Getting through high school is probably the greatest and most important challenge in the education career of a needy Kenyan student. The fee alone is daunting for the parents and many children are forced to drop out of school and lose the chance to change or improve their life.

PA-MOJA, in collaboration with Ol Pejeta Conservancy provides scholarships for 57 students each year. The students, who are selected jointly by the conservancy and members of their community have all their school fees paid irrespective of the high school they qualify to join. In addition to supporting their fee payment, each year, a reunion and mentorship day is held where all the students meet representatives of PA-MOJA and Ol Pejeta as well as their fellow bursary students.

This year, the event was hosted at the Rift Valley Adventures (RVA) camp located on Ol Pejeta Conservancy. RVA is a key partner to Ol Pejeta’s community development efforts and fully provides sponsorship  for two additional students.

Students participating in the 2016 bursary day

The students took part in a series of team sports and later listened to motivational speeches by the 3 Kenyan students recently back from Canada on an exchange visit supported by PA-MOJA. The three who are graduates of Tigithi Secondary talked about the importance of channeling their energies towards academic excellence. They also held a question and answer session allowing the students to interact at a less formal level. In attendance, were 5 Canadian volunteers who have been part of both PA-MOJA and the Butterfly Effect and are alumnae of Langley Fine Arts School. Butterfly Effect is an online learning platform where connected schools have students participate in academic projects and debates and offers a conducive virtual peer learning experience. It was a great opportunity for them to meet the bursary students for whom a huge chunk of the fundraising in Canada is dedicated and to hear their stories.

The Keynote address was given by Cynthia Weldon, Vice Principal at Johnston Heights School in Surrey Canada.  She gave a moving speech about humble beginnings using herself as an example. She encouraged the kids to use the chance they have in education to validate their educational and life dreams.

The day also served as a get together of the entire Kenyan PA-MOJA family with the presence of Butterfly Effect students from Tigithi and Thome Secondary Schools. It was a day for everyone to get together, share a meal, have fun and play as families rightfully should. The fact that this day only happens once a year makes it even more important for all of those involved and especially so for some of the  bursary students, some of whom do not have families to go home to.

At the close of the ceremony, student speakers expressed their gratitude to PA-MOJA and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy for their support in giving them a chance to acquire an education. Simon from Tigithi Secondary urged the entire bursary student fraternity to do more than express gratitude in words. “We must perform well in our exams and prove we deserved the support that was extended to us”.

After the event, the students were shuttled back to their respective schools and we believe the chance to be with their “family” will serve as impetus to do even better for themselves and renew their sense of purpose and self-worth.

Special thanks go to Dipesh Pabari and  Rift Valley Adventures for donating the venue and food absolutely free of charge.