It’s a sigh of relief for parents and guardians of 120 needy students who excelled in 2023 KCPE as a non-governmental organisation awarded them a ten-year scholarship covering secondary and university education.
Hatua Network incepted in 2007 by Peter Kwame and Gabrielle Fondiller who were conducting research at the Likoni Ferry crossing channel has thus far sponsored 1000 children from underprivileged families to access education.
Hatua Network Executive Director Gabrielle Fondiller says they were interviewing street vendors selling tomatoes, potatoes and bananas on the side of the road.
“We were learning about the ways their incomes support their families, how their income is unable to support their families and how they manage those challenging situations,” said Fondiller at the Star of the Sea Hall in Mombasa.
“We realise that across every parent that we spoke to every person working hard to raise their children their number one aspiration was to provide their kid with better quality education in order their kids can live quality life in the future,” she added.
To give back to the vendors the duo decided to sponsor seven kids of the vendors they had interviewed but due to overwhelming demand and the impact they had to increase the number.
1000 applicants
This year, the organisation has received more than 1000 applications, applicants were selected based on KCPE performance and the level of need. They will receive secondary school and university scholarships, mentoring, soft skills, counselling and guidance.
“As of today,” says Fondiller, “we have sponsored 1000 students which we are very excited about.”
The students from underprivileged families doing well in school were selected with the support of teachers from across the public schools in Mombasa.
[Mombasa County Education (CECM) Dr Mbwarali Kame (left) with Hatua Network Co-founder Gabrielle Fondiller. Photo/Ahmed Omar/January, 25, 24].
Mwanzala Obuya, a beneficiary of the scholarship from the Likoni constituency could not hide her joy after her dream to join secondary school became a reality.
“Today I am happy and honoured to be awarded a scholarship by Hatua Network, I know everything I want and the school that I am going to will pay for me,” she said.
On their part, parents express their gratitude to the organisation noting that the scholarship will play a vital role in their children’s future.
Peris Kule a parent said, “I am excited that my son has got a scholarship I am grateful I had no means now he will be educated from secondary to university. I will tell him to work hard to break the cycle of poverty.”
