beneficiary-type: HIGH SCHOOL BENEFICIARIES

BACKGROUND

We are 3 boys and 1 girl in my family, and I am the last born. Our mother, who raised us, unfortunately passed on in December 2007. After, I was temporarily placed at Kikambala Children’s Home, as there was no one to take care of me. Coincidentally this was just before I received my KCPE results.

That same year, I emerged as the top student in the local Primary School that year having scored 409 marks. I received an admission letter to join Maseno School. Through the efforts of my aunt (a member of Mwalimu Sacco) and my primary school teachers, we applied for the Co-operative Bank Foundation scholarship.

My application was successful! I went on to score an A- in my KCSE examinations, allowing me to proceed to Moi University in Eldoret to study Informatics. I maximised on the internship opportunity given to University Beneficiaries and joined the Kilifi Branch whenever I had a long holiday. I cultivated the saving culture and benefited from mentorship.

I still keep tabs with my mentor who used to be the Customer Relations manager at the Kilifi Branch. I find myself calling him to seek advice on my career or even personal issues. He has really been instrumental in my life.
Upon graduation, I applied for a position with Andela Kenya.

Although we were more than 2,000 applicants, I was among the 14 finalists who went through a 6-stage vetting process. Against all odds, I now currently work as a software engineer at the same company. Through their support, the Foundation enabled me to gain education to a level that was unthinkable.

I am now able to support my nieces and nephews in paying for their education I am the only one among my siblings who was able to finalize primary education let alone proceed to university. I have also been advising and mentoring some of the young people in Kilifi on academic matters. I want to be able to do my part to create change.

BACKGROUND

I was born in a remote village called Pinan in West Pokot County. My parents are farmers who had 10 children, 2 boys and 8 girls, and I am the fifth born the family. I was lucky to attend school as my parents did not believe in traditions like female circumcision and early marriage.

I attended a village school, Pinan Primary, where I attained 359 marks in my KCPE examination in 2007. I later joined St. Teresa’s Tartar Girls in 2008. I remember my father had to sell a piece of land and pay ten thousand shillings so that I could be admitted into form 1.

This was before I secured the Co-operative Bank Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship lessened the fee burden on our family and enabled my parents to support my siblings. I completed high school in 2011, having scored an A in KCSE examinations. I then joined the University of Nairobi in 2013 where I studied Actuarial Science, under the CBF University Scholarship Program.

During my time in University, I was able to work as an intern at Co-operative Bank Kitale Branch during my holidays. These opportunities enabled me to develop people management skills, interpersonal and communication skills, as well as an ability to network at an early age, greatly contributing to my professional and social development.

The internship program also encouraged us to save some money by joining the Co-operative Bank SACCO. With the saving, I managed to buy some assets like sheep, which my mother is still rearing to date. Almost immediately after graduating in 2017, I got a job opportunity and started working with Syngenta as an Actuarial Climate Change Analyst.

I would not have been able to accomplish these great academic and professional achievements without the help of the Co-operative Bank Foundation scholarship. I remain indebted to the Co-operative Bank Foundation for the phenomenal assistance over the year.

BACKGROUND

I was born in Nyeri County, the third born in a family of 9 siblings. Our mother raised us all on her own. I attended Mbereria Primary school, but I dropped out when I was in class two. I was not the first sibling to do as our mother could not afford to pay our school fees.

Understanding early on that life is comes with difficulties, we learned to fend for ourselves by taking on manual jobs for small pay. I returned to school in 2003 when free primary school was launched. Due to my age, I joined class four. It was difficult however because I couldn’t remember how to write my name, let alone keep up with the other classes.

I went through my primary school supporting myself by working as a casual labourer in people’s farms and managing a small stand at the local market where I would sell some items after school. Through hard work and determination, I have managed to perform well throughout my education career. I scored 370 marks in KCPE exams, which led to me attending Chinga Girls High.

I joined the school in 2008 through the support of the Co-operative Bank Foundation. I performed well in the KCSE examinations and got an A- of seventy-eight (78) points. As I was among the top four students in the Central Region, I secured further financial support to progress into Kenyatta University.

I studied Economics and Statistics and graduated with a first-class honour’s degree in 2016. I didn’t stop there as I decided to pursue a master’s degree after. Nobody in my village ever thought I would manage to join high school, let alone do a master’s degree. In my family I am the first to attend university.

I am considered a role model and I like to go back to mentor others in my village. I have been able to support my mother and pay school feed for my younger siblings. I am proud of myself and my academic achievements because it all seemed impossible at one point in my life.

