2,144 Students BENEFIT From

AFRICA’S SUCCESS EQUITY EXpanDS AGENCY BANKING IS LAUNCHED footprint to REVOLUTIONIZES http://www.youtube.com/ RWANDA FINANCIAL ACCESS africasuccess PG 3 PG 7 (PICTORIAL) PG 11 APRIL 2012 EquityA QUARTERLY NEWS PUBLICATIONNews OF EQUITY BANK www.equitybank.co.ke NOT FOR SALE Issue 04 2,144 STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2012 The MasterCard Foundation and Equity Group Foundation initiative which targets 10,000 scholarships has grown from a $50m to $67m fund with support of additional partners including USAID Kenya & UKAid President Kibaki poses for a photograph soon after commissioning the 2012 Wings to Fly program ver 2,000 academically gifted by President Mwai Kibaki at a colourful their district in the Kenya Certificate children from needy back- ceremony held at the Kasarani gym- of Primary Education (KCPE) exami- Equity Bank posts Ksh12.83 grounds received full educa- nasium in February. In branded white nation. Finalists were selected based Otional scholarships in 2012 t-shirts and waving Vision 2030 flags, on a transparent criteria that defined billion Pre-Tax profit that guarantees their secondary educa- the enthusiastic students were the very economic need and vulnerability. The tion for the next four years. picture of hope and promise. finalists were then interviewed by the Equity Bank withstood a challenging financial The scholarship initiative, under the President Kibaki called the commis- District Scholarship Selection Board environment characterized by high lending rates, brand name Wings To Fly is a partner- sioning of the 2012 class his ‘happiest (DSSB) who selected the most deserv- weakened shilling and runaway inflation to realize an ship between Equity Bank, Equity Group day’. “Personally, I have never been hap- ing students for the scholarship. impressive Ksh12.83 billion pre-tax profit. Foundation and The MasterCard Foun- pier than a day like today, because the Speaking during the launch, the Announcing the results at an investors briefing dation with support from USAID and more I see the number of children going President and CEO of The MasterCard held at the Bank’s Head Office at Equity Centre in UKAID and will cater for school fees, through and finishing high school and Foundation Reeta Roy said that the Nairobi, Equity Bank Group CEO Dr James Mwangi pocket money, shopping, books and further, the better I feel”, he said. scholarship initiative was an investment attributed the impressive results to a keen focus on uniforms for the students. The program identifies students The 2012 program was commissioned who ranked in the top 5 percentile in Continued on pg. 12 Continued on pg. 12 2 equity News SeeKing WingS to Fly Nearly 15,000 applicants turned up n every participating dis- of bright children”. pation. All of them hoped to hear trict, a District Scholarship The selection of the most deserv- their names called out. Selection Board sat to re- ing students also included a home Clinton Otieno, 15, didn’t hear ceive, shortlist, interview verification visit by the DSSB after his name. He scored 356 marks in and verify through home the initial interview. While at the in- his KCPE exam but barely missed visits, the most deserving terview room the students had ex- out on the competitive scholarship. and qualified students to plained - some through tears - the “I will make it next time”, he says, be awarded the Wings To situations they had to overcome, eyes glinting through tears and a Fly scholarships. The stories were coming face to face with those re- steely resolve. “Even if I have to re- Ias varied as they were moving. alities at the homes was quite an peat standard eight”. These young They had one thing in common, experience for the DSSB. people are endowed with academic these were children who had come talent, and a strong resolve to keep through a difficult past. But that Looking beyond their current trying until they make it. did not derail them from their fo- circumstances Some of those who secured cus. Armed with determination and A dusty narrow pathway leads past Wings To Fly scholarships told sto- hope, they had triumphed beyond tin-walled houses, trenches and ries of determination. Some had their current circumstances. They graffiti-plastered walls. Young peo- left school many years ago as they were now looking forward with the ple sit around in groups chatting could not afford to transit to sec- same hope and determination, to the day away. Here, the Selection ondary school. On hearing about secure a Wings To Fly scholarship to District Scholars Selection Board members at a home verification team is told, dreams die young; lost the Wings To Fly program, they re- see them through their secondary visit at the ebenezer iDP camp in gilgil in a miasma of crippling poverty turned to school to try their luck. school