Africa Education Project “Lack of an education is more costly than an education.” Thank you for your patience as AEP adds our scholars' biographies and photos to this page. Africa Education Project is proud to present the following outstanding young people as current and graduated scholars. AEP's Current Scholars scholar's photo coming soon Lynnet Amondo Huruma Girls Secondary School In her personal essay, Lynnet discussed the impact of poverty on school drop-out rates. Although she is unsure which career path to take, her dream is to establish guidance and counselling centres to discourage at-risk youth from getting involved in crime. She also discussed the importance of others contributing to the education of disadvantaged youth. An important national issue to her is education of women in Kenya as many girls are discriminated against and denied rights in Kenya. Lynette lives in Kaloleni with all her siblings, nine in total, and her parents. Lynette is good in academics and is involved in basketball, Christian Club and Health Club. Years Funded: 2006 scholar's photo coming soon Oscar Babu Friends Secondary School Oscar is an orphan who takes care of his two younger brothers, Edgar (age 14) and Derrick (age 9). He has been assisted by the kindness of a social worker who took him and his brothers in and has served as his guardian over the past three years. They live in a children’s centre called Villa Teag. Oscar wrote very candidly in his personal essay, “I am applying for the Annie L. Jeter Scholarship because I visualize that without the scholarship, I will soon drop out of school…but I want to continue with my studies in order to have a better future together with my two younger brothers whose future depends on me as the remaining father and mother known to them now.” Oscar’s school fee balance is a staggering 25,700 ksh. In his essay about an important issue, he wrote about poverty. Oscar enjoys playing football (soccer), singing and acting. Years Funded: 2006 scholar's photo coming soon Claire Diero Friends Secondary School Claire is an orphan and has lived with her uncle and his family for the past two years. Claire’s school fee payments have caused constant unrest a home because her aunt is insistent that Claire’s school fees come secondary to the education of her own children. Claire writes in her personal essay that she is seeking a scholarship because she wants to continue her schooling and “be at peace” at home. Claire understands the importance of staying in school since she has seen her older brother drop out of school due to lack of school fees. Environmental degradation is an important local, national and international issue to her. Claire enjoys playing basketball and dancing (traditional dancing). Years Funded: 2006, 2007 scholar's photo coming soon Aurilian Gabriel Huruma Girls Secondary School Aurilian is this year’s only returning scholar. She was first awarded an ALJ scholarship in 2004 as the first female scholar. Years Funded: 2004, 2005, 2006 scholar's photo coming soon Joram Mbiti Ofafa Jericho High School The principal reports that Joram is constantly out of school due to school fees. Joram’s father is disabled and his mother earns money washing people’s clothes. His parents alternate paying Joram’s and his sister’s school fees so at any time, one of them is at home due to school fees. Although he misses school often, Joram has still managed to perform well in school. He is also active in the environmental club. Joram wrote about corruption in his essay as the issue of importance to him. Years Funded:2006 scholar's photo coming soon Jackson Musoma Friends Secondary School Jackson has ranked number 1 in his class for the past 3 years. His secondary education got off to a slow start when he sat out of school an entire year after primary school due to lack of school fees. His brother-in-law became his guardian and intervened to assist with school fees with the help of Jackson’s older brother. Jackson’s brother passed away in 2004 which has left him struggling to meet his school fee payments. Jackson is active in debate, drama and music. He wrote about the importance of education in his essay about an important local, national and international issue. Years Funded: 2006, 2007 scholar's photo coming soon Joseph Nderi Ofafa Jericho Secondary School Joseph is a student at Ofafa Jericho High School. He managed to do well in academics despite being sent home often due to lack of school fees. He lives with his parents in a small single room in a “slum” community called Kiambu. His family includes seven people who all live in the small one-room house. Joseph enjoys playing football (soccer). He wrote about drug abuse as the issue of importance to him. He aspires to study medicine. Years Funded: 2006 Simon Njoki Ofafa Jericho High School The principal reports that Simon has had great difficulties at home due to his mother’s mental illness. His essay showed great determination to pursue education regardless of the obstacles he faces, lack of school fees being one of them. Simon ranked #2 in his area on the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. Because of his stellar performance, he was sponsored briefly by a political councilor. After the first year of high school the councilor did not make good on his promise to pay school fees and since that time, Simon has struggled with staying in school. His mother cannot even afford rent which is catered for a well wisher. At the beginning of 2005, Simon, his mother and sister found themselves homeless, sleeping in Nairobi city center until a well wisher found them a small room. “Hope for a better tomorrow is what has kept me going” writes Simon in his personal essay. Simon wrote about drug misuse and abuse in his essay about an important issue. Simon dreams of becoming an engineer. Years Funded:2006 scholar's photo coming soon Noel Obuchere Huruma Girls Secondary School Noel lives in Kariobangi South with her sister, who has been her guardian for the past two years. Noel walks about eight kilometres to and from school every day. She is Vice Secretary of the Science Club. She also plays football (soccer) and is a member