Equity Group Holdings Limited

05/21/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/21/2021 00:54

EQUITY GROUP FOUNDATION COMMENCES SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE 2021 WINGS TO FLY AND ELIMU SCHOLARSHIPS

10,500 scholarships to be offered to bright and deserving students through the Wings to Fly program and Elimu scholarship program in 2021.
Nairobi Friday 21st May 2021 Equity Group Foundation (EGF) has commenced the selection process for the 2021 Wings to Fly scholarship program in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the German government through KfW. Additionally, a similar process has started for the 2021 Elimu scholarship program, a flagship program sponsored by the World Bank and the Ministry of Education and implemented through EGF. The two programs will offer a combined total of 10,500 scholarships to academically promising scholars from needy backgrounds who sat and excelled in the 2020 KCPE examinations.

The selected Wings to Fly scholars will form the twelfth cohort and will join a total of 17,304 scholars who have benefitted from comprehensive scholarships offered through the program while the successful Elimu scholars will form the second cohort and will join the existing 9,000 scholars who were commissioned last year. This brings the total scholarships so far implemented by EGF to 36,804.

Academically promising 2020 KCPE finalists from all 47 counties who scored a minimum of 350 marks and who come from needy backgrounds can apply for the 2021 Wings to Fly scholarships by logging on to https://egfdmis.equitybank.co.ke/register_w2f to create a new account on the Wings to Fly portal and fill in the 2021 application form for consideration.
While 2020 KCPE finalists from financially challenged backgrounds who sat their examinations at public primary schools and are from 110 targeted Sub-Counties and fifteen urban centres with informal settlements and scored a minimum of 280 marks can make applications for the 2020/2021 Elimu scholarships by logging on to https://egfdmis.equitybank.co.ke/register_elimu to create a new account on the Elimu portal and fill in the 2020/2021 application form for consideration. For affirmative action, candidates who are from vulnerable and marginalized communities and those with special needs and disabilities who attained below 280 marks may be considered.
For both scholarship programs, scholars, guardians and parents who are unable to access the forms on the portal can get physical scholarship application forms at their nearest Equity branch or Equity Agent and must submit these for consideration on or before 31st May 2021.

The deadline for all scholarship application is 31st May 2021 whether submitted through the application portals or through Equity bank branches or Equity Agents.
Commenting on the commencement of the selection process, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi reiterated the Group's commitment to supporting Kenyans to enjoy access to education opportunities through its scholarship programs. 'As Equity, we truly value the role of the various partners that we work with at the community level to ensure that our selection process is fair and that a vast majority of Kenyans get to hear about the programs and are guided appropriately on how to apply for the scholarships. This year, we wish to encourage interested applicants to embrace the use of the digital portals as this will minimize paper handling and will thus contribute to our efforts of minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19,' said Dr. Mwangi.
Dr Mwangi has also appealed to Kenyans of goodwill who know a needy bright child anywhere in Kenya who has met the application criteria to help them apply for the scholarship. 'There are many needy and bright children who have attained the eligible marks and may not hear of this opportunity. I appeal to all Kenyans of goodwill to support this initiative by helping such children to access the application forms from their nearby Equity bank branch or Agent so that they can stand a chance of securing a scholarship for their secondary school education,' said Dr Mwangi said.
The submission deadline of 31st May 2021 will allow the Wings to Fly Community Scholarship Selection Board (CSSB) in all 47 counties and the Elimu Community Scholarship Advisory Committee (CSAC) in each of the 110 sub counties and 15 urban centres ample time to review and scrutinize the applications as well as conduct face to face interviews and assessments before awarding the most deserving scholars the scholarship opportunities.
The CSSB comprises of relevant key personalities in the community and is chaired by the Sub-County Director of Education and coordinated by Equity Bank Branch Manager while the CSAC comprises of relevant key personalities in the community and will be chaired by the Deputy County Commissioner and coordinated by Equity Branch Manager.
About the Wings to Fly Scholarship Program
The Wings to Fly Scholarship program, a signature program in EGF's Education and Leadership Development pillar, provides comprehensive secondary school scholarships to academically promising, yet financially disadvantaged youth. Since 2010, 17,304 scholarships have been offered to scholars selected from across the country through community scholarship selection boards. The scholarship covers school fees, transport, books, pocket money, mentoring, psychosocial support, and leadership development. Mastercard Foundation has been EGF's anchor partner in supporting worthy scholars lacking resources to carry their academic dreams forward since 2010. Other former and current partners include USAID, UKAID, and the German Government through KfW. Graduates of Wings to Fly have an additional opportunity to access financing from EGF to pursue technical courses at reputable TVET institutions across Kenya.

About Elimu Scholarship Program
The Elimu scholarship program is run by EGF on behalf of the Ministry of Education and the Government of Kenya. With financial support from the World Bank, the program will provide 18,000 comprehensive secondary school scholarships to primary school graduates from 110 sub-counties and 15 urban centers with informal settlements. In 2020, the 1st cohort of 9,000 beneficiaries reported to Form One and the remaining scholars will be identified to join secondary school this year.

