The Wings to Fly scholarship program, an initiative of the Equity Group and Mastercard Foundation (MCF), was established to support secondary education for top performing children from financially challenged backgrounds. With support from other partners, the program offers access to leadership training to previously marginalized children in all counties.

The program offers comprehensive support for the scholars through provision of tuition fees, accommodation, books, uniform, shopping, pocket money and transport to and from school during their 4 years of secondary education. It has so far supported 60,009 bright but economically challenged scholars. MCF has so far committed to support 10,000 scholars through two phases of funding with the last intake joining the program in 2021.

Our impact in numbers

60,009

Supported Scholars

10,000

Scholars to receive MCF

Scholarship

The Equity scholarship program was formed to aid high performing children hailing from less fortunate backgrounds. The program beneficiaries are selected from across Kenya’s 47 counties, based on their performance in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination. Awareness of the program is conveyed through public forums i.e. administrative chief’s forums, places of worship, through radio announcements and social media channels. Application is made at all Equity Bank branches, Equity Agents and on the Equity Group Foundation’s Website. Beneficiaries of the scholarship are selected by the Community Scholarship Selection Board (CSSB), which is made up of key leaders in the community and is chaired by the County or sub-County Director of Education.

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Impact Stories

Mohammed Hassan

Despite the hard circumstances surrounding Mohammed’s childhood, he managed to do will in his KCPE Examination because of his resilience and hard work. However, his parents could not afford his high school tuition. Thanks to EGF’s Wings to Fly Program, Mohammed joined Lenana School and completed his secondary education. Currently he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Nairobi, and is an active mentor to the youth.

Faith Ngaira

Faith Ngaira is a recipient of the Wings to Fly scholarship and a graduate of Information Science from Kenyatta University. Since 2015 she has mentored female secondary school beneficiaries of WTF. Through her initiative Echoe Girls Vision, founded in 2018, she has mentored 157 students from low income areas in Nairobi, giving tips on academic excellence, overall health and inspiration She believes through mentorship and leadership, a profound and rewarding impact can be achieved.

Moses Gathungu

Moses, a third-year student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and an alumnus of the Wings to Fly program, class of 2012, serves as the Sports and Entertainment Secretary in the JKUAT Student Council. He pioneered the formation of the Equity Leadership Chapter at JKUAT and initiated the ELP Music Group, Pizzicato, which addresses mental health through an event dubbed ‘Poetry Spot’. Moses also created Pinehouse Collection, an online clothing line and mentors WTF Scholars in his region.

Mentorship

The Wings to Fly mentorship program supports a scholar’s holistic development through four facets; encouraging academic excellence, developing a value-centered life, nurturing transformative leadership and embracing a culture of giving back.

Mentorship is offered at three different capacities:

  • University student mentors carry out school visits and monitor academic performance. They are mainly alumni of the program.
  • Through forums facilitated by CSSBs and Equity Bank, parents, guardians and Equity Bank staff engage with mentors and scholars. These are career talks and giveback activities that aim to impact the community positively.
  • In the Annual Education and Leadership Congress, cohorts of Wings to Fly scholars come together for week-long intensive, inspiring and educative forums where they get to learn from the role models in society such as successful professionals, government persons, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

Meet our mentors

Wayne Gakuo

Wayne, from Mombasa, Kenya, joined the Wings to Fly program at 16. His father passed away in 2010, leaving his family in financial difficulty. “My greatest challenge was overcoming the fear of failure.” he said. Now with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Ashesi University, he seeks to empower other Kenyan youth with Software Development skills.

 

Millicent Otieno

Little Millicent from the village with dreams to fly high and conquer the world in spite of poverty, got to join her dream school, Alliance Girls High School in the Wings to Fly scholarship, after passing her primary school exams. She is a proud alumnus and is looking forward to one day being a WTF mentor. The Annual Congresses were the most impactful for her, stating that other people’s success stories not only inspired her, but equipped her with what she needed to face the world.

David Okinyi

David Okinyi, 23, is from Migori, Kenya. He started with Equitable Group Foundation’s programs at 18 years old in the `Wings to Fly’ Program with MasterCard Foundation. David graduated on 6th May 2019 with a BSc in Economics and a B.A in Business (Global Politics) and will pursue his Master’s in Finance at Arizona State University,USA.

 

Martha’s Scholarship Journey

  • 01

    Martha completes primary school and passes her main exams with flying colors.

  • 02

    Her parents can’t afford her high school tuition. She then applies for the Wings To Fly program.

  • 03

    The Wings to Fly stepped in with a scholarship

  • 04

    Martha does exceptionally well in her main secondary school exams with a vision in mind for her career.

  • 05

    ELP steps in and Martha gets to study in an Ivy League university where she gets the best education.

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