BACKGROUND

I never imagined that one day I will be referred to as a learned friend. Many of the friends I had during my formative years who didn’t attend school due to a lack school fees are either in prison, deeply entrenched in a life of drug abuse, or, even worse, died. As a person living with albinism, as you can imagine, it also did not make life any easier. I was fortunate to be raised well by my parents, who instilled the right principles in me.

It was through these principles and the Foundation’s financial support that I completed my education and graduated with 2nd Upper Class Honours. I then went on to complete Kenya School of Law, passing the infamously difficult bar exams. I can now proudly call myself an Advocate of the High Court.

Beyond being a financier, through my journey with the Foundation, I learnt that I have a responsibility to give back my society. I have a passion for mentoring, to show others how to firmly grab any opportunity presented and pass on the principles that have carried me through. I too can play a role in giving people a second shot at life.

BACKGROUND

My educational journey has had both good and challenging experiences. I started off at St. Moses Primary. With money being tight at home, the expectation of proving myself and bettering the lives of my family someday always stayed with me.

Being the firstborn, I had to set an example for my brothers by getting good grades in appreciation for our parents’ efforts to support our education. Once they saw their sister could do it, they would also put in their best efforts and make me proud.

School fees had always been an issue, especially when I was preparing to join high school. My dad sold off his only livestock for the joining fees, but it barely made a dent. The excitement of joining a national school, a rare occurrence in our home village, was clouded by the concerns of not being able to afford the opportunity.

I began to believe that I would probably end up learning at a school close by. However, by God’s grace, I managed to secure a scholarship with the Co-op Bank Foundation through the great efforts of my head-teacher to help his best student.

The support allowed me to go through all 4 years of high school worry-free and to concentrate on my studies. It also reduced the burden on my parents so they could better support my younger siblings.

Thanks to the Foundation, I went through an enriching high school experience that broadened my view of the world, something I would have lacked if I had remained at home. It led to me pursuing aeronautical engineering at Technical University under the Foundation’s University Scholarship Program awarded to the best 28 students (now 56) from the Regional Selection.

The course was very involving and quite a change from high school life, but I slowly adjusted. My most difficult period in university was when I fell ill. It was difficult managing classes, hospital visits, and tests, all while being away from home. There were also challenges such as strikes, both student-led and those initiated by the lecturers, the COVID outbreak, and school management issues.

The five-year program took almost eight years! I was perturbed by how long it was taking to finish my degree. However, I decided to be proactive and take part in the activities I could participate in without my certificate, such as applying for various internship opportunities. I finally graduated in March 2022 and joined an aviation engineering trainee program shortly after.

I believe that education is a lifelong endeavour, and the skills and ideas acquired via higher education are essential to an individual. I aim to pursue a Masters, possibly a Ph.D. eventually. I will also continue to take occasional short-term courses.

No one’s life is easy. We all must face our own set of challenges and setbacks. Even when we find ourselves in highly chaotic situations, we can remain determined in uncovering and pursuing any available opportunity. To top it all, let God be your guide; He will never lead you astray.

BACKGROUND

The merit-based scholarship program became my beacon of hope. It wasn’t just about financial assistance; it was about recognizing hard work, dedication, and excellence. The scholarship was renewable each year based on academic performance—a scheme that ensured beneficiaries like me remained committed to our studies.

The foundation didn’t stop at just financial support. They introduced me to the Jijali program—a mentorship initiative that went beyond textbooks and classrooms. Through Jijali, I learned about work readiness, entrepreneurship, and the real-world challenges I would face beyond graduation.

It was here that I understood the importance of resilience, adaptability, and ethical leadership. Armed with the scholarship and the wisdom from Jijali, I pursued my passion for civil engineering. I graduated with first-class honours from the University of Nairobi.

In 2023, a new chapter unfolded. I secured a fully funded scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in structural engineering in Hungary. The foundation’s investment in my education had opened doors I never thought possible. Armed with knowledge, ambition, and gratitude, I set off to further my expertise.

As I stand on the threshold of my career, I am forever indebted to the Cooperative Bank Foundation. Their belief in me, their commitment to education, and their holistic approach to nurturing young minds have shaped who I am today.

However, this journey isn’t just about me—it’s about inspiring the next generation. To the younger generation who are part of the Cooperative Bank Foundation, I say this: Dream big, work hard, and embrace every opportunity.

The scholarship is a catalyst for transformation. Your dreams are within reach, and the foundation believes in you. My life journey—from a scholarship recipient to a master’s scholar—is a testament to the power of education and unwavering support.