education. and hopelessness. Such was the story told by Aurelia Annalis Jepkosgei sat in front of For Jepkosgei and thousands Indeed, Equity Bank branches Mary Wangari calls Korogocho Atyang who is 28 years old. Aurelia the District Scholarship Selection of other candidates who had per- and agents throughout the country slum in Nairobi’s Eastlands home. returned to school after 14 years, Board (DSSB) in Eldoret town. Ac- formed well in the 2011 KCPE exam, were inundated with enquiries and She shares a tiny house with her during which she got married and companied by her father Francis the announcement of the 2012 registrations for the competitive family. The house is hardly enough was blessed with two children. She Kirwa, Jepkosgei had travelled from Wings To Fly academic scholarship scholarship program soon after the for the entire family. This, Wangari is now a Wings To Fly Scholar at Cheptiret village, some 50 kilome- program was a once-in-a lifetime announcement, with each candi- says, is not the life she envisions Kitale Girls secondary school. tres from Eldoret town. opportunity; one that would de- date hoping for a chance to be se- for her future. “I want to be a doc- A similar story was told by Pe- “I want to be an accountant in termine if they would transition to lected. tor, and I want to help my family”, ter Mwenda, a former street boy. future”, the 13 year-old girl told the secondary school and attain their “You can see the enormous inter- she says, her voice catching. Mary is Mwenda had been on the streets DSSB, whose members included future dreams. est this scholarship program has now a Wings To Fly scholar attend- for six years, after he dropped out Rev. Cornelius Korir, the Bishop of “ This scholarship program is a generated”, said David Kabunge, ing Mary Hill Girls High School of school in standard six follow- the Eldoret Catholic Parish. Jepkos- very important initiative towards an Equity Agent at Sawagongo It was late evening as the Se- ing the death of his father. He said gei is now pursuing her secondary enabling gifted students to attend town centre in Siaya district as he lection Board at Amagoro centre he heard about the program and school education at Alliance Girls high school, and ultimately towards received forms from prospective in Malaba wrapped up the selec- decided to return to school. He is High School through the Wings To the achievement of Kenya’s Vision candidates. “It shows the impact tion interviews. Outside, students currently pursuing his secondary Fly scholarship. 2030”, said Bishop Korir. this program will have in the future clutched their certificates in antici- education at Ikuu Boys High school. SCHOLARS INDUCTED INTO WINGS TO FLY ohamed Katana Equity Group Foundation and Bank staff, stood outside the primarily on conduct, scholarly expecta- Kasarani gymna- tions and responsibility. sium, staring at The scholars also had the opportunity of the dome in awe. receiving counsel from mentors including Like many other the Equity Group Foundation Chairman students, he was Dr. James Mwangi, Reeta Roy, The Presi- visiting the city for dent and CEO of The MasterCard Founda- the first time. It was a long way from Muo- tion in an interactive forum. Mroto slum in Tudor Mombasa, where the “Each one of you deserves to be here”, 15 year-old boy moved after he lost his said Reeta Roy. “It’s a wonderful experi- mother; a life he never thought he would ence for me being here with you.” escape. Reeta reminded the students of the But here he was, ready to be inducted responsibilities that life placed on them into the Wings To Fly academic scholar- as a result of their scholarly ability. “You ship program, and indeed into a complete have the chance to be who you want to way of life. become in life, but you have to be focused “It’s amazing. I can’t believe I am here, at school and put in a lot of hard work”. and on my way to school”, gushed Katana. Dr. Mwangi advised the students to Successful candidates of the Wings To embrace a lifestyle of discipline at school Wings To Fly scholars at the induction session held at Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani Fly 2012 scholarship program gathered at and shun any negative peer influence. gymnasium the Moi International Sports Center Kasa- “You have been selected from many other rani gymnasium for a 3-day induction pro- deserving students. The only thing we re- gram in February that would culminate in quire from you is commitment”, said Dr. you have the chance to be who you the official commissioning presided over Mwangi. by President Kibaki. The induction was a time of learning, want to become in life, but you have In the course of the induction period, acclimatizing to a new environment, but the students interacted with scholars un- also of friendship.

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