to reduce poverty, and education is fundamental to everything we do.
Education is the key to beating poverty and the greatest investment we can make for global prosperity and the future of
our world. It transforms countries and societies; an extra year of quality schooling lifts a country’s annual economic growth
by 1%. Educated children are able to take better care of their families and find greater employment opportunities in
adulthood.
DFID’s focus on educating girls is informed by the fact that girls’ education generates extremely large benefits. Girls
who have completed secondary education are three times more likely to get a job than those who have only completed
primary school; educated mothers have fewer children, who are healthier, better fed and more likely to survive the first few
years of life. Over the past 5 years in Kenya, DFID has invested around Ksh 1 billion per year in trying to get more children
into school (and keep them there), and to improve the quality of the education they receive. We remain committed to
education in Kenya and will continue to look at how we can support initiatives that improve education for the country’s
poorest children.
We are delighted to support the Wings To Fly scholarship programme as it will help its beneficiaries to make better lives
for themselves, their families and lead them to play a positive role in society. We hope that they will act as role models for
their previous schools, showing other students that there are opportunities at the end of primary school despite their poor
backgrounds. We hope that the students will succeed in their secondary school studies, transition to become the future
leaders in Kenya, and help to take forward the country’s agenda for peace and prosperity.
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Transforming Africa
Statement from KfW Entwicklungsbank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Education is essential for every country’s social and economic development. More education for children and young
people means more opportunities for a better life. A key element of German Development Cooperation (GDC) is thus to
improve the quality of education and widen the access to it, especially for disadvantaged groups.
Since 2004, GDC through KfW supports the Kenyan Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP) as a key to poverty
reduction and finances the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools in Nairobi, Kisumu,
Mombasa and Nakuru. Our aim is to provide a child-friendly environment conducive to learning and to actively encourage
school community participation.
However, there is a significant number of excellent primary school graduates who do not start secondary school for lack of
financial resources. The Wings to Fly programme provides tuition fees and related school supplies, enabling high-achieving
yet needy students to continue schooling beyond primary school. We particularly welcome the complementary leadership
and social transformation sessions that support the developing of the next generation of leaders. We are convinced that
these students will diversify the leadership structure and make a difference in Kenya’s future.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW gladly contributes
to this promising programme by funding education for almost 1,000 girls and boys from Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and
Nakuru counties.
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ABOUT
THE PARTNERS
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Equity Group Foundation (EGF)
Established in 2008, EGF acts as the institutional home for the Equity Bank Group’s social initiatives and
interventions. Since its inception, EGF has significantly enhanced the coordination of CSR interventions for
Equity Bank Group. EGF’s aim is to catalyze the socio-economic prosperity of the people of Africa by giving
opportunity to the millions at the bottom of the pyramid to be incorporated into the modern economy.
Having demonstrated scalability, impact and high return on investment, EGF started forging partnerships with
development organizations who wish to give back to society without duplicating effort and/or investing in
infrastructure. This innovative and creative vehicle has fundamentally transformed the concept of philanthropy
and corporate social responsibility. While EGF champions the social economic transformation of the people
of Africa and seeks partnerships along seven thematic areas, (Education & Leadership Development, Financial
Inclusion & Literacy, Environment, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Health), Equity Bank provides
the infrastructure of delivery hence reducing the operational costs for EGF and increasing the rate of return on
any social investment.
The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation is an independent, global organization based in Toronto, Canada, with more than $6
billion in assets. Through collaboration with partner organizations in 49 countries, mostly in Africa, it is creating
opportunities for all people to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s programmes advance microfinance as well as
youth education and employment. Established in 2006 through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide when
it became a public company, the Foundation is separate and independent from the company.
Its policies, operations, and funding decisions are determined by its own Foundation Board of Directors and
President and CEO.
USAID
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USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the
Secretary of State. USAID supports international development and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives
Transforming Africa
by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade, global health, democracy and conflict mitigation and
management, and humanitarian assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin America and
the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia. USAID/Kenya, through funding from the PEPFAR expects to fund the
cost of scholarships, leadership training and mentorship of at least 2,166 OVC scholars between 2011-2016,
of which 488 are remaining beneficiaries of the USAID/Kenya Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) project
and 2,678 will be new Wings To Fly scholars. In addition, USAID Kenya expects to help fund the personnel and
administrative costs of managing the project.
DfID
The Department for International Development (DfID) leads Britain’s fight against global poverty, delivering UK
aid around the world. DfID has partnered with Equity Group Foundation to support a class of 600 students with
direct financial support for tuition fees, as well as other necessary items (e.g., uniform, books, and boarding
fees, etc.) under the Wings To Fly programme. Specifically, the scholarships will be given to 400 girls and 200
boys. DfID’s focus is on the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and urban slum counties and thus Equity Group
Foundation will reach out towards these areas given Equity Bank’s extensive branch network.
KfW
KfW is one of the world´s leading and most experienced promotional banks. Established in 1948 as a public
law institution, KfW is owned 80 per cent by the Federal Republic of Germany and 20 per cent by the federal
states (“Länder”). KfW Development Bank is Germany’s leading development bank and an integral part of KfW.
It carries out Germany´s Financial Cooperation (FC) with developing countries on behalf of the German Federal
Government. The 600 personnel at headquarters and about 200 specialists in its 66 local offices cooperate
with partners all over the world. Its goal is to combat poverty, secure the peace, protect the environment and
the climate and make globalisation fair. KfW is a competent and strategic advisor on current development
issues. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development KfW is currently
sponsoring 349 Wings to Fly scholars of the 2013 intake and 609 Wings to Fly scholars of the 2015 intake, drawn
from the urban poor communities in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Nakuru counties.
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Equity Group Foundation
Equity Center 8th Floor, Hospital Road, Upper Hill
P.O. Box 13241-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 763 063000
Email: info@equitygroupfoundation.com
wwww.equitygroupfoundation.com