Some 1,544 girls, including teen
mothers, have received full scholarships from Shofco to complete their high
school education.
The students, drawn from various
sub-counties in Nairobi, come from low-income families and have shown academic
promise and determination despite financial hardship.
During the scholarship
launch, SHOFCO Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede underscored the importance of
education in empowering youth.
“Education should never be a
privilege. It should be right. These young minds have shown incredible
strength and resilience in the face of adversity,” he said.
“Today, we’re not just awarding scholarships, we’re investing in future leaders, scientists, teachers, and changemakers," he added.
Dr. Odede noted that among the
beneficiaries are 159 teen mothers who now have a second chance at education.
“Our high school scholarships target
needy but bright girls who have dropped out of school or struggling to pay
school fees,” Odede said.
One of the scholars, 15-year-old
Michelle, shared her experience during the event.
“There were times I thought I’d have
to drop out and start working to support my family. This scholarship means
everything to me. It’s not just money, it's hope,” Michelle said.
Parents and guardians also attended
the event.
Maureen Isinga, a parent of a
student, said her daughter had accumulated fee arrears that were cleared through
the scholarship.
“I really appreciate what has been
done for my family. I will now concentrate on looking for school fees for my
other two children,” she said.
The organisation aims to support up
to 11,000 vulnerable girls across Kenya with scholarships.
Under its education program, it also
runs two schools—Kibera School for Girls and Mathare School for Girls—serving a
student population of 580 from grades one through eight.
Students in these schools receive
support that includes access to basic services.
