Each year, the Akili Trust plans to fund the secondary education of a boy and a girl from each 'host' primary school. These students will be selected by an independent panel and the choice will be based on performance in the national leaving exams and on the family’s financial circumstances. The intention is that these bursaries are for able students who would not otherwise be able to afford secondary education. The support was increased from 90% to 100% of the school fees in September 2008, as many families had difficulty paying the additional 10%. The families have to fund the costs of equipment, uniform and holiday tuition. The progress of the bursary students is closely monitored by the library staff and reported on to the Akili Trustees regularly. The students are required to work in the library for about 4 hours per week, though most students have to do this in the school holidays as they are weekly boarders.
In January 2010 we have 10 students with 2 more about to start. When the scheme is fully established, the Trust will be supporting 8 students in each school, 16 in total.
The average annual cost per student is £280 in January 2010.
Quotes from some of the students:
Lawrence:
My paradise of learning is Malindi High School. I am in Form three. I am 18 years old and my gender is male. The Akili Trust bursary has enabled me to see my future hope.I would like to inform you that I am an industrious boy and believe through your support I will manage to overcome the challenges of the world. My dream or ambition is to become a doctor and due to that I have put a lot of concentration in my studies.
Samuel:
I go to school at Malindi High in Form two. I am 16 years old. I am happy very much for this sponsorship group i.e. The Akili Trust. I am very thankful and I offer gratitude to them because they enable me to learn very smoothly without getting such problems as being chased away from school to collect school fees.
Claris:
I would like to work hard in order to achieve my goals and I hope I will work to achieve this ambition. I like playing netball.
Ziro:
I don’t have any object rather than to work industriously, co-operating with my teachers and my fellow students. In God’s name I’m sure that success will come. In achieving all this I’m going to be disciplined to my teachers, and I’m aiming to get to the very best university so that I can achieve my goals. I’m a fan of Chelsea.
Witness:
I am a girl of 16 years. I am working hard so that in future I would become a doctor. It is my wish that you help to do so. When I become a doctor I would like to assist others in their life.