of the Christian Student Union. Noel was a winner of an international writing competition. Years Funded: 2006 scholar's photo coming soon Marita Okondo Huruma Girls Secondary School Marita lives in an estate called Eastleigh - section three. Her family of 17 lives in two rooms. Marita is very bright and is the head girl at their school. Prior to starting secondary school, she had to stay at home one full academic year due to school fees. Even after joining secondary school, there have been times when she has sat out an entire month due to school fees. The money her family brings in can either be spent to pay rent, buy medicine for her ill father or pay school fees. Most of the time the money is used to pay for medicine. Marita plays cricket and is a member of the Junior Achievement Club. She dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Years Funded:2006 scholar's photo coming soon Benson Omondi Ofafa Jericho Secondary School Benson is an orphan who lost his parents to HIV/AIDS. He lives with his aunt and her family which numbers eight. They live in a two room house. He has been able to pay school fees in the past through the bursary and well wishers. Recently the bursary in his constituency was blocked and he is unable to receive financial assistance through that avenue. Benson wrote about protection of the environment as the issue of local, national and international importance to him. Benson is involved in football (soccer) at school. Benson aspires to be an aeronautical engineer. He was a participant at AEP-Kenya’s World Aids Day Activity at Ofafa Jericho High School in November 2005. Years Funded:2006 scholar's photo coming soon Josephine Onyango Huruma Girls Secondary School Josephine hails from a family of ten. They live in two-room lodging. Josephine is a rugby player and is a member of the Science Club and Junior Achievement. Her issue of importance essay discussed various issues facing her country including corruption and poverty. She aspires to be a computer scientist. Years Funded:2006 AEP's Graduated Past Scholars AEP is proud to present the following young people who have perservered and graduated from secondary school or vocational school with the assistance of the Africa Education Project. scholar's photo coming soon Wandera Maurice Barasa Scholar's bio coming soon Years Funded: 2004, 2005 scholar's photo coming soon Daniel Keitany Future Carpentry Business Owner Daniel Keitany was AEP’s first Tumaini scholar. Due to many circumstances including poverty, Daniel was several years behind in school (age 19 in the 8th grade) but he continued to persevere in his education. In his case, it was better for him to pursue obtaining job skills versus the traditional track of secondary school possibly followed by college or university. After completing primary school, Daniel received a scholarship from AEP to study carpentry at the Youth Polytechnic, in Karbarnet, Kenya. During his two-year tenure at the polytechnic, he flourished consistently ranking in the top three students of his class. Daniel completed his studies that Kituro in December 2005. AEP-Kenya assisted him in obtaining a small business grant to begin his carpentry business. Since Daniel is the oldest in a family of ten children, he is looked to for leadership. His carpentry business will not only support his family but also provide a needed skill in his small village located in the Great Rift Valley. “The Tumaini Scholarship has truly changed my life.” Daniel shares, “It really gave me and my family hope in the future.” Years Funded: 2004, 2005 scholar's photo coming soon Geoffin Nyamwanga scholar's bio coming soon Years Funded: 2004, 2005 scholar's photo coming soon Raymond Ogae scholar's bio coming soon Years Funded: 2004 scholar's photo coming soon Clement Olanya scholar's bio coming soon Years Funded: 2004 scholar's photo coming soon Eric Opiyo Future Doctor Eric was in the first class of ALJ scholars. His mother pasted away when he was in primary school and his father died during his first year of secondary school. After the death of his parents, his education became very uncertain because of an inability to pay school fees. He wrote in his 2003 application, “I look around me and see that everything concerns knowledge and the skills one gains from learning…I gain courage to fight my way through in order to gain what I want in life, an education.” AEP funded his Form 3 and 4 years at Ofafa Jericho Secondary School. Eric’s favorite subjects in high school were science (chemistry and biology), geography and business. In school he was active in football and the science club. “AEP has really helped me through school. And I have learned to socialize as well as express myself. Through the program, I have discovered my talents.” Eric has two younger sisters that look to him for guidance. He and his sisters live with their cousin and her family in Nairobi. Eric hopes to enter university in 2007. He is an aspiring physician. Years Funded: 2004, 2005 scholar's photo coming soon Tim Otieno Future Aeronautic or Electrical Engineer Although Tim has always been impressive in the classroom, he was forced to sit out of school for two years after primary school because his family could not afford to pay for secondary school. After saving up money, he was finally able to enter school but not without continued financial problems that often had him sent home for school fees. AEP accepted Tim into its first ALJ scholars class and funded his Form 3 and 4 years at Ofafa Jericho Secondary School where he was able to focus on his studies without fear of being sent home. Tim’s favorite subject in high school was math. In secondary school, he was active in athletics, science club (he was the chairman) and Junior Achievement. His favorite teacher was Mrs. Mwelesa. Since completing secondary school, Tim continues to be active in AEP-Kenya. He is currently working on a grant proposal to start an AEP-Kenya youth computer training program. Tim has two sisters and four brothers. He is an aspiring engineer who hopes to enter university in 2007. Years Funded: 2004, 2005 AEP © 2006 Home FAQ Contact Comments Menu powered by Milonic Solutions Ltd