EQUITY GROUP FOUNDATION COMMENCES SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE 2021 WINGS TO FLY AND ELIMU SCHOLARSHIPS

Eazzy Banking

10,500 scholarships to be offered to bright and deserving students through the Wings to Fly program and Elimu scholarship program in 2021.

Nairobi Friday 21^st May 2021 Equity Group Foundation (EGF) has commenced the selection process for the 2021 Wings to Fly scholarship program in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the German government through KfW. Additionally, a similar process has started for the 2021 Elimu scholarship program, a flagship program sponsored by the World Bank and the Ministry of Education and implemented through EGF. The two programs will offer a combined total of 10,500 scholarships to academically promising scholars from needy backgrounds who sat and excelled in the 2020 KCPE examinations.

The selected Wings to Fly scholars will form the twelfth cohort and will join a total of 17,304 scholars who have benefitted from comprehensive scholarships offered through the program while the successful Elimu scholars will form the second cohort and will join the existing 9,000 scholars who were commissioned last year. This brings the total scholarships so far implemented by EGF to 36,804.

Academically promising 2020 KCPE finalists from all 47 counties who scored a minimum of 350 marks and who come from needy backgrounds can apply for the 2021 Wings to Fly scholarships by logging on to https://egfdmis.equitybank.co.ke/register_w2f to create a new account on the Wings to Fly portal and fill in the 2021 application form for consideration.

While 2020 KCPE finalists from financially challenged backgrounds who sat their examinations at public primary schools and are from 110 targeted Sub-Counties and fifteen urban centres with informal settlements and scored a minimum of 280 marks can make applications for the 2020/2021 Elimu scholarships by logging on to https://egfdmis.equitybank.co.ke/register_elimu to create a new account on the Elimu portal and fill in the 2020/2021 application form for consideration. For affirmative action, candidates who are from vulnerable and marginalized communities and those with special needs and disabilities who attained below 280 marks may be considered.

For both scholarship programs, scholars, guardians and parents who are unable to access the forms on the portal can get physical scholarship application forms at their nearest Equity branch or Equity Agent and must submit these for consideration on or before 31^st May 2021.

The deadline for all scholarship application is 31^st May 2021 whether submitted through the application portals or through Equity bank branches or Equity Agents.

Commenting on the commencement of the selection process, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi reiterated the Group's commitment to supporting Kenyans to enjoy access to education opportunities through its scholarship programs. "As Equity, we truly value the role of the various partners that we work with at the community level to ensure that our selection process is fair and that a vast majority of Kenyans get to hear about the programs and are guided appropriately on how to apply for the scholarships. This year, we wish to encourage interested applicants to embrace the use of the digital portals as this will minimize paper handling and will thus contribute to our efforts of minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19," said Dr. Mwangi.

Dr Mwangi has also appealed to Kenyans of goodwill who know a needy bright child anywhere in Kenya who has met the application criteria to help them apply for the scholarship. "There are many needy and bright children who have attained the eligible marks and may not hear of this opportunity. I appeal to all Kenyans of goodwill to support this initiative by helping such children to access the application forms from their nearby Equity bank branch or Agent so that they can stand a chance of securing a scholarship for their secondary school education," said Dr Mwangi said.

The submission deadline of 31^st May 2021 will allow the Wings to Fly Community Scholarship Selection Board (CSSB) in all 47 counties and the Elimu Community Scholarship Advisory Committee (CSAC) in each of the 110 sub counties and 15 urban centres ample time to review and scrutinize the applications as well as conduct face to face interviews and assessments before awarding the most deserving scholars the scholarship opportunities.

The CSSB comprises of relevant key personalities in the community and is chaired by the Sub-County Director of Education and coordinated by Equity Bank Branch Manager while the CSAC comprises of relevant key personalities in the community and will be chaired by the Deputy County Commissioner and coordinated by Equity Branch Manager.

About the Wings to Fly Scholarship Program

The Wings to Fly Scholarship program, a signature program in EGF's Education and Leadership Development pillar, provides comprehensive secondary school scholarships to academically promising, yet financially disadvantaged youth. Since 2010, 17,304 scholarships have been offered to scholars selected from across the country through community scholarship selection boards. The scholarship covers school fees, transport, books, pocket money, mentoring, psychosocial support, and leadership development. Mastercard Foundation has been EGF's anchor partner in supporting worthy scholars lacking resources to carry their academic dreams forward since 2010. Other former and current partners include USAID, UKAID, and the German Government through KfW. Graduates of Wings to Fly have an additional opportunity to access financing from EGF to pursue technical courses at reputable TVET institutions across Kenya.

About Elimu Scholarship Program

The Elimu scholarship program is run by EGF on behalf of the Ministry of Education and the Government of Kenya. With financial support from the World Bank, the program will provide 18,000 comprehensive secondary school scholarships to primary school graduates from 110 sub-counties and 15 urban centers with informal settlements. In 2020, the 1st cohort of 9,000 beneficiaries reported to Form One and the remaining scholars will be identified to join secondary school this year.

