The Finlays Community Trust, an independent charity that empowers communities and nurtures sustainable growth in Kericho and Bomet counties, has awarded 30 scholarships to 30 students.
Speaking during the award ceremony at a Bomet hotel, the Trust’s Chairperson, Bishop Alfred Rotich, said 28 students will receive full undergraduate scholarships to study at various Kenyan public universities, while two students will receive full postgraduate scholarships to study at universities of their choice in the United Kingdom.
He said The Trust remains dedicated to its mission of empowering communities through education and will continue to support initiatives that foster growth and inclusivity within the counties.
The Masters Scholarship, which is funded by Swire Group and administered by the Trust, was inspired by the need to provide beneficiaries with unique technical and soft skills, allowing them to compete in both the local and global labour markets.
The scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic excellence, financial need, leadership potential, and commitment to community service.
Each scholarship includes financial support for tuition fees and other educational expenses, ensuring that the recipients have a conducive environment to pursue their education.
By exposing the students to different cultures, they are able to expand their personal and professional networks, which are key to the development of their communities.
To achieve this, two students are admitted to universities of their choice in the UK every year.
On the other hand, the undergraduate scholarship is given to 28 beneficiaries, 22 from the region’s 11 constituencies, translating into two from each constituency across the two counties; the remaining six are allocated to dependents of Finlays employees.
“We are incredibly proud to support the youths in Kericho and Bomet through these scholarships. Education is the key to unlocking potential and creating lasting change. By investing in their education, we are investing in the future of our communities,” explained Bishop Rotich.
“To date, the three scholarship initiatives, some of which were run directly by James Finlay Kenya before the Trust was created, have benefitted 566 secondary school students, 400 undergraduate students, and 23 graduate students at a cost of Sh272.2 million,” he said.
The Trust has also held mentorship sessions at St. Monica Chebangang, Chepkoton, Sosiot, Cheborge Kapkisiara, and Chebonei Girls’ secondary schools, as well as Tenwek and Cheborge Boys’ secondary schools, since the inception of the programme in mid-last year, enabling students to grow wholesomely and thereby giving them the necessary life skills to navigate life after school and succeed in their careers.
The Finlays Community Trust was officially launched in 2021 as an independent charitable trust to replace the Finlays Charitable Trust.
The Trust aims to empower communities and nurture sustainable growth in Kericho and Bomet counties.
To achieve this, the Trust has been guided by its mission to create sustainable, long-term impact by supporting a variety of projects and initiatives across the strategic pillars of education, infrastructure, health, and disaster relief.
By Lamech Willy.A.
