This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect Kenya, Equity Group Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation have joined forces to support students in accessing education at home. In March 2020, all academic institutions in Kenya were closed indefinitely, and the delivery of the curriculum was moved to broadcast channels and digital platforms.
With many families facing the challenge of accessing lessons at home, the partnership aims to support over 14,600 students in the Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship programs. Each student has been provided with a solar-powered device containing a radio, a mobile charging unit for cell phones, and a lamp that allows studying after dusk.
Additionally, 13,800 secondary school students and 800 alumni of the Wings to Fly scholarship program currently in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will receive a monthly stipend of Kshs 3,000 for three months to enable access to essential food and personal items.
"I am really grateful for the solar lamps that you bought for us," noted Berly Sherly Owambo, a beneficiary of the Wings to fly scholarship. "It really inspired me during this period when we really needed to be at school."
Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings, and Executive Chairman of EGF, stated, "We wanted the Scholars to have an equal opportunity through continued access to their class lessons during this difficult stay-at-home period."
The program aims to reach 70,000 learners with curriculum as well as COVID-19 public health messages and advisories. EGF distributed the equipment through the Equity infrastructure of branches and its agency network across the country.
"Advancing equitable and inclusive access to education remains a top priority for the Foundation," said Daniel Hailu, Regional Head, Eastern and Southern Africa at the Mastercard Foundation. "The impact of COVID-19 requires us to be intentional about how we ensure the pandemic doesn’t exacerbate existing gaps in education."
