A total of 6,695 students from various learning institutions in Taita Taveta County have received bursary allocations from a community-based organisation, Wildlife Works, aimed at boosting education in the County.
Wildlife Works issued bursaries totaling Sh70 million to support economically disadvantaged and academically gifted students who are unable to pay their school fees to enable them to continue with their education.
The beneficiaries were selected from six locations: Mwatate, Mwachabo, Marungu, Kasigau, Mackinnon, and Sagalla.
They were chosen through a community-elected locational bursary sub-committee, and they comprise students from secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
The programme extends to students with disabilities in primary schools within the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project.
Speaking while presiding over the bursary disbursement ceremony in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County Governor Andrew Mwadime expressed gratitude for the support from Wildlife Works and highlighted the transformative impact of the bursaries.
Mwadime emphasised the importance of parental and guardian sacrifices in providing educational opportunities for students to exploit their full potential.
“Education is crucial in shaping the future of our students, particularly in our county where industries are scarce. It empowers them to explore economic opportunities beyond our local community,” he stated.
The governor assured Wildlife Works of the county government’s support in their conservation activities, urging the institution to consider issuing bursaries to students from across the county.
“Let’s work in collaboration with the County government. There are students who perform excellently and get good results in Form 4. Some want to do good courses, but they are not able to because of financial constraints. If possible, we can work together and come up with a way to support these students to further their studies,” the governor said.
Wildlife Works Community Relations Officer, Joseph Mwakima, emphasised the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, especially the local community, in preserving the local forest ecosystem.
He added that, following the conservation initiatives championed by the local community, all students in the area have access to bursaries that aim to support their pursuit of quality education.
“This support not only benefits the students but also emphasizes the positive outcomes of conservation efforts on the entire community,” he added.
Since 2012, the educational investment programme has awarded bursaries to 43,837 students, with total disbursements exceeding Sh273 million.
The programme funds bursaries through income generated from selling carbon credits, allocated in consultation with the local community.
The innovative model of community governance ensures sustained investments in education, health, and infrastructure to enhance the community’s overall well-being.
By Arnold Linga Masila
