Tertiary education
In modern-day Kenya unemployment is very high, especially in the rural areas of the Rift Valley where the majority are very poor subsistence farmers eking out a living on a small plot of scrubland. To ensure that our scholars get the best possible chance of good employment, and the many benefits to the family and community that come with it, it is vitally important that they are educated beyond school level.
It is indicative of the success of the scheme that most scholars have qualified for university or college courses. Almost 20% of our school leavers are now undertaking degree courses, compared with approximately 2% nationally.
Young Kenyans usually have to wait between 6 and 18 months before starting tertiary courses. Many potential young undergraduates “drop out” because of this delay. To reduce this risk LLSF actively encourages scholars to fill their time usefully by acting as assistant teachers at one of our primary schools and paying them ‘the going rate’. This is, of course, very exciting because it is the first time any of them have earned a proper salary and by doing so they gain a measure of independence.
This idea has proved extremely popular with scholars, teachers, pupils and parents. They are able to save for a mobile phone, a bicycle and decent clothes and our scholars almost immediately put something back into their own country. They are made to feel that they have “value” and they keep their brains in trim while waiting for the next phase of their own education. A number of new scholars have attributed their success to the teaching of their older schoolmates. It is a “win - win” situation!
As part of our scholars’ preparation for the world of work, LLSF also pays for 90 hours of computer module training. This gives the scholars a general idea of what a computer can do and, most importantly, scholars are given an email address through which they can keep in touch with trustees and fellow scholars. The Chairman of the charity grants permission to undertake a tertiary course only if full details, costs and accreditation are provided. Then an application to the appropriate authorities can be made. During this process the Langalanga Scholars Association (LLSA) officers have proved very helpful in offering advice on what choices are available, how to proceed with applications, where to live and how to organise themselves. Many scholars will never have been to Nairobi so they need all the help they can get.
