Education Kenya Project #48737

KEEPING AKILI GIRLS IN SCHOOL THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS

by RILEY ORTON FOUNDATION

Project Report | Apr 1, 2025
Empowering rural girls through education & STEM Mentorship

By Elidah Ayiemba | Fundraising Assistant

Dear Donors,

We write to you today with deep gratitude for your unwavering support, which has been instrumental in transforming the lives of our girls. Your generosity has ensured that they stay in school, complete their high school education, and transition to college, breaking down barriers that once stood in their way. Because of you, these young students are not only excelling academically but also building brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

This year, 65 students received crucial financial assistance through our scholarship program, allowing them to remain in school and focus on their studies without the burden of financial instability. These students, ranging from Grade 7 to university level, received support for tuition, school supplies, and other essential needs.

With the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), there were no high school transitions this year, as Grade 9 students now remain within primary school. However, we are thrilled to report that all our other scholarship recipients successfully progressed to the next grade. Among them, 10 dedicated students are now in their final year of secondary school, preparing for their national examinations. Their resilience and determination are truly inspiring, and we eagerly look forward to celebrating their graduation and next steps into higher education later this year.

We are especially proud of five students who completed secondary school in 2024 and are now preparing to enroll in colleges and universities this August. Their commendable academic achievements have opened doors to diverse fields such as engineering, healthcare, law, and business. Having been part of our scholarship program since primary school, their success is a powerful testament to the long-term impact of investing in education. To ensure they are well-equipped for the digital demands of higher education, these students are currently undergoing an intensive digital literacy course at our Akili STEMarts Academy, alongside 20 other youths. Through this program, they are gaining essential skills in computer literacy, programming, coding, 3D printing, Canva design, and Scratch programming; preparing them for the technology-driven world ahead.

We continue to prioritize the well-being of our students through crucial life skills education. This year, we have expanded our efforts to integrate HIV/AIDS awareness into our STEM programs. By visiting marginalized rural schools such as Osiri Secondary and Oyiengo Primary, we are equipping adolescents with vital knowledge about prevention, stigma reduction, and available care. Many of our scholarship beneficiaries attend these schools, making this initiative even more impactful in fostering a healthier and more informed generation.

We are excited to host our annual two-week STEM Camp this April, bringing together our scholarship recipients and other eager learners. This immersive experience will not only ignite their curiosity for STEM but also provide mentorship in life skills, mental health support, and personal development. This year’s camp will be particularly special as we introduce our students to artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, 3D printing, and coding; preparing them for the future of technology. With the rapid advancements in AI, we cannot wait to meet them at our STEM academy and watch them explore these groundbreaking innovations.

None of this would be possible without your generosity. Your support does more than cover tuition; it restores dignity, fuels ambition, and empowers young minds to redefine their futures. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for believing in our students and walking this journey of transformation with us.

With gratitude,

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Dec 2, 2024
A year of growth and achievement for our girls

By David Otieno | Founder & Executive Director

Dear friends,

With immense gratitude, we are thrilled to share the progress of our scholarship students, whose educational journeys you have made possible. Thanks to your continuous support, we have kept 77 resilient and motivated girls in school this year, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement to pursue their dreams. We are especially excited for five of these remarkable students, who are currently sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. These young women, who began their journey with us in 2012 as preschoolers, have now completed four years of high school and are set to join college in the new year. This milestone would not have been achievable without your commitment, and we look forward to witnessing their future successes as they work towards careers that will lift their families out of poverty and shape their communities.

As the rest of our scholarship students take a short break from school, we have organized a two-week STEM and Life Skills Camp at the Akili STEM Arts Academy. Here, they are engaging in hands-on learning experiences designed to inspire them toward STEM careers, while also fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and essential life skills. With the guidance of over ten dedicated volunteers, these students are building the skills necessary to become leaders in our country and beyond. Through these sessions, they are learning how to communicate effectively, solve problems, and acquire crucial knowledge on HIV/AIDS awareness; all critical tools for their personal and professional futures.

This camp follows our August Child Online Safeguarding and Mentorship Camp, an empowering event held at Awanya Primary School in Kisumu County. The camp brought together over 500 students from primary, junior secondary, and high schools across Kenya, including our scholarship recipients, and emphasized the safe and positive use of digital spaces. With our local partners—Spur Africa, Pamoja CBO, Vision Wellness, and Zipline, we created a comprehensive program with 30 volunteers that allowed students to explore online safety, digital literacy, and the responsible use of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Together, we addressed important issues such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and online safety practices, equipping students to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.

Beyond online safety, the mentorship sessions covered a range of life skills, helping students build resilience and make thoughtful decisions. Topics such as self-awareness, managing peer pressure, conflict resolution, and fostering healthy relationships provided them with practical guidance to face the challenges of adolescence. Additionally, we offered crucial discussions on drug and substance abuse, sexual reproductive health, and online crime reporting, ensuring students are informed and empowered to make choices that will positively impact their futures.

The camp concluded with a vibrant talent show, a celebration of the unique talents and creativity of each student. It was inspiring to see these young individuals share their gifts through dance, song, drama, and even fashion. Beyond providing entertainment, the talent show gave students the chance to boost their self-confidence, express themselves freely, and discover the value of pursuing their passions.

Your unwavering support has been instrumental in shaping these life-changing experiences for our students. As we look to the future, we are filled with hope and excitement for each student’s journey ahead. Thank you for making these milestones possible.

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Jul 14, 2024
Empowering Futures

By David Otieno | Founder & Executive Director

Dear donors,

We are delighted to share with you the impactful outcomes achieved through your generous support for our scholarship program. Your regular donations have made a significant difference in the lives of many rural girls, enabling them to stay in school, advance their education and ultimately realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

As we shared in our previous update, your support allowed us to send 77 students to school through scholarships, providing them with access to quality education they otherwise wouldn't have had. These students are now equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to pursue their dreams and create positive change in their communities.

We have continued to support them to thrive through after school STEM and Life Skills mentorship workshops to give them the agency they need to thrive.

One of our highlights this quarter was the successful organization of a STEM/Mentorship camp in April, where we hosted 120 students and 10 educators. This transformative camp, held in collaboration with Blue Cross Org Kenya and local professionals, encompassed vital components such as mental health awareness, substance abuse prevention, robotics workshops, and climate-smart agriculture activities. Through these sessions, students not only gained practical skills in STEM disciplines but also learned essential life skills crucial for their personal and professional development.

The students greatly enjoyed robotics workshops featuring Botley and VEX Robotics. These workshops fostered creativity, technical proficiency, and teamwork among students, preparing them for future careers in STEM fields.

Our commitment to sustainability and food security was reinforced through hands-on activities focused on climate-smart agriculture. Students engaged in sack gardening, vertical gardening, and modern kitchen gardening, learning sustainable food production methods that promote environmental stewardship and healthier eating habits.

Looking forward, we are excited to host the upcoming August STEM Camp. This camp will build upon the success of our previous initiatives, providing another cohort of students with immersive experiences in STEM education and mentorship. Your continued support will ensure that we can offer these transformative opportunities to more students, empowering them to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In the new year, we aim to expand our scholarship program to reach 100 students, providing even more students with the chance to access education and pursue their aspirations. Your ongoing generosity will play a crucial role in making this vision a reality and in equipping young minds with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast support and belief in our mission. Your partnership is making a lasting impact on the lives of students, empowering them to become future leaders and innovators. We invite you to partner with us in continuing this journey of transformation and opportunity.

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