About Equity Group Foundation

Equity Group Foundation (EGF), the corporate implementing foundation of Equity Group Holdings Plc, has as its mission to champion the transformation of lives and livelihoods for 100m people in Africa by 2024 through the design and implementation of innovative programs that leverage Equity Group's infrastructure and partnerships to create shared value. Established in 2008 as the Group's social engine, the Foundation delivers economic opportunities, capacity, tools, and technologies that enable individuals and businesses to increase productivity, resilience and share in socio-economic growth. EGF responds to the continuum of issues that challenge the socio-economic advancement of the people of Africa, especially low-income individuals, and families. EGF's Creating Shared Value [CSV] strategy provides social development initiatives in Education and Leadership Development, Food and Agriculture, Health, Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Development, Energy and Environment and Social Protections for the most vulnerable citizens. EGF's programs are underpinned by technology, innovation, and synergy as a central means to launch, nurture, and scale up Africa's next generation of successful leaders and entrepreneurs delivered to all communities in which Equity has operations.

Additional information, visit www.equitygroupholdings.com

WINGS TO FLY SCHOLARSHIPS TARGETS ALL COUNTIES IN KENYA

ELIMU SCHOLARSHIPS - TARGETED SUB-COUNTIES UNDER THE SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (SEQIP)

Sub County			Sub County		Sub County
1.	Baringo North	38.		Magarini	75.	Kuria East
2.	East Pokot	39.		Malindi	76.	Kuria West
3.	Marigat	40.		Marani	77.	Uriri
4.	Chepalungu	41.		Nyamache	78.	Kandara
5.	Sotik	42.		Ikutha	79.	Kigumo
6.	Bungoma West	43.		Kyuso	80.	Murang'a East
7.	Cheptais	44.		Mumoni	81.	Tinderet
8.	Mt Elgon	45.		Mutito	82.	Trans Mara East
9.	Bunyala	46.		Mutomo	83.	Samburu Central
10.	Busia	47.		Mwingi Central	84.	Samburu East
11.	Butula	48.		Mwingi East	85.	Samburu North
12.	Nambale	49.		Nzambani	86.	Taveta
13.	Samia	50.		Tseikuru	87.	Bura (Tana North)
14.	Teso North	51.		Kinango	88.	Tana Delta
15.	Teso South	52.		Kwale	89.	Tana River
16.	Marakwet East	53.		Msambweni	90.	Tharaka North
17.	Marakwet West	54.		Laikipia North	91.	Tharaka South
18.	Balambala	55.		Masinga	92.	Kibish
19.	Dadaab	56.		Yatta	93.	Loima
20.	Fafi	57.		Kathonzweni	94.	Turkana Central
21.	Hulugho	58.		Kibwezi	95.	Turkana East
22.	Ijara	59.		Makindu	96.	Turkana North
23.	Lagdera	60.		Makueni	97.	Turkana South
24.	Suba	61.		Nzaui	98.	Turkana West
25.	Garbatula	62.		Banisa	99.	Buna
26.	Isiolo	63.		Lafey	100.		Eldas
27.	Merti	64.		Mandera Central	101.		Habaswein
28.	Kajiado Central	65.		Mandera East	102.		Tarbaj
29.	Loitokitok	66.		Mandera North	103.		Wajir East
30.	Butere	67.		Mandera West	104.		Wajir North
31.	Kakamega South	68.		Chalbi	105.		Wajir South
32.	Khwisero	69.		Horr North	106.		Wajir West
33.	Likuyani	70.		Loiyangalani	107.		Pokot Central
34.	Lugari	71.		Marsabit	108.		Pokot North
35.	Navakholo	72.		Marsabit South (Laisamis)	109.		Pokot South
36.	Ganze	73.		Moyale	110.		West Pokot
37.	Kaloleni	74.		Sololo

VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WITHIN SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (SEQIP) OPERATIONAL AREA

	County	Community		County	Community
1	Marsabit	Waayu	12	Garissa	Munyoyaya
		Elmolo			Malakote/Wailwana
		Daasanach			Gar jiil
		Ilkunono			Gamuuns
		Deis			Bonieya
		Waata			Reer Dumaal
		Konso			Boni Aweer

		Elmolo	13	Wajir	Riba/Ribi
2	Kilifi	Waata			Gar jiil
		Wakifundi			Hiir
		Watswaka			Gagabey/Bon
		Makonde			Rer-Bahars
		Wasanya	14	Narok	Ogiek
		Wapemba			Ilkunono
3	Isiolo	Waata	15	Kitui	Oromo
		Sakuye	16	Bungoma	Ogiek
4	Elgeiyo Marakwet	Sengwer	17	Mandera	Warabeya
5	West Pokot	Sengwer			Riba
6	Laikipia	Yiakku			Corner tribe
7	Samburu	Ilkunono			Gar jiil
		Dorobo			Gawawen
		Ltorobo			Waata
		Sweii (Ndorobo)	18	Tana River	Orma
8	Baringo	Ilchamus			Pokomo
		Endorois			Werdei (Tana river)
		Sabor			Wailwana
9	Taita Taveta	Waadhu/Wapare			Munyoyaya
10	Nandi	Tarik			Waata
		Ogiek	19	Kwale	"Waliangulo"(Sanya)
11	Migori	Basuba			Sanya
					Tswaka
					Wakifundi
			20	Turkana	Ngikebotok
					Ichakun

LIST OF TARGETED URBAN CENTRES WITH INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

1.	Thika	4.	Nakuru	7.	Nyeri	10.	Machakos	13.	Kilifi
2.	Nairobi	5.	Mombasa	8.	Embu	11.	Kitui	14.	Naivasha
3.	Eldoret	6.	Kisumu	9.	Garissa	12.	Kericho	15.	Kakamega

Eazzy Banking

EQUITY GROUP FOUNDATION COMMENCES SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE 2021 WINGS TO FLY AND ELIMU SCHOLARSHIPS

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