This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
On July 13, 2020, Safaricom announced a partnership with UNESCO and Eneza Education to launch a digital mentorship programme for high school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The programme aims to provide students with information on STEM subjects and enable them to make informed career choices. Learners will engage with tutors through local TV and community radio stations, as well as through SMS via the short code 40291.
"We are implementing lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to partner with other organizations and provide meaningful solutions for our customers via alternative channels," said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom. "For this digital programme, we are using our partnership with Eneza's Shupavu 291 solution to give students access to mentors and information on STEM subjects via SMS."
Over 40 radio stations and a local TV channel will air live shows, during which students will be encouraged to send questions via SMS to 40291. The mentors and facilitators of the show will then send responses to each question as they engage the learners. The programme will run for the next 11 weeks.
Statistics show that only 22 percent of all students enrolled in Kenyan universities are in STEM fields, despite a large number of related programmes on offer and the critical role they play in development.
