introduction
secondary education
tertiary education
results
Our Work
In January 2011, 22 new scholars, 15 boys and 7 girls, started secondary education thanks to the generosity of sponsors who wish to give young Kenyans hope and the opportunity to rise above poverty through education.
Since 1999, a total of 220 Scholarships have been awarded. This year...
In January 2011, 22 new scholars, 15 boys and 7 girls, started secondary education thanks to the generosity of sponsors who wish to give young Kenyans hope and the opportunity to rise above poverty through education.
Since 1999, a total of 220 Scholarships have been awarded. This year...
- there are 86 scholars in Secondary School
- there are 74 scholars in Tertiary Education
- there are 44 scholars who have now graduated
- there are 16 scholars whose scholarships have been withdrawn
Who Qualifies for a Scholarship
Each year, in January, interviews are held at Comboni Polytechnic in Gilgil. Only those who produce the correct paperwork are allowed through the gate. Young hopefuls and their parents/guardians then fill in an extensive questionnaire assisted by some of our older scholars and each is then interviewed by a panel consisting of representatives of the trustees and trusted local representatives. They have the difficult task of selecting around 20 bright, needy boys and girls from about 50 who have been allowed through the security gate.
Many of those selected are orphans or abandoned children. Sometimes a written task is used to decide borderline cases. The most heart-rending moment of the year comes at this time when the Chairman has to dismiss those who did not quite make the cut.
In line with trustees' policy, we give some priority to applicants who have not taken the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams more than once. Our aim to take 50% of boys and girls has always proved unattainable due mainly to local social and cultural reasons. The interview board does, however, make some allowance for this in their final selections.
View a diagram of the process by clicking here >>
back to Our Work
Each year, in January, interviews are held at Comboni Polytechnic in Gilgil. Only those who produce the correct paperwork are allowed through the gate. Young hopefuls and their parents/guardians then fill in an extensive questionnaire assisted by some of our older scholars and each is then interviewed by a panel consisting of representatives of the trustees and trusted local representatives. They have the difficult task of selecting around 20 bright, needy boys and girls from about 50 who have been allowed through the security gate.
Many of those selected are orphans or abandoned children. Sometimes a written task is used to decide borderline cases. The most heart-rending moment of the year comes at this time when the Chairman has to dismiss those who did not quite make the cut.
In line with trustees' policy, we give some priority to applicants who have not taken the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams more than once. Our aim to take 50% of boys and girls has always proved unattainable due mainly to local social and cultural reasons. The interview board does, however, make some allowance for this in their final selections.
View a diagram of the process by clicking here >>
back to Our Work
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. Approximately 33% 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.
The Langalanga Scholars' Association
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. Approximately 33% 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.
The Langalanga Scholars' Association
Results
This year we were very heartened by the overall results as, for the second year running, no less than eight of our scholars qualified on merit for national, competitive university places and one of our scholars achieved the very rare straight A grade.
This is 40% of our intake against the national average of 2%. Ten others qualified for places on diploma or certificate courses although, sadly, two failed to reach the level required for tertiary funding. They will, of course, remain entitled to the support of the Langalanga Scholars' Association.
Click here to see a summary of our results.
This year we were very heartened by the overall results as, for the second year running, no less than eight of our scholars qualified on merit for national, competitive university places and one of our scholars achieved the very rare straight A grade.
This is 40% of our intake against the national average of 2%. Ten others qualified for places on diploma or certificate courses although, sadly, two failed to reach the level required for tertiary funding. They will, of course, remain entitled to the support of the Langalanga Scholars' Association.
Click here to see a summary of our results.