About Equity Group Foundation
Equity Group Foundation (EGF), the corporate implementing foundation of Equity Group Holdings Plc, has as its mission to champion the transformation of lives and livelihoods for 100m people in Africa by 2024 through the design and implementation of innovative programs that leverage Equity Group's infrastructure and partnerships to create shared value. Established in 2008 as the Group's social engine, the Foundation delivers economic opportunities, capacity, tools, and technologies that enable individuals and businesses to increase productivity, resilience and share in socio-economic growth. EGF responds to the continuum of issues that challenge the socio-economic advancement of the people of Africa, especially low-income individuals, and families. EGF's Creating Shared Value [CSV] strategy provides social development initiatives in Education and Leadership Development, Food and Agriculture, Health, Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Development, Energy and Environment and Social Protections for the most vulnerable citizens. EGF's programs are underpinned by technology, innovation, and synergy as a central means to launch, nurture, and scale up Africa's next generation of successful leaders and entrepreneurs delivered to all communities in which Equity has operations.
Additional information, visit www.equitygroupholdings.com

WINGS TO FLY SCHOLARSHIPS TARGETS ALL COUNTIES IN KENYA

ELIMU SCHOLARSHIPS - TARGETED SUB-COUNTIES UNDER THE SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (SEQIP)

Sub County

Sub County

Sub County

1.

Baringo North

38.

Magarini

75.

Kuria East

2.

East Pokot

39.

Malindi

76.

Kuria West

3.

Marigat

40.

Marani

77.

Uriri

4.

Chepalungu

41.

Nyamache

78.

Kandara

5.

Sotik

42.

Ikutha

79.

Kigumo

6.

Bungoma West

43.

Kyuso

80.

Murang'a East

7.

Cheptais

44.

Mumoni

81.

Tinderet

8.

Mt Elgon

45.

Mutito

82.

Trans Mara East

9.

Bunyala

46.

Mutomo

83.

Samburu Central

10.

Busia

47.

Mwingi Central

84.

Samburu East

11.

Butula

48.

Mwingi East

85.

Samburu North

12.

Nambale

49.

Nzambani

86.

Taveta

13.

Samia

50.

Tseikuru

87.

Bura (Tana North)

14.

Teso North

51.

Kinango

88.

Tana Delta

15.

Teso South

52.

Kwale

89.

Tana River

16.

Marakwet East

53.

Msambweni

90.

Tharaka North

17.

Marakwet West

54.

Laikipia North

91.

Tharaka South

18.

Balambala

55.

Masinga

92.

Kibish

19.

Dadaab

56.

Yatta

93.

Loima

20.

Fafi

57.

Kathonzweni

94.

Turkana Central

21.

Hulugho

58.

Kibwezi

95.

Turkana East

22.

Ijara

59.

Makindu

96.

Turkana North

23.

Lagdera

60.

Makueni

97.

Turkana South

24.

Suba

61.

Nzaui

98.

Turkana West

25.

Garbatula

62.

Banisa

99.

Buna

26.

Isiolo

63.

Lafey

100.

Eldas

27.

Merti

64.

Mandera Central

101.

Habaswein

28.

Kajiado Central

65.

Mandera East

102.

Tarbaj

29.

Loitokitok

66.

Mandera North

103.

Wajir East

30.

Butere

67.

Mandera West

104.

Wajir North

31.

Kakamega South

68.

Chalbi

105.

Wajir South

32.

Khwisero

69.

Horr North

106.

Wajir West

33.

Likuyani

70.

Loiyangalani

107.

Pokot Central

34.

Lugari

71.

Marsabit

108.

Pokot North

35.

Navakholo

72.

Marsabit South (Laisamis)

109.

Pokot South

36.

Ganze

73.

Moyale

110.

West Pokot

37.

Kaloleni

74.

Sololo

VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WITHIN SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (SEQIP) OPERATIONAL AREA

County

Community

County

Community

1

Marsabit

Waayu

12

Garissa

Munyoyaya

Elmolo

Malakote/Wailwana

Daasanach

Gar jiil

Ilkunono

Gamuuns

Deis

Bonieya

Waata

Reer Dumaal

Konso

Boni Aweer

Elmolo

13

Wajir

Riba/Ribi

2

Kilifi

Waata

Gar jiil

Wakifundi

Hiir

Watswaka

Gagabey/Bon

Makonde

Rer-Bahars

Wasanya

14

Narok

Ogiek

Wapemba

Ilkunono

3

Isiolo

Waata

15

Kitui

Oromo

Sakuye

16

Bungoma

Ogiek

4

Elgeiyo Marakwet

Sengwer

17

Mandera

Warabeya

5

West Pokot

Sengwer

Riba

6

Laikipia

Yiakku

Corner tribe

7

Samburu

Ilkunono

Gar jiil

Dorobo

Gawawen

Ltorobo

Waata

Sweii (Ndorobo)

18

Tana River

Orma

8

Baringo

Ilchamus

Pokomo

Endorois

Werdei (Tana river)

Sabor

Wailwana

9

Taita Taveta

Waadhu/Wapare

Munyoyaya

10

Nandi

Tarik

Waata

Ogiek

19

Kwale

'Waliangulo'(Sanya)

11

Migori

Basuba

Sanya

Tswaka

Wakifundi

20

Turkana

Ngikebotok

Ichakun

LIST OF TARGETED URBAN CENTRES WITH INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

1.

Thika

4.

Nakuru

7.

Nyeri

10.

Machakos

13.

Kilifi

2.

Nairobi

5.

Mombasa

8.

Embu

11.

Kitui

14.

Naivasha

3.

Eldoret

6.

Kisumu

9.

Garissa

12.

Kericho

15.

Kakamega