1,000 needy students benefit from Equity bank’s Wings to fly programs
Chizi chikoko mwachizi a beneficiary from Mbita primary school in Kinango Sub county
By Caroline Kahonzi
At least 16 students who completed Kenya certificate of primary school education in Kwale County are among 1,000 students in Kenya who benefited from wings to fly scholarships program from Equity bank 2023.
The program sees bright children from poor backgrounds who scored 350 marks and above in their KCPE 2022.
Speaking to journalists during flagging off ceremony of the beneficiaries who are expected to join other beneficiaries in Kenya at Pangani girls high school in Nairobi for three days sessions of preparations held at equity bank Ukunda branch Jacob Akida equity bank manager Kwale town branch said the program has so far benefitted 48,009 children apart from the 1000 beneficiaries enrolled this year’s country wide .
“ I want to appreciate our 2022 candidates for their good performance, we received close to 1000 applications for bright and needy students ,we followed our criteria and managed to get the 16 candidates required to benefit this year ,since we started wings to fly scholarship program 48,009 children has benefited apart from the 1000 that we enrolled this year ,seventeen thousands eight hundred and twenty students among the forty eight and nine thousands have joined different universities ,three thousand seven hundred and twenty have joined technical vocational education trainings TVETS ,seven hundred and sixty one students have joined universities abroad ,like Harvard university ,this is a great achievement to Kenyans and equity bank at large ,”Said Mr.Akida .
Mr. Akida said the students will fully benefit from the scholarship so as not to leave any student behind .
“since we started Kwale town equity branch 2013 because we had only one branch in Ukunda ,we enrolled more than five hundred and sixty students under wings to fly ,these children benefit fully from the program ,full school fees payment ,travel expenses, all school requirements and even school trips and after they complete their KCSE and obtain grade A or A-we enroll them to another program equity leadership program as they prepare to join universities across the world and also the bank supports students who qualifies to do medicine ,saying the aim of equity projects is support the community ,”Posed Mr.Akida .
He is now calling upon parents to take responsibilities of their children despite being supported by equity bank .
“I understand these children are under equity bank but they will remain to be your children.I want parents to guide them well and tell them the importance of education ,this is their future so we want them to be role models in the society and assist others ,”Said Mr.Akida .
A beneficiary Chizi Chikoko Mwachizi from Mbita primary school in Kinango sub county who scored 357 marks despite living in a tough environment resulting from climate change said her dream is to be a dentist .
“ I’m the last born in a family of 12 children ,my siblings are all learned but are jobless ,my parents are also jobless depending on charcoal burning business ,I’m thankful to equity bank for giving me this opportunity ,I promise to work hard and achieve my dream of becoming a dentist and assist my family and community at large ,I want to challenge my fellow students to work hard equity is there to support every bright child from poor background to fulfill their dreams ,”urged Ms Mwachizi .
Her sentiments were expressed by Abdullah Mwaruwa Tsungu, a beneficiary from Maledi primary school in Lungalunga Sub County who scored 383 marks saying it is through this program that his dream of becoming a pilot will come true.
“ I don’t take this chance for granted because I know where I come from ,I have been on and off of school because of school fees ,at times I was forced to remain at home for weeks and look for casual jobs to cater for my school expenses because my parents are jobless ,I want to thank equity bank for this program that guarantees me a chance of proceeding with my studies I promise to work hard and achieve my goals in life ,Ii has been a childhood dream to become a pilot and here is the chance ,”Said Mr.Tsungu .
Kwale county Early Childhood Director ECDE Abdalla Bilashaka who represented the county executive committee of education during the flag off ceremony applauded the equity bank for their continued efforts of supporting bright needy students in Kwale county saying the project aims at transforming lives of Kwale residents .
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